The United Way Retirees Association (UWRA), founded in 1990, has over 600 members in the United States. It is supported thanks to the generosity of its members through dues and contributions, the United Way of America, local United Ways and Mutual of America. The organization’s primary goals are service to the United Way Field and to its members.      

Service to the United Way Field

•  UWRA Service Corps - Seventy members are available to assist the United Way field in times of growth, transition and crises through a variety of programs.  

•  Crisis Response Program – As members of UWA’s Crisis Response Team, sixteen UWRA Service Corps members have been trained to serve as Crisis Consultants to local United Ways who experience natural or man-made crises.  They also serve as trainers for additional Crisis Consultants and a manual, “Guide for Crisis Consultants”, was developed for their use. This program was made possible by a grant from UWA’s Lilly Endowment Fund. Previous examples of UWRA’s response during times of crises include: assistance to three United Ways in North Carolina affected by floods and in New Mexico following destruction by fire; placement of interim executives in Oregon and Washington; and, implementation of post crisis surveys for United Ways affected by ice storms in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

•  Planned Giving Program - Nine UWRA members, trained as Planned Giving Consultants,  facilitated 14 informational programs for local 66 United Ways interested in this aspect of long-term program development. A total of 157 staff, board members, and community guests participated.  A scholarship, based on need, has been set up by to make it possible for Small City United Ways to offer this training to their staff and boards by covering travel expenses for the consultants.

• Pilot Mentoring Program – Ten Small City United Way Chief Professional Officers have been matched with ten UWRA mentors for a period of one year. Mentors' travel and phone costs are covered by UWRA. 

•  History Project  - The goal of this project is to publish a comprehensive history of the United Way movement.

• Endowment Fund – An endowment fund has been established in honor of Gordon Berg, UWRA founder.

Service to UWRA Members

• Opportunities for continuing service to the United Way field.
• Access to insurance products at group rates.
• Free discount prescription card
• Social and recreational opportunities.
• UWRA Web Site: www.UWRA.org and quarterly newsletter UPDATES.
• Access to United Way Online.   

Membership is open to individuals who have retired from the United Way or any of its predecessor organizations, or to individuals over age 50 with 10 years of service with the United Way system, or to individuals who have had a significant career experience with United Way.  An Associate Member category is available for those who support the work of UWRA.