2025–2028 strategic plan

United Way Monterey County

United Way Monterey County (UMWC) is a public charity with roots dating back to 1929 and a countywide presence since 2000. UWMC is dedicated to building a stronger, more equitable community by creating pathways to prosperity. Through innovative programs and cross-sector partnerships, the organization focuses on opportunities for youth, financial security, and community health.

  • To sustain their high-level of service, UWMC prioritizes thoughtful and ongoing strategic planning. From 2022–2025, their planning efforts included continued relief from the pandemic and a focus on equity. Their strategic plan for 2025–2028 builds on that strong foundation and addresses new goals for sustainability and impact. Our role was to design a structured, inclusive, and data-informed process to help them move forward with a strategy that truly reflects who they are and where they want to go.

  • We conducted:

    • An organizational self-assessment to evaluate internal capacity and effectiveness

    • A financial analysis to understand trends and sustainability

    • Focus groups with board members, staff, and community partners

    • A senior staff survey to capture leadership perspectives and insights

    • A board survey to assess governance, alignment, and strategic priorities

  • We helped develop five goals along with specific strategies and actions to achieve them. The strategies answer questions about what to grow, what to refine, and what to let go. The actions provide tangible steps for turning the plan into a day-to-day reality. In the end, UWMC produced a strategic plan that promotes equity, ensures accountability, and embeds measurable outcomes across all areas of their work.

  • Jan–Sep 2025

Report cover

"When something happens, like emergency rental assistance or flooding, people turn to United Way because they trust us. We’re seen as an honest broker who will do what’s right.”

—United Way Monterey County board member

Project team

  • Jordan Greene photo

    Jordan Greene

    Associate Strategy Director

    Project supervisor, tool design, client communication, data collection and analysis, in-person strategic planning, report writing

  • Nat Bauer photo

    Nat Bauer

    Senior Graphic Designer

    Graphic and layout design, creative direction, data visualization