Education

United is the Way to improve education outcomes for Utah students.

From promoting literacy and providing school supplies through our signature Year of Action events to advocating for public policies that support education, we provide high-quality education opportunities that help Utah students thrive in and out of the classroom.

As a founding and sustaining partner of Promise Partnership Utah, United Way of Salt Lake powers initiatives aimed at creating transformative change that puts more Utah students on a path to economic mobility.

Our Education Initiatives

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Early Learning

Through initiatives like Promise Baby & You and The Basics Utah, we support early childhood development and education so kids and families in our community can thrive from the very beginning.

Promise Baby & You is a free, 9-week workshop series for parents and caregivers of children ages 0-3. Participants learn effective strategies for supporting their child’s early development from The Basics Utah, get connected to community resources, and gain a network of support.

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Student Mentorship

Through Promise Student Advocates, students are paired with a caring adult mentor who helps them set goals and navigate challenges in and out of the classroom. Students work with their mentors to create individualized success plans to reach graduation and beyond.

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CTE Pathways

United Way of Salt Lake supports Career and Technical Education Pathways and other career opportunities that help give students workplace skills and real-world experience. We leverage school and corporate partnerships to provide students with career presentations, mock interviews, and internship opportunities to help prepare them for future career success.

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Education by the Numbers:

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families have graduated from the Promise Baby & You Program.

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students receive one-on-one mentorship support through Promise Student Advocates.

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of kindergarten classes statewide were categorized as full day in 2026.

Our Education Advocacy

We advocate for policies that support a robust public education system. Over the years, United Way of Salt Lake advocates have successfully championed impactful legislation that provides access to full-day kindergarten, early literacy support, and more. During the 2026 legislative session, our priority bill—SB 165 Economic Mobility Initiative—passed, establishing the Raising Expectations through Accountability, Community, and Hope (REACH) initiative which supports community-based partnerships across the state.

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Our Funded Partners in Education

United Way of Salt Lake supports and collaborates with many funded partners who provide resources and opportunities to improve education outcomes like early literacy, middle school math, and high school graduation. By fueling this work, we broaden our impact and empower more students and their families to achieve academic success and thrive.

Funded partner list reflects FY26.

Supporting Youth - Cradle to Career

United Way of Salt Lake supports youth in our community through education initiatives from cradle to career.

How You Can Help

Give

Classrooms and schools need all the support they can get! Donate to support our education work so more kids can reach their full potential.

Make a Donation

Volunteer

Help students in schools across our community reach their full potential through our many volunteer opportunities. Work directly with students to support mentorship and tutoring initiatives, offer reading and literacy support in classrooms, and more.

Find Opportunities