Our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers reflect the many faces, cultures and walks of life that proudly make up our community. As a human services organization continuously seeking to deliver community impact and maintain quality service to our donors and clients, United Way of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties places a high value on the concept of diversity.

​We respect, value and celebrate the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. We also believe that bringing diverse individuals together allows us to collectively and more effectively address the issues that face our communities. It is our aim, therefore, that our partners, strategies and investments reflect these core values.

di·ver·si·ty (də-ˈvər-sə-tē) n.: the quality of being different or unique at the individual or group level. This includes age; ethnicity; gender; gender identity; language differences; nationality; parental status; physical, mental and developmental abilities; race; religion; sexual orientation; skin color; socio-economic status; work and behavioral styles; the perspectives of each individual shaped by their nation, experiences and culture—and more. Even when people appear the same on the outside, they are different!

in·clu·sion (in-ˈklü-zhən) n.: a strategy to leverage diversity. Diversity always exists in social systems. Inclusion, on the other hand, must be created. In order to leverage diversity, an environment must be created where people feel supported, listened to and able to do their personal best.

United Way of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties values the uniqueness of the individual, the power of the collective good and the importance of communities. We promote a climate that welcomes, understands and respects the diversity of our clients, donors, staff, volunteers, agencies and community partners. Dimensions of diversity include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, cultural orientation, national origin, language, religious belief, disability, gender and age.

United Way of Linn, Benton & Lincoln Counties is committed to incorporating practices that enhance diversity into all areas of activity, including the recruitment and retention of staff and volunteers from diverse backgrounds. Staff and volunteers are supported through training to address the needs of all individuals and communities served. The Board of Directors and senior management team will provide leadership and collaborate with clients, donors, staff, volunteers, agencies and community partners to ensure an environment that values diversity.

We unequivocally denounce all forms of racism, ethnic discrimination, and oppression.  We recognize that structural racism and ethnic discrimination have contributed to persistent disparities which United Way of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln County seeks to dismantle. We commit to engaging community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized, and leveraging our assets to create a more equitable community. 

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