United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in our community.
We do this by LIVING UNITED, forging unlikely partnerships, finding new solutions to old problems, mobilizing the best resources, and inspiring individuals to join the fight.
United Way of Kent County, Maryland fosters and promotes an inclusive environment that leverages the unique contributions of diverse individuals and organizations so that we can collectively and effectively create opportunities for a better life for all.
We focus on promoting an inclusive environment in every aspect of our business, where everyone respects and values the contributions of all people. The different backgrounds, experiences, abilities and perspectives of our community strengthen the quality of our work and the success of our organizations.
Diversity and inclusion are at the heart of what it means to LIVE UNITED.
The United Way of Kent County (UWKC) is committed to programs and activities that are free of racial or ethnic discrimination. UWKC endeavors to provide and maintain an environment that fosters respect among all members of the community.
UWKC strives to provide an environment where individuals are free to grow intellectually, personally, professionally, and socially without intimidation or fear. Intimidation and harassment affect not only those who suffer the harassment, but every Kent County Resident.
UWKC recognizes discrimination has contributed to disparities, in the past, present and most likely the future, and these disparities have been exacerbated by policies and procedures creating dependency.
UWKC sincerely believes racism/ethnic discrimination undermines the strengths of every community in Kent County and denounces any form of racism/ethnic discrimination.
UWKC works with partners statewide to create solutions to see every Kent County Resident succeed and thrive and create more equitable communities.
Racial and ethnic discrimination is a violation of federal and state law, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and other key federal civil rights statues.
Our Mission
Our Board
Annual Report
Our Financials
Agency Screening
The mission of United Way of Kent County is to identify the human service needs of the community; promote member agency programs in an effort to increase public understanding and financial and volunteer support; solicit funds for these agencies by conducting an annual fund-raising campaign; and allocate these funds, giving emphasis to those agencies with programs that address community needs prioritized by the Board of Directors.
United Way of Kent County works to improve the Health, Education and Financial Stability of Individuals and Families in Kent County.
United Way of Kent County believes that no one organization can change the conditions in our community. Rather we hold that building community partnerships and bringing together diverse stakeholders better equips us to address the root problems facing Kent County. As a result, United Way continues to focus on community partnerships as the most effective approach to problem solving.
Agencies applying for Membership status with the United Way of Kent County must:
The Board of Directors of United Way of Kent County takes very seriously its role as good stewards of community donations. Allocating funds to local agencies is the most important job of the Board. Each Agency must complete an Allocation Application yearly, which includes the mission of the agency and the parameters of the programs within United Way’s Mission that UWKC is being asked to fund, financial statements, audits and 990, brochures and other relative materials, numbers of Kent County residents that will be served, and perceived impact on the community. The Allocation Committee reads each application, and a separate subcommittee reviews financials. Each agency participates in a 30 minute Allocation Interview with the Committee, at which time it can present and further explain its application. After all applications have been reviewed and applicants interviewed, the Committee meets to designate funds to each agency that meets the criteria, and decides how much that funding will be. All in all, the process takes about five months.
Board
Amanda is native to Kent County and is the owner and operator of Fit Flock, LLC, located in Chestertown. She is the Vice President of The Chester River Wellness Alliance and leads Community Flock Walks during the warmer months. She is a volunteer with Kent County 4-H and The Maryland Business Roundtable. Amanda is active in Sacred Heart and St John's parish as a lector. Her main passion is health and wellness and she can be found buying all her groceries at the Chestertown Farmers Market and participating in local races. She enjoys helping other small businesses and working closely with her community members.
President
An educator of nine years, DeLia’s passion for advocating and learning has taken her to many districts across the state of Maryland. DeLia’s expertise in special education involves working with students on the Autism spectrum, behavioral disabilities, and learning differences. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership- Special Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University.
DeLia is an active member of the Chestertown community. Volunteering and working with Horizons and the YMCA of Chestertown, DeLia loves to be an integral part of Chestertown. She joined the United Way Board in 2020 and in the Fall of that year she joined the faculty at Kent County Middle School.
In her free time, DeLia enjoys cooking elaborate meals for her “family” and exploring new parts of Eastern Shore!
Executive Director
Hope comes to United Way of Kent County after a career as a professional modern dancer in NYC, she received a Master’s in Intercultural Service Leadership and Management from the School for International Training Graduate Institute, with a focus on Social Justice and Conflict Transformation. She moved to Kent County in the mid-eighties and has served on the Board of the African American School House Museum, worked at Community Mediation Upper Shore, Eastern Shore Health Education Center, and the Local Management Board for Children and Family Services. She volunteered as the coordinator of the Diversity Dialogue Group and founded Wheelbarrow Productions, a non-profit organization to partner with communities to create social change and economic opportunities through the arts. Her recent work, as the Maryland Organizer for Climate XChange, coordinated the Rebuild Maryland Coalition to pass equitable and effective climate legislation in the State.
Director
Matt Groppe is an executive at Purolator International and has held previous board positions with International Shipping Associations. He moved to Chestertown in the past year and is interested in helping others in our community.
Director
Johnnie Johnson completed his undergraduate degree in Economics & Business and Sociology at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA. He served as the Senior Associate Director of Admissions, and the Director of Admissions at Georgetown College in Georgetown, KY. Johnnie joined the Transylvania admissions staff in July 2011 serving as the Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Operations, Director of Multicultural Recruitment, Director of Admissions and as the Vice President for Admissions. Johnnie joined Washington College as Vice President for Enrollment Management in September 2022. He has also served as the Affiliate Presidents Council Coordinator with the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), as president of the Kentucky Association of College Admissions Counseling (KYACAC), as a board member of the YMCA Black Achievers Program, and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Vice President
Senior level banking executive with over 35 years banking experience from launching a mortgage division for a rapidly growing $2 billion Bank to being President and CEO of a $400 million publicly traded Bank (NASDAQ). In addition, acted as a financial consultant for a cryptocurrency trust company that was purchasing a Bank in Oklahoma and coordinated the approval process with the State and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Most recently and before joining Chesapeake Bank and Trust as their President/CEO, was the Chief Operating Officer for Baltimore Community Lending, LLC, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) lending to minority businesses and developers in Baltimore City.
Director
Rebecca Murphy is the Principal of RCM Strategic Consulting in Chestertown. Her company does, among other things, strategic planning. She joined the Board in 2020 and serves on the Strategic Planning Committee and co-chairs the Allocations Committee. Her passion is positive social change, particularly particularly addressing economic and racial inequality, discrimination against women, people of color, and the LGBTQI community. When she is not working, Rebecca can be found puttering around cities admiring historic architecture and finding interesting wines to drink, texting one of her two wonderful children, enjoying an Orioles game, sailing on the Chester River, or on a beach somewhere with her Kindle.
Director
Martin "Marty" Knight has served as a financial advisor for Kent County since 2005. Bringing a wealth of expertise and experience in assisting donors with choosing contribution options that best fit their needs, Marty has served Kent County in a variety of roles, most recently as the former President of United Way of Kent County.
Marty joined the United Way of Kent County Board in 2017, and continues to serve as an At Large Board Member within the organization. Currently, he lives in Centreville with his family and enjoys sampling all the different flavors of ice cream at Stams Luncheonette.
Director
Nina is the Executive Director of Main Street Historic Chestertown. She has extensive experience in nonprofit administration, so she is a natural fit on the board. Originally from Pennsylvania, she graduated from Washington College and has worked with the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps and numerous nonprofits. She lives with her husband and son in Fairlee.
Director
Awesome bio coming soon!
Director
Muriel, who joined the Board in 2020, has vast experience with the senior population, working with the Maryland state Commission on Aging. Now a retiree herself, she has shared her knowledge in Kent County with the Kent County Commission on Aging, Homeports, and with her column in the Kent County news, "Seniors Matter." She has already been instrumental in getting the message of United Way's mission out to the public. Muriel lives in Chestertown.
Director
Carol served on the United Way Board from 2013-2020 in various positions including Secretary and President. She returned to the Board in 2021. She has been actively involved with many local non-profits, as well as the local hospital. She volunteered and then worked part-time for the Kent Family Center from 2006-2011. Carol relocated from Newark DE full-time in 2005, after spending 30 years in the corporate world. She lives with her husband Mike on the beautiful Sassafras River.
Director
A jack-of-all-trades, Nina has worked in education, tech, and office administration for a number of years. Once the Logistics Director for the non-profit, Drupal4Gov, Nina has gone on to be the organization’s Interim Director of Operations. Beyond that, she daylights as a Middle School English Language Arts teacher to a lovably rowdy group of teens.
A junior Drupal Developer, she has worked with Joomla!, WordPress, and Drupal sites as a tester, content writer, and project manager. Speaking Arabic, Persian, and Japanese to varying degrees of fluency, Nina makes the conscious choice not to sleep and instead voraciously read all manner of books, volunteer, and acquaint herself with her new home, Chestertown.
Now, she is thrilled to join Kent County's United Way in her role as a Board Member.
Director
She and her husband retired to their home in Kentmore Park from Wilmington, DE in June of 2019. Prior to that they were just “weekenders”.
Susan had a very successful sales career that spanned 25 years, and then, as an “encore” career, spent the last seven years of full-time employment as the Fitness Director at a large health club in Hockessin Delaware.
Now living full time in the Chestertown area, Susan is a fitness instructor and starting up the LiveSTRONG Cancer Survivor Program at the local YMCA. Less retired than she intended, but thoroughly enjoying her great passion of keeping people fit and active!
Susan was an active member of the Wilmington Junior League with an emphasis on fundraising and an active volunteer for YMCA fundraising in Chester County, PA.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2021 Form 990
Click to view a copy of our year end 2020 Form 990.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2020 Audit
Click to view a copy of our year end 2019 Form 990.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2018 Form 990.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2018 Financial Review.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2017 Form 990.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2017 Audit
Click to view a copy of our year end 2016 Form 990.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2016 Audit.
Click to view a copy of our year end 2015 Form 990.
Our fiscal year is now July 1- June 30
2022-2023 Annual Report, This FY was Sept 1st – June 30th
Thank you! Champions, Benefactors, Partners, Leaders, Patrons
2017-2018 Annual Report/Brochure