United Ways of California

06/12/2026

A significant milestone for a bill is to make it out of its house of origin—and AB 1832 just cleared it. AB 1832, the 211 Infrastructure and Emergency Response Act by Assemblymember Ransom, passed the Assembly Floor vote and now moves to the Senate!

This bill addresses critical gaps in local 211 funding and would help the 211 network support even more Californians in times of crisis. As proud co-sponsors, we're committed to rallying even more support in the Senate as the bill moves forward.

05/29/2026

Children born in California after 7/1/22 qualify for a free 529 college savings account through CalKIDS! They can receive money from the state just for signing up.

Learn more at

A United Ways of California Program. We’re by your side on your path to financial empowerment with the tools & resources you need to achieve your financial goals and manage your money with confidence.

05/29/2026

Los niños nacidos en California después del 1 de julio de 2022 pueden obtener una cuenta gratuita de ahorro 529 para la universidad a través de CalKIDS. Pueden recibir dinero solo por inscribirse.

Obtenga más información en

Un programa United Ways of California . Estamos a su lado en su camino hacia el empoderamiento financiero con las herramientas y los recursos que necesita para alcanzar sus metas financieras y administrar su dinero con confianza.

05/23/2026

“Diversity is unity.” — Baldwin Chiu

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, United Ways of California, with support from United Way, hosted a special screening of Far East Deep South, with a live reflection and Q&A session with the film's producer and lead subject, Baldwin Chiu, for United Way staff. This event honoring cultural diversity and history through storytelling and dialogue is part of our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion.

We are grateful for the film and to Baldwin Chiu for joining us as well as all of the United Way staff from across the country who participated.

05/21/2026

529 Accounts like the state's ScholarShare program help California families save for education. Even small contributions over time can help. The state is providing an extra $50 for families that open a new account this month and contribute $50/month for the next 6 months.

05/19/2026

Governor Newsom shared the details of his final May Revision to California’s 2026-27 state budget, an update to the Governor’s January budget proposal based on the latest economic information and conditions.

Even in tough economic realities, California should always avoid balancing its budget on the backs of our most vulnerable communities, and so we call for adjustments to the final state budget to ensure it prioritizes Californians who need support the most.

Read our full statement: unitedwaysca.org/may-revise-2026-statement

We urge the Governor and legislators to prioritize investments that uplift our most vulnerable communities.

05/11/2026

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we asked United Way staff across the state what the observance meant to them. Linda Yu of United Way Monterey County shares:

"My parents were immigrants at a difficult time in American history. I am grateful for their courage, for their fearlessness in taking on and shielding us from the Anti-Asian sentiment while growing up, and for their ability to stand up in the process. I use my voice in the spirit of my parents who endured and always managed to share their point of view. I am grateful to have taken on those traits. All voices should be heard and all voices matter."

05/07/2026

Providing flexible cash to working families makes a significant difference in their financial security. We’ve seen this time and time again with refundable tax credits and guaranteed income programs.

Recently we also saw this with our Farm and Food Worker Relief Program, implemented in collaboration with 15 local United Ways across the state and funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. We’re proud to share that an overwhelming portion of relief beneficiaries had a good experience with the program and found the payment to be helpful; almost all used the payment to help cover essential household needs.

04/14/2026

AB 1832, the 211 Infrastructure and Emergency Response Act by Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, is heading to the Communications & Conveyance Committee on 4/15. AB 1832 addresses urgent vulnerabilities in local 211 funding.

If left unaddressed, these vulnerabilities risk 211 service shutdown or service cuts in over a dozen counties and threaten the state’s growing reliance on this essential community service and critical communications infrastructure that Californians access year-round and during disasters.

Support state funding for #211: go.unitedwaysca.org/fund-211

04/09/2026

Already filed your tax return? We have tips for considering how to use your refund if you received one, how to plan ahead to understand whether you might owe taxes next year, and how to prepare financially if you are likely to owe.

Whether you got a refund or not, here are some considerations to think through as you plan your finances with both possibilities in mind.