Six United Ways in the Finger Lakes region are merging to form the United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. The new organization will serve Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario and Wayne counties.

Officials say the move will make a more powerful and efficient organization.

“People and businesses function across local geographic boundaries,” said Jaime Saunders, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, in a statement. “Working together more cohesively across the region will make it easier for our business partners and donors to share resources, and our nonprofit partners to get elevated support so they can remain focused on providing services.”

“The real power of United Way comes from the community,” said Lauren Dixon, board chair of United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, in a statement. “As neighbors come together in support of neighbors, United Way becomes a conduit for connecting those resources to the most pressing needs of each community. This merged organization will combine the power of the entire region with an intensely localized focus.” 

The United Way says that it will return to pre-pandemic funding levels, and announced $125,000 in allocations to nonprofits in Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming counties.