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United Way Worldwide

EIN 13-1635294 · Alexandria, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$72.4 million
Spending
$75.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
0.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 57%
Employees
245
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$929,417, chief executive officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $29.9 million spent. GLOBAL NETWORK ADVANCEMENT - THE GLOBAL NETWORK ADVANCEMENT TEAM PROVIDES GOVERNANCE, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, PROGRAM AND CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT, MEMBER GRANT DISTRIBUTION SERVICES, AND TRAINING TO UNITED WAY MEMBERS AROUND THE WORLD.
  2. $11.1 million spent. DONOR ADVISED GIVING (DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL) - THE UNITED WAY DONOR ADVISED GIVING PROGRAM (DAF & IDAG) FACILITATES GRANTS TO DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY PROGRAM CONTRIBUTORS THAT MEET PROGRAMMATIC OR GEOGRAPHIC INTERESTS OF BOTH THE DONOR AND UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE.
  3. $12.0 million spent. BRAND STRATEGY AND MARKETING - THE GLOBAL BRAND STRATEGY AND MARKETING TEAM PROVIDES SUPPORT IN ALL BRAND IDENTITY TO UNITED WAY MEMBERS AND CONSISTENCY MATTERS INCLUDING MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND OUR PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION IN ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD AND TO STRENGTHEN TRUST IN THE UNITED WAY BRAND AROUND THE WORLD.
  4. $4.9 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES - OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE THE SUPPORT FOR THE 211 PLATFORM WHICH PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ON LOCAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE PRODUCTION AND DELIVERY OF TRAINING PROGRAMS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNITED WAY VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, AND PARTNERS; AND PROVIDING LICENSING RIGHTS TO SELECT VENDORS TO SELL PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS BEARING THE UNITED WAY BRAND AND TRADEMARKS. TOTAL PART III, LINE 4D AMOUNTS ARE REPORTED BELOW:

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1934.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.