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The United Way of Northern New York Inc

EIN 15-0543356 · Watertown, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong96 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNITE COMMUNITIES, RESOURCES, AND PARTNERS TO COLLABORATIVELY ADDRESS LOCAL NEEDS, FOSTER IMPACTFUL PROGRAMMING, AND ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
18.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
35
Volunteers
221
Highest pay
$103,507, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 96 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $881,003 spent. UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW YORK (UWNNY) DIRECTS RESOURCES TOWARD HIGH- IMPACT, VITAL INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON, LEWIS, AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTIES. COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMMING IS GUIDED BY DATA, COMMUNITY INPUT, AND A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. FUNDING DECISIONS ARE INFORMED BY A VOLUNTEER REVIEW PROCESS THAT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, HELPING TO ENSURE EQUITY AND ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS. UWNNY PROVIDES SUPPORT TO LOW-INCOME WORKERS, REFERRED TO AS ALICE (ASSET- LIMITED, INCOME-CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED), CONNECTING THEM TO COACHING, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. THE PROGRAM HELPS STABILIZE UNDER-RESOURCED WORKERS, REDUCE TURNOVER, AND STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM WORKFORCE RETENTION ACROSS THE REGION. UWNNY FACILITATES BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY TRAINING FOR EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HELPING TO BUILD SHARED UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORTING UNDER- RESOURCED POPULATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED A NEW DIRECT SERVICE INITIATIVE IN SEPTEMBER 2024: A LICENSED SCHOOL AGED CHILD CARE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORRISTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN RURAL AREAS. SERVICES INCLUDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND HEALTHY SNACKS. IN 2025, UWNNY SPONSORED PROGRAMMING IMPACTED THE LIVES OF 31,124 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE TRI-COUNTY AREA, INCLUDING 10,615 CHILDREN. UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW YORK (UWNNY) DIRECTS RESOURCES TOWARD HIGH- IMPACT, VITAL INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT JEFFERSON, LEWIS, AND ST. LAWRENCE COUNTIES. COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMMING IS GUIDED BY DATA, COMMUNITY INPUT, AND A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES IN HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. FUNDING DECISIONS ARE INFORMED BY A VOLUNTEER REVIEW PROCESS THAT INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE, HELPING TO ENSURE EQUITY AND ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS. UWNNY PROVIDES SUPPORT TO LOW-INCOME WORKERS, REFERRED TO AS ALICE (ASSET- LIMITED, INCOME-CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED), CONNECTING THEM TO COACHING, RESOURCE NAVIGATION, AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. THE PROGRAM HELPS STABILIZE UNDER-RESOURCED WORKERS, REDUCE TURNOVER, AND STRENGTHEN LONG-TERM WORKFORCE RETENTION ACROSS THE REGION. UWNNY FACILITATES BRIDGES OUT OF POVERTY TRAINING FOR EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HELPING TO BUILD SHARED UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR SUPPORTING UNDER- RESOURCED POPULATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED A NEW DIRECT SERVICE INITIATIVE IN SEPTEMBER 2024: A LICENSED SCHOOL AGED CHILD CARE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORRISTOWN CENTRAL SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM ADDRESSES THE SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE IN RURAL AREAS. SERVICES INCLUDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, AND HEALTHY SNACKS. IN 2025, UWNNY SPONSORED PROGRAMMING IMPACTED THE LIVES OF 31,124 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE TRI-COUNTY AREA, INCLUDING 10,615 CHILDREN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 October 1942.

    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.