United Way of Tompkins County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF UNITED WAY OF TOMPKINS COUNTY IS TO STRENGTHEN LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 79
- Highest pay
- $109,782, chief development & operating officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 5% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 (4)
- $799,897 spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THROUGH GRANTS: UWTC'S COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS EMPOWERS PEOPLE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN TOMPKINS COUNTY TO HELP WITH GRANT DECISIONS WHERE THEY HAVE THE MOST IMPACT. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY CARE FUND, THE TMS FLEXIBLE FUND, AND THREE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANT CYCLES, VOLUNTEERS WORK IN TEAMS TO DETERMINE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UWTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE REVIEW TEAMS MEET TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS AND FUNDING PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY UWTC. THEY ALSO VET THE PROGRAMS BASED ON PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND IMPACT INFORMATION, BUDGET AND PROGRAM REVIEWS, AS WELL AS ORGANIZATIONAL AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE.
- $162,219 spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THROUGH DIRECT SUPPORT PROGRAMMING: UWTC'S COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH DIRECT SUPPORT PROGRAMMING BRINGS UWTC STAFF TOGETHER WITH VOLUNTEERS, AGENCIES, AND BUSINESSES TO HELP MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY STRENGTHEN THEIR LIVES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE THE UW/2-1-1 ALICE PROGRAM, THE 2-1-1 CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM, URGENT RX, AND EMERGENCY FOOD DELIVERIES. THESE INVESTMENTS DIFFER FROM GRANTS IN THAT THEY ALL ARE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM UWTC STAFF AND COLLABORATING PARTNERS.
- $301,563 spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS THROUGH DESIGNATIONS TO SPECIFIC AGENCIES: UWTC FUNDS PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY ANY 501C3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHO IS COMPLIANT WITH THE PATRIOT ACT BASED ON DONOR DESIGNATIONS TO SAID AGENCIES.
- PLANNING AND OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES: PLANNING FUTURE PROGRAMS AND CONTINUING SUPPORT OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1957.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 7, 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.