United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO MOBILIZE THE CARING POWER OF DETROIT AND SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN TO IMPROVE COMMUNITIES AND INDIVIDUAL LIVES IN MEASURABLE AND LASTING WAYS.
- Income
- $112.3 million
- Spending
- $115.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 86%
- Employees
- 237
- Volunteers
- 8,712
- Highest pay
- $441,679, chief executive officer
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 58 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2541 of 41 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 September 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)
- $17.9 million spent. MEETING BASIC NEEDS: IN OUR FOUR-COUNTY REGION, WHICH IS HOME TO NEARLY HALF THE STATE'S POPULATION, 42% OF FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO AFFORD A BASIC, NO-FRILLS MONTHLY BUDGET, ACCORDING TO UNITED WAY'S 2025 ALICE REPORT. THAT MEANS TOO MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE MAKING IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES BETWEEN NECESSITIES LIKE FOOD, HOUSING, CHILD CARE, AND TRANSPORTATION.UNITED WAY MEETS FAMILIES IN THESE MOMENTS WITH BOTH URGENCY AND INTENTION. THROUGH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERS, PROGRAMS, AND ADVOCACY, WE HELP FAMILIES MOVE FROM CRISIS TO STABILITY AND FROM STABILITY TO PROSPERITY. LAST YEAR, OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT GRANTS SUPPORTED MORE THAN 290,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN.THROUGH OUR CONNECT4CARE NETWORK, WE HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE WHAT CAN OFTEN FEEL LIKE A FRAGMENTED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT CONNECTING THEM TO THE RIGHT RESOURCES AT THE RIGHT TIME WHILE WORKING ALONGSIDE PARTNERS TO BUILD A MORE COORDINATED, PERSON-CENTERED SYSTEM OF CARE. LAST YEAR, OUR 211 CALL CENTER SERVED AS THE FRONT DOOR INTO THE SOCIAL SERVICES ECOSYSTEM HANDLING 148,781 CONNECTIONS.PRIORITY INITIATIVES & PROGRAMS 211 HELPLINE & SOCIAL NAVIGATION CONNECT4CARE COMMUNITY INFORMATION EXCHANGE BASIC NEEDS GRANTS UTILITY ASSISTANCE
- $65.9 million spent. CREATING YOUTH OPPORTUNITY: CHILDREN THRIVE WHEN THEY HAVE ACCESS TO SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND ENRICHING ENVIRONMENTS AND WHEN THE SYSTEMS AROUND THEM ARE DESIGNED TO HELP THEM SUCCEED. UNITED WAY PARTNERS WITH EDUCATORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE WHOLE CHILD PREPARING THEM FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS.OUR WORK STRENGTHENS IN-SCHOOL AND OUT-OF-SCHOOL LEARNING AND FILLS CRITICAL GAPS THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL LITERACY AND STEAM PROGRAMMING. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS ENSURE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO LEARN, GROW, AND SUCCEED IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD.LAST YEAR, OUR YOUTH-FOCUSED PROGRAMS REACHED MORE THAN 83,000 CHILDREN ACROSS THE REGION.PRIORITY INITIATIVES & PROGRAMS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MY HOME LIBRARY BOOK FAIRS BUILDING FOUNDATIONS SUMMER DISCOVERY STEM EDUCATION GRANTS LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES MAKERSPACES & STEMPOSSIBLE
- $2.7 million spent. PROMOTING PROSPERITY: FAMILIES CAN'T BUILD A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE WITHOUT FINANCIAL STABILITY. UNITED WAY HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR FINANCES, REDUCE BARRIERS, AND BUILD TOWARD LONG-TERM SECURITY.THROUGH FREE TAX PREPARATION, FINANCIAL COACHING, AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT, WE HELP FAMILIES KEEP MORE OF WHAT THEY EARN AND PLAN FOR WHAT'S AHEAD. IN 2025, OUR COALITION PARTNERS FILED MORE THAN 20,000 TAX RETURNS, SECURING OVER $30 MILLION IN REFUNDS FOR ALICE FAMILIES DOLLARS THAT GO DIRECTLY BACK INTO HOUSEHOLDS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.PRIORITY INITIATIVES & PROGRAMS VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) RIDE UNITED FINANCIAL COACHING
- $19.7 million spent. OTHER: UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN FUNDS, SUPPORTS AND ADMINISTERS SEVERAL ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT THE OVERALL HEALTH, WELL-BEING AND EQUITY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS RESIDENTS. OUR 2-1-1 HELPLINE CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A VITAL RESOURCE FOR THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, FOOD PANTRIES AND MORE AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED AND INFLATION IMPACTED HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS. AS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY AND OTHER EQUITY-FOCUSED ISSUES, WE CONTINUED TO AWARD RACIAL EQUITY FUND GRANTS, NOW TOTALING $3.2 MILLION SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION IN 2022. WE HAVE CONTINUED HOSTING 21-DAY EQUITY CHALLENGE EVENTS AIMED AT ENGAGING AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO MOBILIZED THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND ADVOCATES TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES AND USE THEIR VOICES TO PUSH FOR POLICIES THAT HELP WORKING FAMILIES. LASTLY, WE PROVIDE GRANTS AND PAY DESIGNATIONS TO MORE THAN 120 NONPROFIT AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN. MORE THAN1 MILLION PEOPLE ARE IMPACTED THROUGH THE INVESTMENT OF RESOURCES IN EDUCATION, INCOME, AND BASIC NEEDS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.