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United Way of Bergen County

EIN 22-6028959 · Paramus, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF BERGEN COUNTY'S UNITED WAY IS TO CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED WITH RESOURCES THROUGH NJ211, TO STABILIZE FAMILIES ON THE VERGE OF LOSING THEIR HOUSING THROUGH THE COMPASSION FUND AND TO DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS, VETERANS, FAMILIES AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

Income
$13.8 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
20.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
15
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$217,860, president & ceo

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

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 20.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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

    10 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 March 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 (3)
  1. $12.3 million spent. UWBC PROCESSES SEVERAL WORKPLACE GIVING CAMPAIGNS. AS PART OF THIS WORKPLACE, GIVING EMPLOYEES CAN CHOOSE TO DESIGNATE THEIR DONATION TO AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE AN IRS APPROVED 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION.
  2. $592,540 spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSING BERGEN COUNTY'S UNITED WAY WORKS TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY BY BUILDING SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS, VETERANS, WORKING FAMILIES AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES (I.E., DOWN SYNDROME, AUTISM, AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS). THE ORGANIZATION MANAGES ALL ASPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT FROM SITE ACQUISITION AND FINANCING TO CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE COORDINATION. BERGEN COUNTY'S UNITED WAY HAS BUILT 47 AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS THESE PROJECTS SERVE OVER 1,100 SENIORS, FAMILIES AND ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES EACH DAY. ANOTHER 8 DEVELOPMENTS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
  3. $53,111 spent. NJ211 BERGEN COUNTY'S UNITED WAY PROVIDES OVERSIGHT OF THE NATIONALLY ACCREDITED NJ211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. ACCESS TO NJ211 IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, MULTILINGUAL, AND ALWAYS OPEN. NJ211 CONNECTS THESE CALLERS TO ITS NETWORK OF OVER 2100 AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE MORE THAN 5,900 SERVICES SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, FOOD ASSISTANCE AND HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION. IN 2024, NJ211 HELPED OVER 382,000 PEOPLE FIND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE RESOURCES IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 March 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 February 1965.

    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.