United Way of Chester County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO UNITE PEOPLE AND MOBILIZE RESOURCES TO BUILD BETTER LIVES AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 3.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 50
- Highest pay
- $193,132, president/ce
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
Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 24% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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 2524 of 24 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 (2)
- $1.1 million spent. CHESTER COUNTY UNITED WAY'S AGENCY RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS DEDICATED TO MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS. BY BUILDING AND NURTURING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS, THE TEAM ENSURES THAT VITAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES REACH THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST. OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH FOCUSES ON WISE FUND ALLOCATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT CREATE A LASTING, POSITIVE IMPACT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO FOSTER A THRIVING, RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR ALL. IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST FISCAL YEAR: -THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS ASSISTED WAS 132,177. - INVESTED 1,600,000: THROUGH A COMBINATION OF GRANTS TO 35 AGENCIES, SPECIAL INITIATIVE FUNDING, AND DONOR DESIGNATIONS, WE STRATEGICALLY INVESTED 1.6 MILLION DIRECTLY INTO THE CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY. THIS FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS. - PREPARED 3,677 TAX RETURNS: OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM, A CORNERSTONE OF OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY EFFORTS, HELPED RESIDENTS PREPARE 3,677 TAX RETURNS, GENERATING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER 5 MILLION. BY OFFERING FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES, WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR REFUNDS AND USE THOSE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATIONS. - COMPLETED 59 MOBILE HOME TAX REASSESSMENT APPEALS: WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR 59 MOBILE HOMEOWNERS, AS PART OF OUR ONGOING MOBILE HOME TAX REASSESSMENT INITIATIVE. THIS EFFORT HAS NOW PUSHED THE TOTAL ASSESSMENTS TO 1,111, RESULTING IN A PROJECTED 9 MILLION IN SAVINGS FOR MOBILE HOME OWNERS OVER A DECADE. THESE SAVINGS PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH MUCH-NEEDED FINANCIAL RELIEF, STABILITY, AND SECURITY. -PROVIDED FINANCIAL COACHING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: NEARLY 286 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY CENTER'S PERSONALIZED COACHING, COUNSELING, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. BY OFFERING TAILORED ASSISTANCE, WE EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS, WHETHER IT'S BUDGETING, SAVING FOR A HOME, OR MANAGING DEBT. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT UNITED WAY OF CHESTER COUNTY'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. WE BELIEVE THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE, POSITIVE CHANGE. OUR FOCUS ON COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ENSURES THAT EVERY DOLLAR AND EFFORT INVESTED MAKES A REAL, MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE, HELPING TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE, PROSPEROUS CHESTER COUNTY FOR ALL. CHESTER COUNTY UNITED WAY'S AGENCY RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS DEDICATED TO MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS. BY BUILDING AND NURTURING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS, THE TEAM ENSURES THAT VITAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES REACH THOSE WHO NEED THEM MOST. OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH FOCUSES ON WISE FUND ALLOCATION, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT CREATE A LASTING, POSITIVE IMPACT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO FOSTER A THRIVING, RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR ALL. IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST FISCAL YEAR: -THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHESTER COUNTY RESIDENTS ASSISTED WAS 132,177. - INVESTED 1,600,000: THROUGH A COMBINATION OF GRANTS TO 35 AGENCIES, SPECIAL INITIATIVE FUNDING, AND DONOR DESIGNATIONS, WE STRATEGICALLY INVESTED 1.6 MILLION DIRECTLY INTO THE CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY. THIS FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ENHANCING THE CAPACITY OF OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS. - PREPARED 3,677 TAX RETURNS: OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) PROGRAM, A CORNERSTONE OF OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY EFFORTS, HELPED RESIDENTS PREPARE 3,677 TAX RETURNS, GENERATING AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER 5 MILLION. BY OFFERING FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES, WE EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO MAXIMIZE THEIR REFUNDS AND USE THOSE RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL SITUATIONS. - COMPLETED 59 MOBILE HOME TAX REASSESSMENT APPEALS: WE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR 59 MOBILE HOMEOWNERS, AS PART OF OUR ONGOING MOBILE HOME TAX REASSESSMENT INITIATIVE. THIS EFFORT HAS NOW PUSHED THE TOTAL ASSESSMENTS TO 1,111, RESULTING IN A PROJECTED 9 MILLION IN SAVINGS FOR MOBILE HOME OWNERS OVER A DECADE. THESE SAVINGS PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH MUCH-NEEDED FINANCIAL RELIEF, STABILITY, AND SECURITY. -PROVIDED FINANCIAL COACHING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: NEARLY 286 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITED FROM OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY CENTER'S PERSONALIZED COACHING, COUNSELING, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. BY OFFERING TAILORED ASSISTANCE, WE EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO ACHIEVE THEIR FINANCIAL GOALS, WHETHER IT'S BUDGETING, SAVING FOR A HOME, OR MANAGING DEBT. THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT UNITED WAY OF CHESTER COUNTY'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. WE BELIEVE THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE, POSITIVE CHANGE. OUR FOCUS ON COLLABORATION, INNOVATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY ENSURES THAT EVERY DOLLAR AND EFFORT INVESTED MAKES A REAL, MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE, HELPING TO BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE, PROSPEROUS CHESTER COUNTY FOR ALL.
- $400,152 spent. CHESTER COUNTY UNITED WAY'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES ARE DESIGNED TO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT LOCAL CHALLENGES, MOBILIZE VOLUNTEERS, AND COLLABORATE WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY FOR ALL ITS RESIDENTS. BELOW IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF OUR IMPACT FROM LAST FISCAL YEAR: 209 UNIQUE NONPROFIT AGENCIES BENEFITTED FROM AI AND OTHER DIGITAL SERVICES WORKSHOPS TO BETTER SERVE THEIR CLIENTS; RAISED 293,500 FOR OUR COMMUNITY IMPACT & INNOVATION FUND THROUGH SPECIAL EVENTS; OFFERED OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING AT NO COST TO 47 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SAVING THEM AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF 92,566.
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 July 1984.
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.