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Sherburne County Area United Way

EIN 23-7057093 · Elk River, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 44% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SHERBURNE COUNTY AREA UNITED WAY STRIVES TO DRIVE LASTING CHANGE IN THE SHERBURNE COUNTY AREA BY UNITING CHANGEMAKERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO DEVELOP INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO LOCAL COMPLEX CHALLENGES THAT CANNOT BE SOLVED ALONE.

Income
$207,698
Spending
$246,991
Spent on programs
44%
Reserves
4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
3
Volunteers
214
Highest pay
$56,700, executive director

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

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    44% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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 91% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $59,037 spent. COMMUNITY SUPPORT - A DIRECT IMPACT PROGRAM WE HAVE IS COMMUNITY CONNECT (PREVIOUSLY PROJECT HOMELESS CONNECT), WHERE WE BRING TOGETHER OVER 40 VENDORS TO OFFER RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TO PEOPLE IN NEED. WE ALSO OFFER FREE LUNCH, HAIRCUTS, AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS SUCH AS HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND HOME WINTERIZING. OVER 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ATTENDED THE EVENT, REPRESENTING OVER 400 PEOPLE WITHIN THE FAMILIES. THE SHORT TERM GOAL OF THE EVENT IS TO OFFER THE RESOURCES TO THE EVENT ATTENDEES. THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE REACH OF RESOURCES AND INFORMATION BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE EVENT BY THE ATTENDEES SHARING THEIR INFORMATION, AS WELL AS GETTING THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHAT ORGANIZATIONS EXIST IN ORDER TO HELP SUPPORT OR BE SUPPORTED BY. ART BRIGHT SINCE OCT. 2021, WE HAVE PROVIDED SESSIONS TO 115 ATTENDEES OF THE PROGRAM. THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL INTERACTION FOR THE AGING POPULATION AND RESPITE FOR MEMORY LOSS CAREGIVERS. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND EDUCATION TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT MEMORY LOSS AND THE GROWING OF THE AGING POPULATION THAT NEEDS SUPPORT. COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE- THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM WITH DIFFERENT AREAS. ONE IS CALLED DIRECTORS UNITED WHICH SERVICES THE ELK RIVER AND BIG LAKE AREA NONPROFIT LEADERS. THE OTHER IS CALLED NONPROFITS UNITED WHICH SERVICES THE PRINCETON AREA NONPROFIT LEADERS. THESE GROUPS BRING TOGETHER NONPROFIT LEADERS TO ENGAGE IN NETWORKING, RESOURCE SHARING, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING WITHIN THE VARIOUS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE SHORT TERM GOAL IS TO CONNECT THE LOCAL NONPROFITS FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS. THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO BUILD LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE NONPROFITS SO THEY CAN RELY ON EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER OUTSIDE
  2. $39,694 spent. AFFILIATE OF DOLLY PARTONS IMAGINATION LIBRARY THE PROGRAM PROVIDES BOOKS FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 5. THE BOOKS ARE MAILED DIRECTLY FROM THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION ONCE A MONTH TO THE REGISTERED CHILDREN. IT IS OUR JOB TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM AND ENROLL THE CHILDREN INTO THE BOOK DATABASE TO PROVIDE ACCURATE INFORMATION TO THE FOUNDATION. IT IS ALSO OUR DUTY TO FUNDRAISE FOR THE PROGRAM IN ORDER TO PAY AN ESTIMATED $2.30 PER BOOK. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 1500 CHILDREN ENROLLED LIVING WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA (INCLUDING THE ZIP CODES: 55309, 55330, 55371, 55377, 55398). SHORT TERM GOAL IS TO GET BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO INCREASE KINDERGARTEN READINESS.
  3. $10,555 spent. DONOR DESIGNATIONS AND SUPPORT - THE ORGANIZATION RUNS FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY BY GIVING OUT GRANTS TO MEMBER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY. SCAUW WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC BY RAISING ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO MEMBER AGENCIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1970.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.