Passes our checks

Becker County United Way

EIN 23-7225418 · Detroit Lakes, MN

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

What it says it does

To maximize community resources and mobilize the caring power to help people in need in Becker County, MN.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

Reserves
28 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 13% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15
Income fell 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 31 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, under $250k).

Independent board
5 of 25
0 of 19 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 May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)

$26,159 spent. Food for Thought Backpack Program distributes approximately 6,400 backpacks with food for a weekend for a hungry child for the 9 months school is in session at a cost of $6.50/bag. It is very important to our mission of mobilizing the caring power to help people in need as determined through a community assessment
$6,903 spent. Community Celebration brings all the partner agencies under one roof for a day so people can access services and programs provided by the partner agencies at no charge to the public and an administration cost of $1.25 per person attending for the United Way to organize. It is important because it maximizes community resources.
$140,150 spent. Money allocated to non-profit agencies as determined by Budget & Allocation committee.
$7,883 spent. DAY OF CARING coordinates over 2,000 volunteers each volunteering 4 hours of service to complete hundreds of projects that address senior needs at a very low cost. It is important to our mission of maximizing resources and mobilizing people.
$3,988 spent. EVERYDAY HERO honors the everyday heroes that live among us. Celebrating and thanking those who devotes their life to making life better for someone else.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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 October 13, 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 May 2026.
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 September 1972.
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 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.