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United Way of Forsyth County Inc

EIN 23-7357234 · Winston Salem, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak34 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF FORSYTH COUNTY IS A CATALYST FOR STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY BY IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING ITS MOST SIGNIFICANT NEEDS THROUGH ALIGNMENT OF RESOURCES AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE MEASUREABLE, LASTING IMPACT.

Income
$9.6 million
Spending
$10.8 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-10.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
46
Volunteers
2,279
Highest pay
$271,837, president &

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

Weak: 34 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 226% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 32 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 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 (5)
  1. $3.2 million spent. UNITED WAY'S APPROACH TO CREATING LASTING CHANGES IN COMMUNITY OUTCOMES BY INVESTING FUNDING IN COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVES FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, ECONOMIC STABILITY AND HEALTH. UNITED WAY ENCOURAGES FUNDED PARTNERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
  2. $831,277 spent. UNITED WAY'S APPROACH TO CREATING LASTING CHANGES IN COMMUNITY OUTCOMES BY INVESTING FUNDING IN A PLACEBASED STRATEGY (PLACE MATTERS) IN THIRTEEN NEIGHBORHOODS IN NORTHEAST WINSTON SALEM. UNITED WAY ENCOURAGES FUNDED PARTNERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS.
  3. $4.4 million spent. HOUSING MATTERS IS AN INITIATIVE OF UNITED WAY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM AND FORSYTH COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE WINSTON-SALEM/FORSYTH COUNTY CONTINUUM OF CARE IMPLEMENT AND ACHIEVE ITS STRATEGIC GOALS. UNITED WAY'S STAFF SPECFICIALLLY PROVIDES LEADERSHIP TO THE CONTINUUM OF CARE INCLUDING THE COMMISSION ON ENDING HOMELESSNESS, OPERATES THE COMMUNITY INTAKE CENTER AND PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND COORDINATION TO THE FORSYTH RAPID RE-HOUSING COLLABORATIVE.
  4. $359,031 spent. THE FORSYTH PROMISE FACILITATES EDUCATION-FOCUSED COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-WIDE PLANNING AND ACTION. WE PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK TO HELP ALL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WORK EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER TOWARD THE GOAL OF IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR FORSYTH COUNTY'S STUDENTS FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. OUR CORE VALUES ARE EDUCATION EQUITY, INCLUSIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING. THE WINSTON-SALEM POVERTY THOUGHT FORCE IS A COMMUNITY WIDE COLLABORATION SPEARHEADED BY THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM TO IDENTIFY STEPS BOTH FEASIBLE AND IMPACTFUL TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN POVERTY. THE POVERTY THOUGHT FORCE WAS FORMED IN OCTOBER 2015 AND COMPRISES 22 MEMBERS REPRESENTING A BROAD RANGE OF WINSTON-SALEM'S CIVIC AND ACADEMIC INSITITUTIONS. THE POVERTY THOUGHT FORCE HAS FIVE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT FOCUS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POVERTY, INCLUDING HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, JOBS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS, AND HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.
  5. THE FORSYTH PROMISE FACILITATES EDUCATION-FOCUSED COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY-WIDE PLANNING AND ACTION. WE PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK TO HELP ALL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS WORK EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER TOWARD THE GOAL OF IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR FORSYTH COUNTY'S STUDENTS FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. OUR CORE VALUES ARE EDUCATION EQUITY, INCLUSIVE STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING. THE WINSTON-SALEM POVERTY THOUGHT FORCE IS A COMMUNITY WIDE COLLABORATION SPEARHEADED BY THE CITY OF WINSTON-SALEM TO IDENTIFY STEPS BOTH FEASIBLE AND IMPACTFUL TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS LIVING IN POVERTY. THE POVERTY THOUGHT FORCE WAS FORMED IN OCTOBER 2015 AND COMPRISES 22 MEMBERS REPRESENTING A BROAD RANGE OF WINSTON-SALEM'S CIVIC AND ACADEMIC INSITITUTIONS. THE POVERTY THOUGHT FORCE HAS FIVE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT FOCUS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POVERTY, INCLUDING HEALTH AND WELLNESS, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, JOBS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND LIFE SKILLS, AND HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITY.

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 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 June 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 1974.

    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.

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