Lakes and Prairie United Way
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MOBILIZING DOUGLAS AND POPE COUNTY RESOURCES TO CREATE SUSTAINED CHANGES IN COMMUNITY CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE LIVES.
- Income
- $857,464
- Spending
- $909,164
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 1.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 1,601
- Highest pay
- $105,322, 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
Weak: 44 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 92% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 (1)
- $683,378 spent. UNITED WAY HAD THE FOLLOWING IMPACT ON DOUGLAS AND POPE COUNTIES IN 2024-2025.-PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD TO KIDS OVER THE WEEKENDS IN DOUGLAS & POPE COUNTIES THROUGH THE BACKPACK ATTACK PROGRAM. 662 CHILDREN PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE SERVED.-PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD TO DOUGLAS & POPE COUNTY RESIDENTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS THROUGH OUR FOOD DROP. 2,154 HOUSEHOLDS WERE SERVED.-PROVIDED 328 BACKPACKS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO STUDENTS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH THE STUFF THE BUS PROGRAM.-INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES SPONSOR CHILDREN TO BUY THEM PRESENTS DURING THE HOLIDAYS THROUGH OUR HOLIDAY GIFT PROGRAM. DONATIONS ALSO CAME IN TO BUY GIFTS. 941 CHILDREN WERE SPONSORED THIS YEAR.-OVER 340 8TH GRADE STUDENTS WENT OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY TO HELP RESIDENTS WITH YARD WORK THIS SPRING.-PROVIDE RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ALLOW THEM TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT THROUGH OUR EQUIPPED TO WORK PROGRAM. 42 INDIVIDUALS SERVED THIS YEAR.-WARM WINTER WEAR IS PROVIDED TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED IT IN THE COLD MONTHS. 242 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 822 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED.-LICENSED TEACHERS AND AN INTERN PROVIDE 90 MINUTES OF LEARNING AT EACH OF THE 10-12 AREA PARKS WEEKLY FOR 10 WEEKS OF THE SUMMER. THIS IS FREE PROGRAMMING FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 3-10 YEARS OLD. TEACHERS READ BOOKS, DO CRAFTS, PLAY GAMES AND ACTIVITIES, PROVIDE A SNACK AND CHILDREN GET TO TAKE HOME A BOOK AT THE END OF EVERY SESSION. 1,797 CHILDREN ATTENDED LAST SUMMER.
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 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 June 2025.
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 July 1975.
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.