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The United Way of the Greater Dayton Area

EIN 31-0536658 · Dayton, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO LEAD A UNITED COMMUNITY TO UPLIFT OUR NEIGHBORS. UNITED WAY GENERATES FINANCIAL AND VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS AND MAKE LASTING IMPROVEMENT TO THE REGION'S QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
8.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
45
Volunteers
669
Highest pay
$170,425, president/ceo/board sec

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: 62 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 42 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

    16 of 16 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. FUND GRANTS, DONOR DESIGNATIONS, AND VOLUNTEER CONNECTION: UNITED WAY FUNDS LOCAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES THROUGH A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROCESS TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. KNOWLEDGEABLE VOLUNTEERS STUDY THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS ON HOW BEST TO MEET THE NEEDS AND FILL GAPS WITH GRANTS FROM UNITED WAY FUNDS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THESE PROGRAMS SERVED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE DAYTON REGION.
  2. $511,245 spent. UNITED WAY'S HELPLINK 2-1-1 IS A FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE PROVIDED 24-HOURS-A-DAY, 365-DAYS-A-YEAR. HELPLINK 2-1-1 MAINTAINS THE REGION'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND IS CONNECTED WITH SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND COUNTY. HELPLINK OFFERS INFORMATION, REFERRALS, ADVOCACY AND SCHEDULES APPOINTMENTS FOR THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND CONDUCTS OUTREACH TO DISLOCATED WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. HELPLINK 2-1-1 PROVIDES AN AFTER-HOUR ANSWERING SERVICE FOR NONPROFIT AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND CASE CONSULTATION SERVICE FOR FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, HELPLINK 2-1-1 RECEIVED 56,896 CALLS AND PROVIDED 45,444 REFERRALS FOR VARIOUS NEEDS. ALSO THROUGH OUR SEARCHABLE DATABASE ONLINE WE RECEIVED 9,897 ONLINE SITE VISITS WITH 4,113 SEARCHES FOR RESOURCES. OUR TOP 3 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FELL INTO THESE THREE CATEGORIES; RENT PAYMENT ASSISTANCE 14,149, UTILITY PAYMENT ASSISTANCE 8,626, AND FOOD PANTRIES 7,047. ALSO ESTABLISHED A DATA DASHBOARD THROUGH 211 COUNTS TO SHOW THE MINIMUM NEEDS IN OUR 9 COUNTY AREA: MONTGOMERY, GREENE, PREBLE, CLARK, CHAMPAIGN, MADISON, MUSKINGUM, MORGAN, AND PERRY COUNTIES TO THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES BY ZIP CODE, COUNTY.
  3. $213,025 spent. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER DAYTON AREA, THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND FREEDOM SCHOOLS PROGRAM, SERVED STUDENTS AT THREE SITES THROUGHOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO. DURING THE SUMMER BREAK FROM SCHOOL, THE FREEDOM SCHOOLS PROGRAM PROVIDES READING AND LEARNING ENRICHMENT AND PLAYS A MUCH NEEDED ROLE IN HELPING TO CURB SUMMER LEARNING LOSS AND CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.
  4. $161,355 spent. PREBLE AND GREENE COUNTY PROGRAM SERVICES.

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 August 1942.

    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.

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.