United Way of Greater Cincinnati
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
United Way leads and mobilizes the caring power of individuals and organizations to help people measurably improve their lives.
- Income
- $45.3 million
- Spending
- $50.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 10.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 68%
- Employees
- 139
- Volunteers
- 5,098
- Highest pay
- $549,348, chief executive officer
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 273% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2531 of 32 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 (3)
- $35.5 million spent. Community Impact Solutions United Way of Greater Cincinnati believes all families in our region deserve economic well-being, so we build long-term solutions and align systems to help people thrive. We work closely with communities to identify patterns, uncover the greatest need and change systems so more people have economic stability. We unite individuals, companies and organizations to invest their time, financial resources and talents as part of our movement to bring economic well-being to all families throughout the region. In 2025, United Way focused on creating impact through three key strategies: * We take action. We develop and deploy high-impact solutions to address community-identified needs. We collaborate to achieve shared objectives and create community-owned solutions. * We advocate. We amplify community voice and experience. We develop and advance research, data, tools and recommendations to educate stakeholders, and to drive action. * We invest. We support individuals and families in crisis. And, we fund partners to advance innovative solutions and address systemic challenges to prevent future needs. WE TAKE ACTION Among the accomplishments produced by this strategy in 2024 include: * Assisted more than 700 families in building a stronger financial foundation through United Way's Project LIFT, a public/private partnership that helps families remove barriers to securing sustainable income and achieving financial stability. The program expanded to serve Northern Kentucky and Clermont County. * Helped many families navigate community resources and services. United Way's 211 Helpline responded to more than 51,000 requests, connecting people to resources related to basic needs, housing, utility bills and more. * Completed more than 8,400 tax returns for low-to-moderate-income families through United Way's Free Tax Prep Initiative. Powered by more than 400 volunteers, Free Tax Prep saved taxpayers more than $2.3 million in tax prep fees and helped them obtain nearly $9.7 million in refunds. * Worked with more than 980 Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky families enrolled in United Way's Stable Families program; 24% were able to maintain stable housing for 12 months; 15% increased their income. * Supported more than 700 people, many of them kinship care families, through the Adopt-A-Family effort during the 2025 holidays. WE ADVOCATE * United Way accomplishments produced by this strategy in 2024 include: Partnered with Groundwork Ohio and The Prichard Committee to advance early childhood education in Ohio and Kentucky, including securing $154 million in public investment in child care and preschool in Ohio. * Supported the efforts of the Youth Advisory Board, a United Way partner, to support HB 164 Foster-to-College scholarship bill by submitting written and video testimony. * Announced a new partnership with Broadband Ohio to serve as the backbone agency for the Southwest Ohio Regional Digital Inclusion Alliance and conducted a regional planning process to identify community assets and barriers to close the digital divide. * Engaged the community through United Way's Volunteer Connection. Before the 2024-2025 school year began, collected 3,500 backpacks filled with supplies and distributed them to local students. WE INVEST The accomplishments produced by this strategy in 2024 include: * United Way invested $37.2 million in 2024 to build a thriving community. * The above total included $32.6 million in new solutions and prevention support that encourage economic well-being, and $4.6 million in critical services that address immediate needs. * More than 330,000 people were served in our region. * More than 600 community partners helped families daily. * United Way also administered $5.1 million in public funds to support strategic community initiatives.
- $4.5 million spent. Direct Services See Schedule O Direct Services Direct Services are services provided by UWGC, such as United Way 211 and United Way Volunteer Connection. United Way 211 and Care Coordination links people to services and volunteer opportunities. United Way 211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to people in: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, and Warren in Ohio and Boone, Kenton, Campbell, and Grant counties in Kentucky. United Way Volunteer Connection strives to increase the effectiveness and participation of all segments of volunteer resources through recruitment, training, education, and recognition. United Way VITA program provides free income tax preparation and filing services.
- $3.6 million spent. Donor Designations See Schedule O Donor Designations Donor Designations As part of the UWGC campaign, donors may designate all or a portion of their pledge to a UWGC initiative or impact area, a UWGC agency partner, or another United Way. Some donors are able to designate to any 501(c)(3) organization, based on their company's giving platform. Organizations receiving donor designated contributions through UWGC undergo screening prior to distribution of funding. Screening includes verification of compliance with the provisions of the Patriot Act and verification of current status as an IRS code section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Designations received in the fall campaign are distributed the following year based upon amounts collected.
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 October 1955.
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.