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United Way of Fairfield County

EIN 31-0644804 · Lancaster, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

"IMPROVING LIVES THROUGH THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY" - WE WILL FOCUS OUR RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON COMMUNITY NEEDS. WE WILL CREATE LONG-TERM CHANGE BY MEASURING RESULTS.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
3.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
8
Volunteers
545
Highest pay
$66,199, director of

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 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. THE MISSION OF THE UNITED WAY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY IS TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY. UNITED WAY'S STRENGTH IS ITS ABILITY TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO MAKE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY. USING THESE STRENGTHS, THE UNITED WAY HAS SET BOLD GOALS TO DELIVER SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY ISSUES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. PARTNERING WITH 24 FAIRFIELD COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, THE UNITED WAY HAS ALLOCATED FUNDS TO 26 PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO ACCESS EDUCATION, TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, AND THE WORK TOWARDS FINANCIAL STABILITY. THE MISSION OF THE UNITED WAY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY IS TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY. UNITED WAY'S STRENGTH IS ITS ABILITY TO BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AND TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES TO MAKE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY. USING THESE STRENGTHS, THE UNITED WAY HAS SET BOLD GOALS TO DELIVER SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY ISSUES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. PARTNERING WITH 24 FAIRFIELD COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES, THE UNITED WAY HAS ALLOCATED FUNDS TO 26 PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO ACCESS EDUCATION, TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH, AND THE WORK TOWARDS FINANCIAL STABILITY.
  2. $36,060 spent. THE UNITED WAY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY OFFERS FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX SITE (VITA) AND FOR ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 60 THROUGH OUR TAX COUNSELING FOR ELDERLY SITE (TCE). OUR VITA SITE PROVIDED FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR MORE THAN 1,032 INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES DURING THE 2025 TAX SEASON. OUR TCE SITE PREPARED OVER 250 TAX RETURNS DURING 2025. BOTH SITES UTILIZE IRS CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS TO PREPARE AND FILE THE RETURNS. CLIENTS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 1.3 MILLION IN REFUNDS.
  3. $141,360 spent. THE UNITED WAY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OHIO GOVERNOR'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY AND THE DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, IS WORKING TO IMPROVE THE KINDERGARTEN READINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY BY FURNISHING BOOKS TO OVER 5,600 PRESCHOOL AGED CHILDREN IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY EACH MONTH.

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 May 1957.

    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.