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United Way of Kentucky

EIN 31-1106795 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS A FOCUSED TEAM OF LEADERS, UNITED WAY OF KENTUCKY WILL ALIGN RESOURCES AND WORK TO ADVANCE EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH.

Income
$766,364
Spending
$818,189
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
9.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 71%
Employees
5
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$115,135, 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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $469,901 spent. STATEWIDE INITIATIVES: UNITED WAY OF KENTUCKY (UWKY) IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF UNITED WAY SERVICE DELIVERY TO 100% OF KENTUCKY'S POPULATION, WHETHER THROUGH DIRECT INVESTMENT IN PROGRAM SERVICES, DISASTER RECOVERY, OR THROUGH OUR 211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL HOTLINE, OUR CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE OPERATED REFERRAL PLATFORM, KYNECT RESOURCES, OR THROUGH OUR STATEWIDE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS. UWKY INCREASES AND ENHANCES LOCAL UNITED WAY CAPACITY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NETWORK TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORK OF UNITED WAY. UWKY INCREASES THE VALUE OF THE BRAND BY CREATING NEW PARTNERSHIPS, STRENGTHENING EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS, ADVOCATING FOR EFFECTIVE PUBLIC POLICY,AND DEVELOPING NEW SERVICES THAT IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES.
  2. $126,844 spent. FUNDING: UWKY ADMINISTERS THE KENTUCKY EMPLOYEES CHARITABLE CAMPAIGN (KECC), WHICH WORKS WITH DESIGNATED CHARITIES THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO EVERY KENTUCKY COMMUNITY, PARTNERING WITH NEARLY 1000 AGENCIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH. THE KECC RAISED AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY $600,000 OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, INCLUDING OVER $639,000 IN 2024, WHICH IMPACTS THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS. THESE DOLLARS FUND SERVICES SUCH AS FEEDING AND SHELTERING THE HOMELESS, INCREASING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, WORKING WITH VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE, HELPING FAMILIES WITH PREMATURE BIRTHS, SUPPORTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, WORKING TO FIND A CURE FOR CANCER AND OTHER DEVASTATING DISEASES, AND DISASTER RECOVERY EFFORTS, TO NAME A FEW.
  3. $172,090 spent. CAPACITY BUILDING, TRAINING AND NETWORKING: UWKY STRENGTHENS THE STATE NETWORK OF 20 UNITED WAY ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORTS THEIR CAPACITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES. UWKY SUPPORTS LOCAL EFFORTS BY PROVIDING BEST PRACTICES, TRAININGS, PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES RELATED TO NONPROFIT GOVERNANCE, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC POLICY, VOLUNTEERISM AND MORE FOR STAFF, BOARD VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

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 November 6, 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 September 1984.

    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 November 4, 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.