United Way of Central Ohio Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO IS THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION THAT HARNESSES THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES WORKING TOGETHER - PEOPLE, NONPROFITS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT - TO CREATE A STRONGER, MORE EQUITABLE CENTRAL OHIO. SEE SCHEDULE O.WE DO THIS PRIMARILY BY HELPING FAMILIES IN CRISIS MEET BASIC NEEDS AND CHILDREN ACHIEVE STUDENT SUCCESS.
- Income
- $24.3 million
- Spending
- $23.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 13.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 85%
- Employees
- 100
- Volunteers
- 442
- Highest pay
- $452,660, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 31 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 March 31, 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)
- $14.2 million spent. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE ONE PURPOSE: TO REDUCE POVERTY IN OUR COMMUNITY. BY BRINGING PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS TOGETHER AND MOBILIZING THEM TO ACT, WE'RE HELPING TO CHANGE COMMUNITY CONDITIONS AND BUILD A STRONGER CENTRAL OHIO. OUR VISION IS TO BUILD A COMMUNITY IN WHICH EVERYONE HAS THE ASPIRATIONS, RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.ESTABLISHED IN 1923, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO HAS SERVED OUR COMMUNITY FOR 100 YEARS. IN THAT TIME, OUR FOCUS HAS SHIFTED FROM BEING STRICTLY A COMMUNITY FUNDRAISER TO A COMMUNITY IMPACT ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR MOST CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES. IN ADDITION TO BEING A MAJOR FUNDER OF CENTRAL OHIO'S NONPROFIT SECTOR, UNITED WAY IS ALSO A STRONG AND VIBRANT CHANGE AGENT IN OUR COMMUNITY. TO FULFILL ITS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, UNITED WAY RAISES DOLLARS THAT SUPPORT NONPROFIT AGENCIES (FUNDED PARTNERS) ADDRESSING CRITICAL NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. FOCUSED ON REDUCING POVERTY, UNITED WAY FUNDED 91 NONPROFIT AGENCIES IN 2024-2025. THESE FUNDED PARTNERS WORKED TO ENSURE PEOPLE IN CRISIS RECEIVED FOOD, SHELTER AND ASSISTANCE, AND THAT CHILDREN HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUCCEED FROM CRADLE TO CAREER. UNITED WAY MANAGES AN ANNUAL DONOR CAMPAIGN THAT GENERATED APPROXIMATELY $19 MILLION IN 2024-2025. AS AN INDEPENDENT AFFILIATE OF UNITED WAY WORLDWIDE, WE INVESTED IN THE FOLLOWING NONPROFIT AGENCIES IN 2024-2025: 1DIVINELINE2HEALTH ACTION FOR CHILDREN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE WELLNESS AGENCY ALVIS ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH NORTH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CENTRAL OHIO, INC. BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF COLUMBUS BROWN GIRLS MENTORING INC. CENTRAL COMMUNITY HOUSE CHILDHOOD LEAGUE INC. CHILDRENS HUNGER ALLIANCE CHOICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CITY YEAR INC. CLINTONVILLE-BEECHWOLD COMMUNITY RESOURCES CENTER COLUMBUS EARLY LEARNING CENTERS COLUMBUS HOUSING PARTNERSHIP/HOMEPORTCOLUMBUS LITERACY COUNCIL COLUMBUS SPEECH & HEARING CENTER COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUE COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF CENTRAL OHIO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL PEOPLE COMMUNITY FOR NEW DIRECTION INC. COMMUNITY REFUGEE AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES INC. COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD DIRECTIONS FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES ETHIOPIAN TEWAHEDO SOCIAL SERVICES FACCES FEED THE KIDS COLUMBUS INC. FESTA FINAL THIRD FOUNDATION FOUNDATION FOR FAMILIES INC. FRANKLINTON GARDENS FREEDOM A LA CART FURNITURE BANK FUTUREREADY COLUMBUS GLADDEN COMMUNITY HOUSE GODMAN GUILD ASSOCIATION HANDSON CENTRAL OHIO DBA LSS 211 HARDY CENTER INC. HEART FOOD PANTRY HOMES ON THE HILL CDC JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL OHIO KALEIDOSCOPE YOUTH CENTER LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SE & CENTRAL OHIO LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF CENTRAL OHIO MASTERS PREPARATORY ACADEMY MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF OHIO, INC. MOTHERFUL MUSLIM FAMILY SERVICES OF OHIO MY PROJECT USA NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES INC. NEW DIRECTIONS CAREER CENTER NNEMAP INC. OHIO NEWSBOYS ASSOCIATION INC. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - KEEP BOOKS OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION OHIO YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP4SUCCESS PHYSICIANS CARECONNECTION REEB AVENUE CENTER RIVERVIEW INTERNATIONAL CENTER INC. SALVATION ARMYSEE BRILLIANCE SOMALI COMMUNITY ASSOC OF OHIO ST. STEPHEN'S COMMUNITY HOUSE ST. VINCENT FAMILY CENTER STAR HOUSE STUDENT SUCCESS STORES THE CENTER FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES INC. WE AMPLIFY VOICES WESTERVILLE AREA RESOURCE MINISTRY YMCA OF CENTRAL OHIO YWCA COLUMBUS UNITED WAY HAS A LONG, SUCCESSFUL HISTORY OF BRINGING GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS AND NONPROFITS TOGETHER TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE. UNITED WAY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO PROSPER. WE DO THAT BY ACTING AS A CATALYST FOR LASTING IMPROVEMENTS AND BY MOBILIZING OUR COMMUNITY TO GIVE AND VOLUNTEER. WE BRING LEADERS TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE POLICIES AND SYSTEMS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THOUSANDS OF LIVES, AND WE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE AND INTEGRATED WAYS TO REDUCE POVERTY.IN ADDITION TO INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST EFFECTIVE NONPROFITS, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTS PROJECTS SUCH AS TAX TIME, STABLE FAMILIES AND PDPL. (SEE NOTE BELOW). AS ONE OF THE LARGEST UNITED WAYS IN THE COUNTRY, UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 45,000 DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS.FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.LIVEUNITEDCENTRALOHIO.ORGCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & EQUAL OPPORTUNITYUNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO IS COMMITTED TO CREATING AND MAINTAINING A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN SUCCESS. BECAUSE WE BELIEVE OUR STRENGTH LIES IN THE VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS AND IDEAS WE BRING TOGETHER, EVERYONE MUST BE VALUED FOR THEIR SKILLS, EXPERIENCES AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES. UNITED WAY ACTIVELY WORKS TO ENGAGE ALL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LIFT THE VOICES OF VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS.AS A TRUSTED ORGANIZATION IN CENTRAL OHIO FOR 100 YEARS, WE ACTIVELY INVOLVE OUR FOR-PROFIT, NONPROFIT AND INDIVIDUAL PARTNERS IN CO-CREATING SOLUTIONS THAT BUILD AND SUSTAIN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO LEVERAGING ALL OUR ASSETS (E.G., CONVENING STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS, AWARENESS BUILDING, ADVOCACY) TO CREATE A STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT CENTRAL OHIO FOR ALL RESIDENTS.SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADEREADING PROFICIENCY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE IS THE GREATEST PREDICTOR OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT STUDENTS NOT PROFICIENT IN READING BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL. SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE IS A COMMUNITY-WIDE MOVEMENT FOCUSED ON ENSURING THAT BY 2035 ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY CHILDREN WILL BE READING PROFICIENTLY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO SERVES AS THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION FOR SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE. IN THIS ROLE, UNITED WAY MAINTAINS THE OVERALL STRATEGIC COHERENCE AND MANAGES THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WORK AROUND THIRD GRADE READING PROFICIENCY.SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE MOBILIZES PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, GOVERNMENT, NONPROFITS AND THE CORPORATE COMMUNITY
- $1.1 million spent. TAX TIME IS A COALITION OF NONPROFIT, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDES FREE, HIGH-QUALITY TAX ASSISTANCE AND LINKAGES TO FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE PROGRAM HELPS HOUSEHOLDS CLAIM VALUABLE TAX DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS AND ACHIEVE GREATER FINANCIAL STABILITY. LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES 2-1-1 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES ACTS AS THE PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT TO CONNECT TAXPAYERS TO TAX SITES. IN ADDITION, THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL OHIO OFFERS LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO CLIENTS WITH TAX-RELATED LEGAL ISSUES. CLIENTS ALSO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT TOOLS. MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE RECEIVED FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE DURING THE 2025 SEASON, RESULTING IN $16.2 MILLION BEING RETURNED TO CENTRAL OHIO FAMILIES AND OVER $4 MILLION SAVED IN TAX PREPARATION FEES. TAX TIME SERVES LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. MOST CLIENTS SERVED BY TAX TIME'S VITA PROGRAM LIVE IN HOUSEHOLDS EARNING $67,000 OR LESS PER YEAR; HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE CLIENT EARNS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. TAX TIME FOCUSES ON HOUSEHOLDS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHOSE PRIMARY RECIPIENTS ARE WORKING PARENTS WITH CHILDREN.STABLE FAMILIES IS A COMMUNITYWIDE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FAMILIES AT IMMINENT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS WITH A COMBINATION OF IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY FUNDS AND LONGER-TERM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THIS EFFECTIVE APPROACH HELPS PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND REDUCE STUDENT MOBILITY AMONG LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGHOUT FRANKLIN COUNTY. UNPLANNED MOVES, RESULTING IN REPEATED NEW SCHOOLS, HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN. HOMELESS CHILDREN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO REPEAT A GRADE THAN THOSE WITH STABLE HOUSING. THE STABLE FAMILIES PROGRAM PREVENTS DISRUPTIVE MOVES BY IDENTIFYING FAMILIES AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS AND CONNECTING THEM WITH CASE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK INTENSELY WITH THEM FOR UP TO 18 MONTHS TO CREATE PLANS FOR EACH FAMILY TO STABILIZE AND PROSPER. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ARE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF INCOME OR AN EMERGENCY EXPENSE. NOT ONLY HAVE THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES INCREASED AND CHANGED, BUT THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES FACING CURRENT AND IMMINENT THREATS OF UNSTABLE HOUSING, UNEMPLOYMENT AND INADEQUATE EDUCATION HAVE INCREASED DUE TO COVID-19. BY PREVENTING EVICTION AND KEEPING FAMILIES SAFELY HOUSED, STABLE FAMILIES SERVICE COORDINATORS HELP FAMILIES NAVIGATE AN UNCERTAIN JOURNEY FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY. THROUGHOUT 2024-2025, STABLE FAMILIES HELPED MORE THAN 1,000 FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN RECEIVE HELP THAT PREVENTED A HOUSING CRISIS.PDPL IS UNITED WAY'S INCLUSIVE NONPROFIT BOARD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON PREPARING LEADERS AT ALL LEVELS WITH DIVERSE LIVED EXPERIENCES TO SERVE ON NONPROFIT BOARDS. THE PROGRAM EQUIPS PARTICIPANTS WITH THE ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES TO EFFECTIVELY SERVE ON A NONPROFIT BOARD.
- $4.5 million spent. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO ALLOWS DONORS TO DESIGNATE GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS OR SPECIFIC AGENCIES. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL OHIO PROCESSED DONOR DESIGNATIONS TO 1,235 AGENCIES AND OTHER UNITED WAYS DURING THE 2024 CAMPAIGN. ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING DONOR DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGH UNITED WAY UNDERGO SCREENING PRIOR TO DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDING. SUCH 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.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 November 1952.
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.