United Way of Lake County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY, ALONG WITH ITS MISSION TO "MEASURABLY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES IN LAKE COUNTY", PROVIDES THE MOST EFFECTIVE CHANNEL THROUGH WHICH THE COMMUNITY MAY PARTICIPATE IN A VOLUNTARY, COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO IDENTIFY, EVALUATE, SUPPORT AND FUND CURRENT HUMAN SERVICE NEEDS IN LAKE COUNTY. UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY IS A LOCAL, INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT FUNDS PROGRAMS IN THE THREE BUILDING BLOCKS TO A BETTER COMMUNITY; EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND HEALTH, ALONG WITH BASIC NEEDS. UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY AFFECTS TWO OUT OF EVERY THREE RESIDENTS WHILE STRIVING TO MAKE A MEASURABLE IMPACT ON ALL RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY'S VISION IS TO BECOME THE ENTRUSTED CHAMPION THAT DRIVES IMPROVED OUTCOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY BY FUNDING SERVICES THAT IMPACT EDUCATION, INCOME (FINANCIAL STABILITY) AND HEALTH.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 20 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 91%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 650
- Highest pay
- $115,897, ceo and pres
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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 2521 of 21 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 (2)
- $1.1 million spent. UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY'S (UWLC) MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE CRITICAL DECISION- MAKERS WHEN MAKING PROGRAM FUNDING DECISIONS. THERE IS A STAFF LEAD FOR THE GROUP, BUT IT IS THE COLLECTION OF 20-25 VOLUNTEERS THAT MEET WEEKLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO EVALUATE PROGRAMS, LISTEN TO AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES, THEN DECIDE WHICH PROGRAMS WILL RECEIVE FUNDING. UWLC UTILIZED THE SAME ONLINE PLATFORM FOR APPLICATIONS AND EVALUATIONS, SO OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT THEIR EVALUATIONS IN ADVANCE THEN MEET IN-PERSON TO DISCUSS AND HAVE GOOD CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS AMONGST THE GROUP. TO RAISE THE DOLLARS THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS HELP ALLOCATE, DOZENS OF COMPANIES RUN WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS, INVOLVING CORPORATE GIFTS AND EMPLOYEE GIVING, UWLC HOSTS SEVERAL LARGE SPECIAL EVENTS, AND HUNDREDS OF LAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS GIVE INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH DIRECT MAILINGS. THE GOAL THROUGH ALL THESE EFFORTS IS TO HELP KEEP LAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES IN LAKE COUNTY. UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY'S (UWLC) MANY VOLUNTEERS ARE CRITICAL DECISION- MAKERS WHEN MAKING PROGRAM FUNDING DECISIONS. THERE IS A STAFF LEAD FOR THE GROUP, BUT IT IS THE COLLECTION OF 20-25 VOLUNTEERS THAT MEET WEEKLY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO EVALUATE PROGRAMS, LISTEN TO AGENCY REPRESENTATIVES, THEN DECIDE WHICH PROGRAMS WILL RECEIVE FUNDING. UWLC UTILIZED THE SAME ONLINE PLATFORM FOR APPLICATIONS AND EVALUATIONS, SO OUR VOLUNTEERS WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT THEIR EVALUATIONS IN ADVANCE THEN MEET IN-PERSON TO DISCUSS AND HAVE GOOD CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS AMONGST THE GROUP. TO RAISE THE DOLLARS THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS HELP ALLOCATE, DOZENS OF COMPANIES RUN WORKPLACE CAMPAIGNS, INVOLVING CORPORATE GIFTS AND EMPLOYEE GIVING, UWLC HOSTS SEVERAL LARGE SPECIAL EVENTS, AND HUNDREDS OF LAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS GIVE INDIVIDUALLY THROUGH DIRECT MAILINGS. THE GOAL THROUGH ALL THESE EFFORTS IS TO HELP KEEP LAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK, AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PEOPLE'S LIVES IN LAKE COUNTY.
- $498,674 spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT INCLUDES COORDINATION OF AGENCY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO CONDUCT ACTIVITIES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. OUR ANNUAL DAY OF CARING WAS HELD IN JUNE WHERE LAKE COUNTY COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS ADOPTED PROJECTS SUBMITTED BY LAKE COUNTY AGENCIES, AND WE HELPED TO PAIR HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS WITH THE PROJECTS. THESE EFFORTS HELP TO SAVE OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LABOR AND SUPPLIES. DURING THE GRANT ALLOCATION PROCESS IN THE SPRING, WE RAN OUR ANNUAL FEED LAKE COUNTY DRIVE THROUGH A SOLICITATION MAILING AND 100+ COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS RAN FOOD AND MONETARY DRIVES. BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS, WE WERE ABLE TO HOST SEVERAL FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TOTALING NEARLY 43,000 IN DIRECT FOOD PURCHASES, ON TOP OF DISTRIBUTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS DONATED BY AREA COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS. WE ALSO MOVED TO BEING AN ON-SITE YEAR-ROUND PANTRY WHERE OUR PARTNER PANTRIES CAN OBTAIN THE FOOD THEIR SPECIFIC PANTRY NEEDS. THE HUNGER COALITION WAS ALSO FORMED TO KEEP PARTNER PANTRIES AND OTHER AGENCIES DEALING WITH FOOD INSECURITY INFORMED OF NEEDS, BEST PRACTICES, COLLABORATION EFFORTS, ETC. WE ALSO HAVE TWO AFFINITY GROUPS THAT WERE ABLE TO THRIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE EMERGING LEADERS (EL) ARE MADE UP OF A GROUP OF LAKE COUNTY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT HOST AN ANNUAL GOLF OUTING, 4 UNDER 40 AWARDS CEREMONY, AND OTHER FUNDRAISING/NETWORK EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS, THEY WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PROGRAMS RELATED TO THEIR YOUTH-DRIVEN MISSION, INCLUDING 10,000 DIRECTLY TO THE YOUTH UNITED WAY PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WOMEN UNITED COMPRISES LAKE COUNTY WOMEN WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN LAKE COUNTY. THEY WERE ABLE TO HOST SOME OF THEIR REGULAR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING A SPEAKER SERIES, AND THEIR SIGNATURE WINTERFEST EVENT WAS HELD IN NOVEMBER, WHERE THE IN-PERSON DONATIONS AND ONLINE RAFFLE PROCEEDS HELPED TO MAKE THIS A RECORD-BREAKING WINTERFEST. DOLLARS RAISED FROM WU FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ARE ALLOCATED TO PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AT-RISK WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN LAKE COUNTY, AND SHARE THE SAME PROCESS AS THE EL GROUP. BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS, WOMEN UNITED WAS ABLE TO ALLOCATE OVER 111,000 TO MISSION-DRIVEN PROGRAMS. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DIONE DEMITRO, UWLC CONTINUED TO BE MORE VISIBLE IN THE LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY AND INVOLVED IN SEVERAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE PARTNERED ON HEROFEST, AN EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, HAVE GROWN OUR ROLE IN THE ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL BASH WHERE OVER 1,500 CHILDREN GET SUPPLIES AND CLOTHING TO BE SCHOOL- READY, COORDINATED THE SEVERE WINTER WEATHER OVERNIGHT PROGRAM (CODE BLUE), AND COLLABORATED TO HELP FILL EMERGENCY NEEDS WITH THE CONTINUATION OF OUR RESPONSIVE FUND GRANTS PROCESS WITH OVER 28,000 OF DIRECT FUNDING. COMMUNITY IMPACT INCLUDES COORDINATION OF AGENCY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO CONDUCT ACTIVITIES FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY. OUR ANNUAL DAY OF CARING WAS HELD IN JUNE WHERE LAKE COUNTY COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS ADOPTED PROJECTS SUBMITTED BY LAKE COUNTY AGENCIES, AND WE HELPED TO PAIR HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS WITH THE PROJECTS. THESE EFFORTS HELP TO SAVE OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN LABOR AND SUPPLIES. DURING THE GRANT ALLOCATION PROCESS IN THE SPRING, WE RAN OUR ANNUAL FEED LAKE COUNTY DRIVE THROUGH A SOLICITATION MAILING AND 100+ COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS RAN FOOD AND MONETARY DRIVES. BECAUSE OF THE SUPPORT OF SO MANY COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS, WE WERE ABLE TO HOST SEVERAL FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, TOTALING NEARLY 43,000 IN DIRECT FOOD PURCHASES, ON TOP OF DISTRIBUTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS DONATED BY AREA COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS. WE ALSO MOVED TO BEING AN ON-SITE YEAR-ROUND PANTRY WHERE OUR PARTNER PANTRIES CAN OBTAIN THE FOOD THEIR SPECIFIC PANTRY NEEDS. THE HUNGER COALITION WAS ALSO FORMED TO KEEP PARTNER PANTRIES AND OTHER AGENCIES DEALING WITH FOOD INSECURITY INFORMED OF NEEDS, BEST PRACTICES, COLLABORATION EFFORTS, ETC. WE ALSO HAVE TWO AFFINITY GROUPS THAT WERE ABLE TO THRIVE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE EMERGING LEADERS (EL) ARE MADE UP OF A GROUP OF LAKE COUNTY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS THAT HOST AN ANNUAL GOLF OUTING, 4 UNDER 40 AWARDS CEREMONY, AND OTHER FUNDRAISING/NETWORK EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS, THEY WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO PROGRAMS RELATED TO THEIR YOUTH-DRIVEN MISSION, INCLUDING 10,000 DIRECTLY TO THE YOUTH UNITED WAY PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. WOMEN UNITED COMPRISES LAKE COUNTY WOMEN WHOSE MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN LAKE COUNTY. THEY WERE ABLE TO HOST SOME OF THEIR REGULAR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, INCLUDING A SPEAKER SERIES, AND THEIR SIGNATURE WINTERFEST EVENT WAS HELD IN NOVEMBER, WHERE THE IN-PERSON DONATIONS AND ONLINE RAFFLE PROCEEDS HELPED TO MAKE THIS A RECORD-BREAKING WINTERFEST. DOLLARS RAISED FROM WU FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ARE ALLOCATED TO PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AT-RISK WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN LAKE COUNTY, AND SHARE THE SAME PROCESS AS THE EL GROUP. BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS, WOMEN UNITED WAS ABLE TO ALLOCATE OVER 111,000 TO MISSION-DRIVEN PROGRAMS. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DIONE DEMITRO, UWLC CONTINUED TO BE MORE VISIBLE IN THE LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY AND INVOLVED IN SEVERAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS, INITIATIVES, AND PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE PARTNERED ON HEROFEST, AN EVENT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, HAVE GROWN OUR ROLE IN THE ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL BASH WHERE OVER 1,500 CHILDREN GET SUPPLIES AND CLOTHING TO BE SCHOOL- READY, COORDINATED THE SEVERE WINTER WEATHER OVERNIGHT PROGRAM (CODE BLUE), AND COLLABORATED TO HELP FILL EMERGENCY NEEDS WITH THE CONTINUATION OF OUR RESPONSIVE FUND GRANTS PROCESS WITH OVER 28,000 OF DIRECT FUNDING.
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 November 1972.
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.
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