Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

United Way of Allen County Inc

EIN 35-0867932 · Fort Wayne, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO BOLDLY IMPACT CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES WITH A VISION OF EFFECTIVELY TRANSFORMING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH MEASURABLE IMPACT.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.1 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
9.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
17
Volunteers
1,795
Highest pay
$107,229, executive di

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 44% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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

    28 of 28 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 (5)
  1. $1.4 million spent. PRIORITY AREA GRANT FUNDS: UNITED WAY OF ALLEN COUNTY PROVIDES FUNDING TO 19 ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES THAT HELP ACHIEVE COMMUNITY GOALS AROUND FOOD SECURITY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS. ADDITIONALLY, UNITED WAY INVESTS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS (KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN, VITA, PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF, ETC., EARLY YEARS INITIATIVE) THROUGHOUT ALLEN COUNTY.
  2. $100,458 spent. VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA): DURING THE 2025 VITA SEASON, TAX PREPARATION WAS OFFERED AT ONE SITE IN ALLEN COUNTY AND SIX SITES IN DEKALB, NOBLE AND STEUBEN COUNTIES. THIS YEAR, 25 VOLUNTEERS DONATED OVER 1,900 HOURS TO THIS EFFORT. OVER 2.9 MILLION WERE RETURNED TO OVER 2,900 RESIDENTS.
  3. $70,762 spent. KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN: KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN COMPLETED ITS ELEVENTH YEAR WHERE 115 CHILDREN ATTENDED CLASSES IN THE SCHOOLS THEY WILL BE ATTENDING IN THE FALL. THE PROGRAM OPERATES IN TWO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EMPHASIZES CLASSROOM SKILLS LIKE RAISING HANDS AND LINING UP QUIETLY AS WELL AS STRENGTHENING THE LITERACY SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO LEARN TO READ. THIS YEAR'S STUDENTS SHOWED A 17 PERCENT INCREASE IN BASIC LITERACY SKILLS AND A 18 PERCENT INCREASE IN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SCORES FROM THE ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED AT THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE FOUR-WEEK PROGRAM. THERE WAS A 38 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER STUDENTS ABLE TO WRITE THEIR NAMES.
  4. $599,390 spent. COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS: UNITED WAY OF ALLEN COUNTY INVESTS IN NUMEROUS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT CONVENE MULTIPLE PARTNERS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES THROUGH OUR PRIORITY AREAS OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, FOOD SECURITY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS USING COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS. --DONOR DESIGNATIONS: UNITED WAY OF ALLEN COUNTY (UWAC) DIRECTS DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTIONS (50 OR MORE) TO A SPECIFIC UWAC PRIORITY AREA(S), INITIATIVE(S), OR TO LOCAL UNITED WAYS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. UWAC RETAINS 15% OF DESIGNATED GIFTS TO UNITED WAYS/FUNDS THAT ARE PART OF THE NORTHEAST INDIANA CONSORTIUM AND 15.1% ON GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS. NO OTHER FEES OR PERCENTAGES ARE CHARGED AGAINST THESE GIFTS. --VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND DAY OF CARING: OUR TOTAL VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT COORDINATED OVER 1,700 VOLUNTEERS FOR OVER 9,700 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WHICH EQUALS OVER 340,600 WORTH OF SERVICE INVESTED BACK IN TO ALLEN COUNTY. WE WORK WITH CORPORATE PARTNERS TO CONNECT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. WE COORDINATE KIT BUILDS FOR THEM TO COMPLETE OR COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN OUR LARGEST VOLUNTEER EVENT, DAY OF CARING. OUR 32ND ANNUAL UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING CONTINUED TO REBOUND IN TERMS OF VOLUNTEER NUMBERS. IN 2024, OVER 1,500 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 6,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND COMPLETED 72 PROJECTS. PROJECTS SUBMITTED FOR DAY OF CARING ARE COMPLETED IN ONE DAY AND TYPICALLY CONSIST OF CLEANING, LANDSCAPING, PAINTING AND OTHER GENERAL MAINTENANCE. PROJECTS TAKE PLACE AT NON-PROFIT AGENCIES, SCHOOLS OR PRIVATE RESIDENCES COORDINATED BY NEIGHBORLINK. UNITED WAY WORKS TOGETHER WITH CORPORATE PARTNERS, NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING ALLEN COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. --PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF: PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF (PPO) IS AN INITIATIVE OF UNITED WAY THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN APRIL 2021. THE GOAL OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO GET MORE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE BY HELPING ELIMINATE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT STUDENTS ARE FACING. WE PARTNER WITH THE TRIO OFFICES AT IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FORT WAYNE AND PURDUE FORT WAYNE ALONG WITH LUTHERN SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL GOAL ATTAINMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL LITERACY COACHING. THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH PPO IN FOUR AND A HALF ACADEMIC YEARS WITH A PERSISTENCE RATE OF 96%. THIS MEANS THAT 96% OF THE STUDENTS HAVE EITHER COMPLETED THEIR CERTIFICATION OR DEGREE OR HAVE RE-ENROLLED THE NEXT SEMESTER TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.
  5. COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS: UNITED WAY OF ALLEN COUNTY INVESTS IN NUMEROUS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT CONVENE MULTIPLE PARTNERS TO ADDRESS CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES THROUGH OUR PRIORITY AREAS OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, FOOD SECURITY, HOUSING STABILITY, AND MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS USING COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS. --DONOR DESIGNATIONS: UNITED WAY OF ALLEN COUNTY (UWAC) DIRECTS DESIGNATED CONTRIBUTIONS (50 OR MORE) TO A SPECIFIC UWAC PRIORITY AREA(S), INITIATIVE(S), OR TO LOCAL UNITED WAYS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. UWAC RETAINS 15% OF DESIGNATED GIFTS TO UNITED WAYS/FUNDS THAT ARE PART OF THE NORTHEAST INDIANA CONSORTIUM AND 15.1% ON GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS. NO OTHER FEES OR PERCENTAGES ARE CHARGED AGAINST THESE GIFTS. --VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT AND DAY OF CARING: OUR TOTAL VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT COORDINATED OVER 1,700 VOLUNTEERS FOR OVER 9,700 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WHICH EQUALS OVER 340,600 WORTH OF SERVICE INVESTED BACK IN TO ALLEN COUNTY. WE WORK WITH CORPORATE PARTNERS TO CONNECT THEIR EMPLOYEES TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. WE COORDINATE KIT BUILDS FOR THEM TO COMPLETE OR COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN OUR LARGEST VOLUNTEER EVENT, DAY OF CARING. OUR 32ND ANNUAL UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING CONTINUED TO REBOUND IN TERMS OF VOLUNTEER NUMBERS. IN 2024, OVER 1,500 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 6,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND COMPLETED 72 PROJECTS. PROJECTS SUBMITTED FOR DAY OF CARING ARE COMPLETED IN ONE DAY AND TYPICALLY CONSIST OF CLEANING, LANDSCAPING, PAINTING AND OTHER GENERAL MAINTENANCE. PROJECTS TAKE PLACE AT NON-PROFIT AGENCIES, SCHOOLS OR PRIVATE RESIDENCES COORDINATED BY NEIGHBORLINK. UNITED WAY WORKS TOGETHER WITH CORPORATE PARTNERS, NON-PROFIT AGENCIES AND VOLUNTEERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, MAKING ALLEN COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. --PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF: PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF (PPO) IS AN INITIATIVE OF UNITED WAY THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN APRIL 2021. THE GOAL OF THE INITIATIVE IS TO GET MORE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THEIR COLLEGE DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE BY HELPING ELIMINATE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT STUDENTS ARE FACING. WE PARTNER WITH THE TRIO OFFICES AT IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FORT WAYNE AND PURDUE FORT WAYNE ALONG WITH LUTHERN SOCIAL SERVICES TO PROVIDE STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL GOAL ATTAINMENT, CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCIAL LITERACY COACHING. THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX STUDENTS HAVE RECEIVED SERVICES THROUGH PPO IN FOUR AND A HALF ACADEMIC YEARS WITH A PERSISTENCE RATE OF 96%. THIS MEANS THAT 96% OF THE STUDENTS HAVE EITHER COMPLETED THEIR CERTIFICATION OR DEGREE OR HAVE RE-ENROLLED THE NEXT SEMESTER TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION.

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 June 1964.

    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.