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United Way of St Joseph County Inc

EIN 35-1063368 · South Bend, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTYS MISSION IS TO MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY TO COLLECTIVELY REDUCE POVERTY BY MOVING PEOPLE FROM A LIFE OF POVERTY TO POSSIBILITY. IN ORDER TO SURROUND THE COMMUNITYS MOST CRITICAL PROBLEM AND FIGHT IT, WE BRING NON-PROFITS TOGETHER. WE KNOW THAT CHANGE DOESNT HAPPEN ALONE SO WE CREATE CHANGE BY BRINGING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THE TABLE AND OFFERING A WHOLE-COMMUNITY SOLUTION. TOGETHER, WE ARE STRONGER.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$2.7 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
20
Volunteers
131
Highest pay
$174,764, president/ce

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: 88 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

    13 of 13 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. UNITED WAY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY SUPPORTS VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THOUGH COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND SAFETY NET SERVICES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN 25 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WE EXPAND ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO LIVE SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE STABLE LIVES. WE SECURE, LEVERAGE, AND DIRECT FUNDING TO MEET IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS AND PREVENT FAMILIES FROM FALLING INTO CRISIS, INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING SUPPORT, FOOD ACCESS, AND HOUSING AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS IS PLACED ON HOUSEHOLDS BELOW FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ALICE (ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONTRAINED, EMPLOYED)INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING BUT CANNOT AFFORD BASIC NEEDS. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL SAFETY NET AND IMPROVE COORDINATION ACROSS THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT SYSTEM. UNITED WAY OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY SUPPORTS VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THOUGH COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES AND STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT STRENGTHEN HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND SAFETY NET SERVICES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MORE THAN 25 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, WE EXPAND ACCESS TO CRITICAL RESOURCES THAT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO LIVE SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE STABLE LIVES. WE SECURE, LEVERAGE, AND DIRECT FUNDING TO MEET IMMEDIATE BASIC NEEDS AND PREVENT FAMILIES FROM FALLING INTO CRISIS, INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING SUPPORT, FOOD ACCESS, AND HOUSING AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE. A SIGNIFICANT FOCUS IS PLACED ON HOUSEHOLDS BELOW FINANCIAL STABILITY AND ALICE (ASSET LIMITED, INCOME CONTRAINED, EMPLOYED)INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING BUT CANNOT AFFORD BASIC NEEDS. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN THE LOCAL SAFETY NET AND IMPROVE COORDINATION ACROSS THE COMMUNITY'S SUPPORT SYSTEM.
  2. $40,631 spent. COMMUNICATIONS IMPACT - OVERSEES THE DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION FOR NOT- FOR-PROFIT PARTNERS, DONORS, VOLUNTEERS, CORPORATE PARTNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. COMMUNICATIONS IMPACT ALSO OVERSEES ALL EVENT COORDINATION AND PLANNING, ENSURING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT EVERY LEVEL.
  3. $547,348 spent. ONEROOF ST. JOE COUNTY - A SERIES OF FACILITIES DESIGNED TO HOUSE A MULTITUDE OF CRITICAL HUMAN SERVICES UNDER ONE ROOF WITHIN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS HIGHLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO SOCIOECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THE CURRENT CENTERS ARE DESIGNED TO HOST MENTAL HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE, FAMILY SERVICES, SENIOR SERVICES, WIC, AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PARENT INTERACTION WITH CHILDREN IN A LEARNING SETTING. WE CUREENTLY HAVE ONE FULLY FUNCTIONING IN THE SOUTHEAST NEIGHBORHOOD AND OTHERS ARE STILL IN DEVELOPNMENT.

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 1963.

    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.