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United Way of Northwest Indiana Inc

EIN 35-6006484 · Valparaiso, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF NORTHWEST INDIANA TO ADVANCE THE COMMON GOOD.

Income
$3.1 million
Spending
$4.5 million
Spent on programs
58%
Reserves
11.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 68%
Employees
34
Volunteers
455
Highest pay
$158,554, former 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: 56 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 11.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    58% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 30 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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

    0 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 (1)
  1. $2.6 million spent. YOUTHBUILD:YOUTHBUILD PROVIDES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGES 16-24 IN EAST CHICAGO, GARY, AND PORTAGE, INDIANA, COMBINING HIGH SCHOOL COMPLETION SUPPORT WITH HANDS-ON CONSTRUCTION TRAINING AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES. THIS PROGRAM WAS IN THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION STAGE THIS FISCAL YEAR WITH FOCUS ON SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT AND POLICY CREATION, PARTNERSHIP MEMORANDUMS OF UNDERSTANDING, STAFF TRAINING ON FEDERAL DATABASE SYSTEMS AND GRANT ORIENTATION WITH ANTICIPATED CLIENT ENROLLMENT IN JULY 2025. JUMP START (HOMELESSNESS SUPPORT):JUMP START IS A COMPREHENSIVE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND STABILIZATION PROGRAM IN HAMMOND, INDIANA, PROVIDING EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, HOUSING NAVIGATION, EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT, AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATED COMMUNITY REFERRALS, HELPING 49 PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVE GREATER STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. LEVEL UP PROGRAM:THE LEVEL UP PROGRAM SUPPORTS WORKING INDIVIDUALS TO SET, WORK TOWARD, AND ACHIEVE PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND FINANCIAL GOALS. PARTICIPANTS ACCESS THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES NEEDED TO UPGRADE THEIR SKILLS AND EARNING POTENTIAL AND OVERCOME INCOME BARRIERS BY THROUGH CAREER COACHING, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, AND ACCESS TO TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES. THROUGH PERSONALIZED CAREER NAVIGATION AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, PARTICIPANTS GAIN THE SKILLS AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN STABLE EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.CHARITY TRACKER / COLLECTIVE IMPACT:THE CHARITY TRACKER SYSTEM IS A SHARED CASE MANAGEMENT PLATFORM THAT ENABLES COORDINATED SERVICE DELIVERY AMONG COMMUNITY PARTNERS BY CENTRALIZING CLIENT INFORMATION AND REFERRALS. THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH IMPROVES ACCESS TO SERVICES, REDUCES DUPLICATION, AND STRENGTHENS DATA-DRIVEN DECISION-MAKING TO ENHANCE OVERALL COMMUNITY OUTCOMES. COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATION:THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATION PROGRAM PROVIDES INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO CONNECT RESIDENTS WITH ESSENTIAL SERVICES ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA, SUCH AS HOUSING, FOOD, HEALTHCARE, AND EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES. BY SERVING AS A CENTRAL ACCESS POINT AND COORDINATING REFERRALS ACROSS A NETWORK OF PROVIDERS, THE PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS AND MOVE TOWARD LONG-TERM STABILITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 1958.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.