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United Way of Rock River Valley

EIN 36-2167843 · Rockford, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITING THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF THE COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE LIVES.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
71%
Reserves
29.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 59%
Employees
14
Volunteers
331
Highest pay
$144,263, ceo

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 28% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    71% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 (2)
  1. $906,915 spent. UNITED WAY COMMUNITY SERVICES - UNITED WAY 2-1-1 IS A 24 HOUR/7-DAY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL HOTLINE THAT CONNECTS THOSE IN NEED TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS DESIGNED TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS, 211 HAS FIELDED ALMOST 4,300 CALLS THIS YEAR FROM RESIDENTS OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. THIS LINE IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND OPEN 24/7 AND CALLERS CAN GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE, CLOTHING FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND MORE. UNITED WAY'S STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE: THROUGH OUR STRONG NEIGHBOORHOOD HOUSES. UNITED WAY SUPPORTS THE WORK OF LOCAL NONPROFITS BY PROVIDING THEM SPACE FOR FREE. THE ORGANIZATIONS WERE STRATEGICALLY CHOSEN TO SERVE THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AS A REFLECTION OF NEED IN THAT AREA. FROM DRUG AWARENEXX TO SUICIDE PREVENTION TO HOUSING ACQUISITION SUPPORTS, EACH NONPROFIT SERVES TO ENHANCE AND BUILD UP THE NEIGHBOORHOODS WHERE THE HOUSES EXISTS. UNITED WAY COMMUNITY SERVICES - UNITED WAY 2-1-1 IS A 24 HOUR/7-DAY, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL HOTLINE THAT CONNECTS THOSE IN NEED TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY. IT IS DESIGNED TO CONNECT RESIDENTS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THEIR MOST CRITICAL NEEDS, 211 HAS FIELDED ALMOST 4,300 CALLS THIS YEAR FROM RESIDENTS OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. THIS LINE IS FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND OPEN 24/7 AND CALLERS CAN GAIN ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE, CLOTHING FOOD, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND MORE. UNITED WAY'S STRONG NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE: THROUGH OUR STRONG NEIGHBOORHOOD HOUSES. UNITED WAY SUPPORTS THE WORK OF LOCAL NONPROFITS BY PROVIDING THEM SPACE FOR FREE. THE ORGANIZATIONS WERE STRATEGICALLY CHOSEN TO SERVE THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AS A REFLECTION OF NEED IN THAT AREA. FROM DRUG AWARENEXX TO SUICIDE PREVENTION TO HOUSING ACQUISITION SUPPORTS, EACH NONPROFIT SERVES TO ENHANCE AND BUILD UP THE NEIGHBOORHOODS WHERE THE HOUSES EXISTS.
  2. $1.2 million spent. UNITED FOR LITERACY, ONLY 32% OF CHILDREN CAN READ AT GRADE LEVEL BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE. THIS IS A CRISIS THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THESE CHILDREN'S ABILITY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, GRADUATE AND LEAD SUCCESSFUL ADULT LIVES. OUR BOLD GOAL THROUGH OUR UNITED FOR LITERACY INITIATIVE IS TO INCREASE OUR COUNTIES CHILDHOOD LITERACY RATE TO 75% BY THE YEAR 2034. WE DO THIS IN THE IMPACT AREAS OF READ ALOUDS, INCREASING PARENT INVOLVEMENT, WIDESPREAD BOOK DISTRIBUTION, INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF READING TO CHILDREN AND MORE. THIS PAST YEAR WE REACHED 20,000 CHILDREN, DISTRIBUTED 123,798 BOOKS, PROVIDED 70 LITERACY EVENTS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, FUNDED 11 REACH OUT AND READ ACTIVE CLINICS IN 4 HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

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 July 1937.

    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.