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United Way of Lake County Inc

EIN 36-2167949 · Gurnee, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO UNITE LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES FOR LASTING CHANGE, BY FOCUSING ON MEETING THE FINANCIAL, SOCIAL, AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
7.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
30
Volunteers
1,193
Highest pay
$258,198, president & ceo (thru 03/2025)

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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% 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 25

    28 of 29 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 (4)
  1. $3.0 million spent. PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE SENDING DESIGNATIONS TO OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE PAID DIRECTLY BY THE DONOR, AND OTHER EXEMPT PURPOSE ACHIEVEMENTS.
  2. $778,426 spent. SUCCESS BY SIX: CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO SUCCEED. THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A COMBINATION OF DIRECT SERVICE AND GRANTS TO PROGRAM PARTNERS. GRANTS TO THE COMMUNITY TOTALED $188,000. THERE WERE 6 AGENCIES INVOLVED THAT SERVED 225 CLIENTS IN 2025. THESE PROGRAMS ENSURED CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS HAVE A COMBINED SPEND OF $778,426. INCLUDED KINDERGARTEN COUNTDOWN CAMP SERVING 116 CHILDREN AND EARLY LEARNING CLUBS SERVING 2,909 CHILDREN. THESE PROGRAMS MEET THE GOAL: CHILDREN ENTER KINDERGARTEN WITH THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS BETTER TOGETHER SERVED 75 FAMILIES AND 841 FAMILIES SUBSCRIBED TO, LANTERN, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BRIGHT BY TEXT. (SEE SCHEDULE O) THOSE PROGRAMS MEET THE GOAL: PARENTS BECOME THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER AND PARENTS OF CHILDREN 0-11 HAVE TIPS TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN THRIVE. RESOURCES INCLUDED 20,000 KINDERGARTEN READINESS CALENDARS DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN AGE 4-6.
  3. $885,063 spent. 211/SAFE & STABLE FAMILIES: A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, MULTILINGUAL, 24/7, 365 DAYS PER YEAR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL HELPLINE. PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO PEOPLE IN NEED USING PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGING AND ONLINE SEARCHABLE DATABASES. TRAINED SPECIALISTS ASSIST INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN NEED WITH ACCESS TO AVAILABLE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: SUCH AS FOOD, EMERGENCY SHELTER, RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, HEALTH CLINCS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, AND MORE. 9,299 CONTACTS WERE MADE TO 211 RESULTING IN 13,905 NEEDS AND 15,041 REFERRALS WITH A SPEND OF $885,063. THE GREATEST NEEDS ADDRESSED INCLUDED HOUSING AND SHELTER (44%) UTILITIES (12%), FOOD (6%), EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME (7%), AND HEALTHCARE (5%).
  4. $349,252 spent. YOUTH SUCCESS HAS A SPEND OF APPROXIMATELY $349,252 . IT MEETS THE GOAL: STUDENTS STAYING ON TRACK TO GRADUATION WHILE HAVING ACCESS TO THE CRITICAL SUPPORT, MENTORSHIP, AND RESOURCES TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL, WORK, AND LIFE. DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS INCLUDE PARENT MENTOR PROGRAM (1100 STUDENTS AND 48 PARENTS) AND BREAKFAST CLUB (38 STUDENTS). RESOURCES INCLUDE (3388 BACKPACKS, 65 VOLUNTEER EVENTS, 1481 VOLUNTEERS AND 2829 VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND A TOTAL OF 17 SENSORY PATHS, AND 20 LEARNING TRAILS, AND 9 MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE EXPERITENAL LEARNING INSTALLATIONS). STUDENTS RECEIVED MENTORSHIP IN ACADEMICS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, AND GUIDANCE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCEED.

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 May 1947.

    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.