Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Heart of Illinois United Way Inc

EIN 37-0661504 · Peoria, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

To increase the organized capacity of people in central Illinois to care for one another.

Income
$8.3 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
15.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
16
Volunteers
2,650
Highest pay
$248,960, 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

Good: 80 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 15.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    33 of 33 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $2.3 million spent. Financial Stability Impact Area leads to increased independence. The Heart of Illinois United Way is focused on ensuring individuals and families achieve financial stability. To ensure people can thrive, our work focuses on providing opportunities to get them on their feet again and helping during emergencies and crises. United Way funded financial stability programs provide: Basic needs and support for housing and more, Work-force skills to improve employability, life-skills and financial management education and legal assistance to address individual and family crises. Here are just a few ways Heart of Illinois United Way programs are positively impacting financial stability in central Illinois: 95% of adults who successfully completed United Way funded job training or coaching programs improved their employment readiness, 98% of adults who participated in United Way funded life-skills programs maximized their independence, and 96% of low-income adults who participated in United Way funded housing assistance programs improved their safety and wellness to maximize their independence by utilizing community resources.
  2. $1.6 million spent. Education Impact Area - Quality education is essential to earning a livable wage. The Heart of Illinois United Way works to ensure that our children are ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten and people of all ages are prepared for work, post secondary education and life. By preparing children to enter school and providing them ongoing resources throughout their education, they will be able to reach their academic and career potential. United Way funded education programs provide: Ages Pre-K through adult with literacy success, after-school tutoring that leads to grade promotion, mentoring to improve grades and social-emotional skills and parenting skills to build healthy parent-child relationships. Here are just a few ways Heart of Illinois United Way Community Impact Fund programs are positively impacting education in central Illinois: 92% of preschool students enrolled in United Way funded programs developed and maintained core skills in the areas of social-emotional learning, literacy, and math, 91% of youth in United Way funded tutoring and after-school programs achieved grade-level academic success in reading and math, 98% of adults 16 and older increased their knowledge through United Way funded academic and vocational training.
  3. $1.4 million spent. Health Impact Area - Access to healthcare promotes wellness for all ages. The Heart of Illinois United Way is focused on ensuring the people of central Illinois have access to quality, affordable health care. The health and well-being of our citizens is a strong indicator of the health of our community. United Way funded health programs provide: Nutrition, physical fitness, and substance abuse education to improve healthy choices, screenings and treatment for physical and mental health needs to improve overall health, support and crisis intervention to improve individual and family stability. Here are just a few ways Heart of Illinois United Way Community Impact Fund programs are positively impacting health in central Illinois: 97% of families receiving United Way funded case management services improved their health and well-being through coordination of services and community support, 82% of youth and adults who participated in United Way funded health education classes increased their knowledge about healthy eating, exercise and more, 92% of youth and adults who received treatment from United Way funded health programs improved their physical health
  4. $924,768 spent. Support Student Success (S3) is a collaborative program between Heart of Illinois United Way and area schools to promote student success via counseling, school programs, mentoring students in kindergarten through middle school. 2-1-1- is a 24/7 information and referral call center with a website for information the community can access. Callers can get locations of assistance in their community for housing, food, utilities, counseling services, or other information as needed. Donor designated gifts are sent to 501c3 charities according to donor's wishes. These funds are used to support program services at each charity. Heart of Illinois United Way sends donor directed contributions to area 501c3 organizations.

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 August 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.