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Heart of West Michigan United Way

EIN 38-1360923 · Grand Rapids, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood77 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE UNITE COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO INVEST IN SOLUTIONS THAT REDUCE POVERTY IN WEST MICHIGAN.

Income
$12.9 million
Spending
$14.2 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
84
Volunteers
4,679
Highest pay
$300,846, president/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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 21 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. $6.4 million spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUNDS OF $3,273,000 WENT TO NONPROFIT PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICE TO PEOPLE IN KENT COUNTY. DIRECT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO APPROXIMATELY 50,000 INDIVIDUALS AND 16,000 FAMILIES. DONORS MAY DESIGNATE GIFTS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS OR SPECIFIC CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. DONOR DIRECTED DESIGNATIONS OF $1,320,000 WERE MADE TO OTHER UNITED WAYS, UNITED WAY PROGRAMS AND/OR OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS. AGENCY IMPACT UTILIZES A VOLUNTEER DRIVEN PROCESS TO REVIEW PROPOSALS FOR UNITED WAY FUNDING FROM LOCAL NON-PROFITS. THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO UNITED WAY AND ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT WILL ACHIEVE MEASURABLE IMPACT WITHIN THE COMMUNITY DRIVEN BY UNITED WAY'S FOCUS ON REDUCING POVERTY THROUGH INVESTMENTS IN FAMILY STABILITY, YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, FINANCIAL SECURITY AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCY. COMMUNITY IMPACT DECISIONS ARE BASED ON BEST-PRACTICE RESEARCH AND REPORTED ANNUALLY.
  2. $2.5 million spent. INTERNAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS INCLUDE 2-1-1, VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VITA), VOLUNTEER CENTER, EVICTION PROGRAM, WOMEN UNITED AND EMERGING LEADERS. UNITED WAY 2-1-1 IS A FREE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES "HOTLINE" THAT CONNECTS CALLERS TO MORE THAN 8,000 DISTINCT SERVICES IN 15 WESTERN AND NORTHERN MICHIGAN COUNTIES 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. IT IS STAFFED AND MANAGED BY EXTENSIVELY TRAINED AND CERTIFIED UNITED WAY STAFF MEMBERS. UNITED WAY'S 211 SERVICE SUPPORTED MICHIGAN RESIDENTS BY TAKING OVER 55,000 CALLS DURING THE YEAR. UNITED WAY VITA ENGAGES OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WORKING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES GAIN ECONOMIC STABILITY WITH FREE INCOME TAX RETURN PREPARATION, ENSURING THAT THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT IS RECEIVED BY THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE. THE EVICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM SUPPORTED 106 FAMILIES WITH FLEXIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND/OR HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT, PROVIDING FOR HOUSING STABILITY FOR THOSE FAMILIES.
  3. $2.4 million spent. THE KENT COUNTY ESSENTIAL NEEDS TASK FORCE AND GRAND RAPIDS AREA COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS FOCUS ON SYSTEM CHANGE WITH AN EMPHASIS ON COLLECTIVE IMPACT AND THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ALL SYSTEMS. THE COMMITTEES ARE A REFLECTION OF THOSE BASIC NEEDS THE COMMUNITY HAS DEEMED ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ALL RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION TO HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS, COMMITTEES INCLUDE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, FOOD AND NUTRITION, KENT COUNTY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL, ECONOMIC AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, AND DIGITAL INCLUSION.
  4. $633,101 spent. THE GREAT START COLLABORATIVE (GSC) OF KENT COUNTY SERVES AS THE LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR GOVERNANCE, PLANNING, INVESTMENT, ADVOCACY, AND INNOVATION FOR MICHIGAN'S GREAT START SYSTEM. OUR COLLABORATIVE IS PART OF A NETWORK OF 54 GREAT START COLLABORATIVES AND 60 GREAT START PARENT COALITIONS WORKING THROUGH THE MICHIGAN OFFICE OF GREAT START (OGS). CHARGED WITH ENSURING THAT ALL CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE EIGHT, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN HIGHEST NEED, HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ENTER KINDERGARTEN PREPARED FOR SUCCESS.

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 December 1961.

    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.