United Way of Portage County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY BRINGS PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE MEASURABLE RESULTS THAT IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $3.9 million
- Spending
- $3.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 1,700
- Highest pay
- $126,853, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 4% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 28 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $2.8 million spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAMS: UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY WILL FOCUS ON THREE KEY AREAS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT: EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH. THE UNITED WAY VISION OF THESE FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE: EDUCATION - FROM PRENATAL THROUGH YOUNG ADULTHOOD, (CRADLE TO CAREER), EDUCATION PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT, ADVANCES AN INCLUSIVE AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE MINDSET, SUPPORTS TRANSITION TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND BUILDS A STRONG COMMUNITY. FINANCIAL STABILITY - FINANCIAL SECURITY AND CAPABILITY IS VITAL TO SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY LIFE, MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT, ACHIEVING CAREER ASPIRATIONS, AND BUILDING ASSETS FOR THE FUTURE. HEALTH - GOOD MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH IS FUNDAMENTAL TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S CAPACITY TO ENJOY THEIR LIVES, PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES, CONTRIBUTE TO SOCIETY, AND REALIZE THEIR DREAMS. A HEALTHY COMMUNITY IS BUILT UPON A FOUNDATION OF HEALTH EQUITY THAT FOSTERS SAFE, STABLE, AND NURTURING RELATIONSHIPS FOR ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IN ORDER TO FULFILL THESE VISIONS, UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY SUPPORTS 28 LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES, INCLUDING ITS OWN LEARN FOR LIFE PROGRAM. A COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY AND PORTAGE COUNTY SCHOOLS, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP INCREASE READING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY SUPPORTS THREE INVESTMENT TEAMS THAT IDENTIFY SPECIFIC PRIORITIES IN EACH AREA AND DEVISE STRATEGIES TO AFFECT COMMUNITY CHANGE. INCLUDED IN COMMUNITY IMPACT IS THE UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY'S IN-A-FIX AND DIAPER DRIVE PROGRAMS. THE IN-A-FIX PROGRAM PROVIDES MONETARY ASSISTANCE FOR CAR REPAIRS AND/OR TIRE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT FOR INCOME ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EMPLOYED AND LIVING IN PORTAGE COUNTY. ASSISTANCE IS LIMITED TO $500 PER CALENDAR YEAR WHILE FUNDS LAST. THE DIAPER DRIVE PROGRAM FILLS A NEED MANY LOCAL AGENCIES IDENTIFIED AS A TOP ISSUE FACING STRUGGLING FAMILIES-NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THEIR CHILDREN WITH DIAPERS. THIS CAN OFTEN RESULT IN HEALTH ISSUES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WHOSE DIAPERS ARE NOT CHANGED AS FREQUENTLY AS THEY SHOULD.
- $105,697 spent. VOLUNTEER CENTER: UNITED WAY OF PORTAGE COUNTY'S VOLUNTEER CENTER MATCHES PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, PROVIDING MORE THAN $50,000 WORTH OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE. THROUGH ITS VOLUNTEERSROCK.ORG WEBSITE, THE VOLUNTEER CENTER CONNECTED PEOPLE TO HUNDREDS OF LOCAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING THOSE WITH PROJECT FRESH START AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN MORE PEOPLE VOLUNTEER, THE BENEFITS AND IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY ARE MEASUREABLE. IN 2025, THE VOLUNTEER CENTER CONTINUES TO OFFER STRATEGIC VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT AREA EMPLOYER BUSINESSES. THE VOLUNTEER CENTER WORKS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM PROMOTE EMPLOYEES USING THEIR VOLUNTEER TIME OFF.
- $83,845 spent. LEARN FOR LIFE: IN THIS PROGRAM, UNITED WAYS MATCHES TRAINED VOLUNTEER TUTORS WITH THIRD GRADE STUDENTS IN NEED OF HELP WITH THEIR READING SKILLS. THEY WORK TOGETHER ON THE STUDENT'S READING PROFICIENCY FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 MINUTES PER WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS IN PLACE IN NEARLY ALL PORTAGE COUNTY SCHOOLS. DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL SESSION IN THE STEVENS POINT SCHOOL DISTRICT, STUDENTS GOING INTO THIRD GRADE AND STUDENTS GOING INTO FOURTH GRADE WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR READING PROFICIENCY ARE SERVED IN THE PROGRAM FOR THE DURATION OF THE SIX WEEK SUMMER SCHOOL SESSION. THE PROGRAM PUTS UNITED WAY ONE STEP CLOSER TO ITS GOAL OF HELPING CHILDREN SUCCEED.
- $10,931 spent. 2-1-1 PROGRAM: BY PROVIDING ONE CENTRAL EASY-TO-REMEMBER PHONE NUMBER (2-1-1), UNITED WAY'S 2-1-1 PROGRAM CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE RESOURCES FOR THEIR SPECIFIC SITUATIONS. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE OFTEN UNAWARE OF THESE PROGRAMS, SO BY ASKING QUESTIONS THAT ARISE IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS OR DURING HARD TIMES, THEY CAN BECOME CONNECTED TO ANY OF THE MORE THAN 600 PROGRAMS LISTEDIN THE PORTAGE COUNTY 2-1-1 DIRECTORY. AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THIS FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICE IS AVAILABLE TO ALL PORTAGE COUNTY RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION, THE SERVICE HELPS REDUCE MISDIRECTED CALLS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, POLICE DEPARTMENT, LIBRARY, AND CITY HALL. BY REDUCING NON-CRISIS CALLS TO POLICE DISPATCH, 2-1-1 HELPS RESERVE THESE RESOURCES FOR EMERGENCY CALLS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.