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Great Rivers United Way Inc

EIN 39-0848188 · Onalaska, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO UNITE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES TO IMPROVE LIVES AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH EDUCATION, INCOME STABILITY AND HEALTHY LIVES.

Income
$2.9 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
32
Volunteers
641
Highest pay
$131,624, executive director

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 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 (3)
  1. $932,161 spent. FUND DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM - UNITED WAY VOLUNTEERS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF UNITED WAY STAFF PERFORM IN-DEPTH REVIEW AND ALLOCATE FUNDS FROM THE ANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE TO 43 LOCAL PROGRAMS AT 28 LOCAL PARTNER AGENCIES. THE PROGRAMS MUST ADDRESS IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY NEEDS, TRACK PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS IN THE FOLLOWING IMPACT AREAS: COMMUNITY MENTAL WELLBEING AND BASIC NEEDS.
  2. $989,509 spent. THE COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM - IS A PROGRAM BUILT ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS HIRING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS (CHWS), IMPLEMENTING A STANDARDIZED MODEL OF CARE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS BOTH SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND CLINICAL HEALTH NEEDS FOR TARGETED POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GRUW REGION. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON RISK REDUCTION THROUGH AN OUTCOME-BASED APPROACH. PARTNERING AGENCIES HAVE CHW EMPLOYEES THAT IMPLEMENT THE MODEL, DOCUMENT IN A COMMON DATABASE, AND ARE SUPPORTED AND TRAINED BY GRUW PROGRAM STAFF. THE PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN LA CROSSE, JACKSON AND MONROE COUNTIES. GRUW STAFF PROVIDE TRAINING, ONGOING SUPPORT, A MONTHLY COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE MEETING, AND ADVOCATE FOR CHWS ACROSS THE STATE.
  3. $463,139 spent. COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING - COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING EFFORTS INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, UNITED WAY STAFF INVOLVEMENT AND RESOURCES FOR LA CROSSE COUNTY FAMILY POLICY BOARD, COULEE COLLABORATIVE TO END HOMELESSNESS, REBUILDING FOR LEARNING COMMUNITY RETREAT, LA CROSSE MENTAL HEALTH COALITION, MONROE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COALITION, , RESILIENCE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE FRAMEWORK, 2-1-1 ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HEALTHY FAMILIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, W-2 STEERING COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY YOUTH SUPPORTS, COULEE REGION VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS, AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY EFFORTS. OUR WORK IN COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVING IS DATA-DRIVEN AND INFORMED BY STUDYING COMMUNITY NEEDS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND HOSPITALS. WE PUBLISH COMPASS NOW, A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT EVERY THREE YEARS. VIEW THE 2024 REPORT AT COMPASSNOW.ORG. THIS EFFORT HELPS IDENTIFY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE CRITICAL ISSUES AND WHAT COMMUNITY ASSETS CAN BE LEVERAGED IN FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR A SIX COUNTY AREA (HOUSTON (MN), BUFFALO, LA CROSSE, MONROE, TREMPEALEAU, AND VERNON (WI)). THE COMPASS REPORT PROVIDES VALUABLE INFORMATION AND PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF DATA COLLECTED THROUGH A COMMUNITY SURVEY, FOCUS GROUPS, AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS, AND AN INVENTORY OF COMMUNITY ASSETS. THE PURPOSE OF THE COMPASS REPORT IS TO SERVE AS A REFERENCE TOOL AND FOUNDATION FOR ACTION PLANS THAT SOLVE PROBLEMS LONG TERM.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1954.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.