United Way of West Central Minnesota
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNITED WAY OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA WORKS TO IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITIES TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE.
- Income
- $671,843
- Spending
- $469,901
- Spent on programs
- 65%
- Reserves
- 10.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 87%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 165
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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1565% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 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
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
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 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 (3)
- $286,765 spent. UNITED WAY IMPACTS EDUCATION, HEALTH AND BASIC NEEDS TO HELP OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS. EDUCATION; MAKING SURE THAT OUR CHILDREN COME TO SCHOOL PREPARED TO SUCCEED, SUPPORTING THEM THROUGHOUT THEIR SCHOOL CAREER, AND HELPING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES GAIN JOB SKILLS, CREATING A RIPPLE EFFECT OF SUCCESS THROUGHOUT OUR UNITED WAY COMMUNITIES. HEALTH; PROMOTING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE QUALITY PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND DENTAL HEALTH CARE; PROMOTING INDEPENDENT LIVING AND QUALITY OF LIFE PROGRAMS, AND PROMOTING ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT TEACH HEALTHY BEHAVIORS AND PROMOTE WELLNESS TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS. BASIC NEEDS; SUPPORTING AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GOOD LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
- $17,431 spent. UNITED WAY COORDINATES AND FUNDS THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM. UNITED WAY HAS OVER 2,500 PRESCHOOL CHILDREN ENROLLED (FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5). THESE CHILDREN RECEIVE AN AGE APPROPRIATE BOOK THROUGH THE MAIL EACH MONTH. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP CHILDREN BUILD VOCABULARIES AND DISCOVER READING. IT ALSO BUILDS BONDS BETWEEN PARENTS AND ADULT RELATIVES AND THE CHILDREN AS THEY HELP FOSTER THE LOVE OF READING. THERE IS NO COST TO FAMILIES TO ENROLL THEIR CHILD AND THE CHILD RECEIVES 12 BOOKS A YEAR UNTIL THEIR 5TH BIRTHDAY. THIS IS ONE WAY UNITED WAY'S EDUCATION INITIATIVE HELPS PREPARE CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN.
- $2,070 spent. EMPOWER: WOMEN UNITED IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE UNITED WAY AND UNITES WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE WOMEN ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS, ENGAGE WOMEN AS PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY INVESTORS AND EMPOWER WOMEN TO BE A PART OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR CURRENT FOCUS IS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PREPARING AREA CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN. EMPOWER BEGAN TEN YEARS AGO IN KANDIYOHI COUNTY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ONLY 50% OF KINDERGARTEN-AGED CHILDREN BEING READY TO START KINDERGARTEN. THE LITCHFIELD BRANCH OF EMPOWER BEGAN EIGHT YEARS AGO. THE KANDIYOHI COUNTY EMPOWER GROUP UTILIZES THE DOLLARS THEY RAISE IN FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS: 5% TO SUPPORT IMAGINATION LIBRARY; 15% FOR GETTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS AND FUNDING PRESCHOOL BACKPACKS THAT HAVE TOOLS TO HELP PREPARE PRESCHOOLERS FOR KINDERGARTEN; 30% OF THE FUNDS ARE USED TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANTS ADDRESSING SCHOOL READINESS. THE REMAINING 50% GOES TOWARD THE "GROWMOBILE," WHICH IS A MOBILE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ONSITE PRESCHOOL IN TARGETED REGIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES YEAR ROUND. THE LITCHFIELD EMPOWER GROUP HOSTS EVENTS TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS IN LITCHFIELD AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THIS GROUP USES THE FUNDS RAISED TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR AREA CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM PRESCHOOL. EMPOWER: WOMEN UNITED IS AN INITIATIVE OF THE UNITED WAY AND UNITES WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THE PURPOSE IS TO EDUCATE WOMEN ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS, ENGAGE WOMEN AS PHILANTHROPIC LEADERS AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY INVESTORS AND EMPOWER WOMEN TO BE A PART OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR CURRENT FOCUS IS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PREPARING AREA CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN. EMPOWER BEGAN TEN YEARS AGO IN KANDIYOHI COUNTY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF ONLY 50% OF KINDERGARTEN-AGED CHILDREN BEING READY TO START KINDERGARTEN. THE LITCHFIELD BRANCH OF EMPOWER BEGAN EIGHT YEARS AGO. THE KANDIYOHI COUNTY EMPOWER GROUP UTILIZES THE DOLLARS THEY RAISE IN FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS: 5% TO SUPPORT IMAGINATION LIBRARY; 15% FOR GETTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS INTO THE HANDS OF PARENTS AND FUNDING PRESCHOOL BACKPACKS THAT HAVE TOOLS TO HELP PREPARE PRESCHOOLERS FOR KINDERGARTEN; 30% OF THE FUNDS ARE USED TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANTS ADDRESSING SCHOOL READINESS. THE REMAINING 50% GOES TOWARD THE "GROWMOBILE," WHICH IS A MOBILE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES ONSITE PRESCHOOL IN TARGETED REGIONS IN OUR COMMUNITIES YEAR ROUND. THE LITCHFIELD EMPOWER GROUP HOSTS EVENTS TO RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS IN LITCHFIELD AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THIS GROUP USES THE FUNDS RAISED TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS FOR AREA CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM PRESCHOOL.
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
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 June 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 November 1953.
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.
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