United Way of Bemidji Area
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF THE COMMUNITY. OUR FOCUS ON ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD CREATES A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF AREA CHILDREN, YOUTH, AGING ADULTS AND THEIR CAREGIVERS, PEOPLE IN CRISIS AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES BY FOCUSING ON THE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GOOD LIFE: EDUCATION - HELPING CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL; INCOME - PROMOTING FINANCIAL STABILITY, INCREASING SELF- SUFFICIENCY AND INDEPENDENCE; AND, HEALTH - IMPROVING PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING, AND PROVIDING EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE UNITED WAY'S AGENDA FOR ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD INCLUDES: INVESTING IN NONPROFIT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS AND DELIVER THE GREATEST IMPACT POSSIBLE; IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES AND SUPPORT YEAR ROUND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS NEW AND EMERGING NEEDS; AND, FORMING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABO
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 6.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 1,006
- Highest pay
- $91,560, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 56% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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.
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, 2024, 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 (2)
- $377,800 spent. UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA STRATEGICALLY INVESTS DOLLARS IN REPUTABLE, KNOWLEDGEABLE AGENCIES THAT BUILD A SOLID NETWORK OF SUPPORT AROUND OUR COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH. THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS ENSURES THAT UNITED WAY'S INVESTMENTS IN NONPROFIT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MOST SERIOUS HUMAN NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE REAL, LASTING CHANGE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH. THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CABINET IS THE HALLMARK OF UNITED WAY'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY. PRIOR TO MAKING FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNITED WAY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CABINET SPENDS COUNTLESS HOURS THOROUGHLY REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING, INCLUDING INTERVIEWING THE AGENCIES APPLYING FOR FUNDING, REVIEWING THE AGENCY'S FINANCIALS, THE PROGRAM'S OUTCOMES, THE AGENCY'S COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, THE AGENCY'S ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY MEET COMMUNITY AND CLIENT NEEDS, AND THE ALIGNMENT TO UNITED WAY'S FOCUS ON ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FINAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS WHEN THEY APPROVE THE TOTAL INVESTMENTS TO PARTNER AGENCIES EACH YEAR. ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS GAPS IN RESPONDING TO CRITICAL, NEW AND EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS AROUND THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH. UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA STRATEGICALLY INVESTS DOLLARS IN REPUTABLE, KNOWLEDGEABLE AGENCIES THAT BUILD A SOLID NETWORK OF SUPPORT AROUND OUR COMMUNITY IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH. THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS ENSURES THAT UNITED WAY'S INVESTMENTS IN NONPROFIT PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MOST SERIOUS HUMAN NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE REAL, LASTING CHANGE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH. THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CABINET IS THE HALLMARK OF UNITED WAY'S ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY. PRIOR TO MAKING FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE UNITED WAY'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CABINET SPENDS COUNTLESS HOURS THOROUGHLY REVIEWING APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING, INCLUDING INTERVIEWING THE AGENCIES APPLYING FOR FUNDING, REVIEWING THE AGENCY'S FINANCIALS, THE PROGRAM'S OUTCOMES, THE AGENCY'S COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, THE AGENCY'S ABILITY TO EFFECTIVELY MEET COMMUNITY AND CLIENT NEEDS, AND THE ALIGNMENT TO UNITED WAY'S FOCUS ON ADVANCING THE COMMON GOOD. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FINAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS WHEN THEY APPROVE THE TOTAL INVESTMENTS TO PARTNER AGENCIES EACH YEAR. ADDITIONAL INVESTMENTS ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS GAPS IN RESPONDING TO CRITICAL, NEW AND EMERGING COMMUNITY NEEDS AROUND THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH.
- $630,399 spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES - UNITED WAY IDENTIFIES A LIMITED NUMBER OF CRITICAL ISSUES (GAPS IN SERVICES OR EMERGING NEEDS) WHERE ACTION IS REQUIRED AND DEVELOPS IMPACT STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS IN RESPONSE. THE UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM IS A FOOD PACK PROGRAM THAT ENSURES BEMIDJI AREA CHILDREN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL, EASY-TO-PREPARE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ON WEEKENDS AND DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND BREAKS. THE UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA'S HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR KIDS PROGRAM COLLECTS CHIRSTMAS GIFTS AND DISTRIBUTES THEM TO AREA CHILDREN IN NEED. OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDE: COATS FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE EARNED INCOME AND CHILD TAX CREDIT OUTREACH AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, FAMILYWIZE, A FREE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD FOR THE UNINSURED, AND THE VENTURE GRANT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ONE-TIME FUNDING TO AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW OR EXPANSION OF EXISTING PROGRAMS. COMMUNITY IMPACT INITIATIVES - UNITED WAY IDENTIFIES A LIMITED NUMBER OF CRITICAL ISSUES (GAPS IN SERVICES OR EMERGING NEEDS) WHERE ACTION IS REQUIRED AND DEVELOPS IMPACT STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMS IN RESPONSE. THE UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA BACKPACK BUDDIES PROGRAM IS A FOOD PACK PROGRAM THAT ENSURES BEMIDJI AREA CHILDREN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY AND HUNGER HAVE ACCESS TO NUTRITIONAL, EASY-TO-PREPARE AND NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ON WEEKENDS AND DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND BREAKS. THE UNITED WAY OF BEMIDJI AREA'S HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR KIDS PROGRAM COLLECTS CHIRSTMAS GIFTS AND DISTRIBUTES THEM TO AREA CHILDREN IN NEED. OTHER INITIATIVES INCLUDE: COATS FOR THE COMMUNITY, THE EARNED INCOME AND CHILD TAX CREDIT OUTREACH AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, FAMILYWIZE, A FREE PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNT CARD FOR THE UNINSURED, AND THE VENTURE GRANT PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ONE-TIME FUNDING TO AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW OR EXPANSION OF EXISTING PROGRAMS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.
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 October 1987.
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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