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United Way of Central Iowa

EIN 42-0680425 · Des Moines, IA

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

TO IMPROVE LIVES BY UNITING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY

Income
$24.0 million
Spending
$25.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
64
Volunteers
10,681
Highest pay
$280,016, president/corp. secretary

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.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 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 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    36 of 36 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. $3.7 million spent. ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY GOES BEYOND SIMPLY EARNING A PAYCHECK; IT INVOLVES SECURING A LIVABLE WAGE AND BUILDING WEALTH TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ONE OF THE WAYS UWCI HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY IS BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES; OVER 20,300 INDIVIDUALS OBTAINED JOB TRAINING AND CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, ENABLING THEM TO OBTAIN QUALITY EMPLOYMENT THAT FOSTERS SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STABILITY.
  2. $3.4 million spent. EDUCATION SUCCESS: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO FUTURE SUCCESS. UWCI COLLABORATES WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES, PARTICULARLY FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH. THESE INITIATIVES FOCUS ON ENHANCING LITERACY AND PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PAST YEAR, NEARLY 4,000 YOUTH ENGAGED IN COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS. OF YOUTH ASSESSED, 90% DEMONSTRATED ACADEMIC PROGRESS OR MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $2.8 million spent. HEALTH & WELL-BEING: ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE, INCLUDING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND DENTAL SERVICES, SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS OVERALL WELL-BEING. UWCI SUPPORTS PROGRAMS ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS, SERVING NEARLY 29,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH FUNDED MENTAL HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND DENTAL PROVIDERS. ONE POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THIS WORK IS THAT 65% OF INDIVIDUALS ASSESSED EITHER MAINTAINED OR IMPROVED THEIR OVERALL HEALTH, CONTRIBUTING TO STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.
  4. $12.1 million spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD SUCCESS: EARLY INTERVENTION IS CRITICAL FOR LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL SUCCESS. UWCI INVESTS IN PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT YOUNG CHILDREN DURING THESE FORMATIVE YEARS. AMONG THE MANY IMPACTS, NEARLY 7,000 CHILDREN RECEIVED DEVELOPMENTAL OR DENTAL SCREENINGS THROUGH UWCI-FUNDED INITIATIVES, RESULTING IN NEARLY 800 CHILDREN BEING REFERRED FOR FOLLOW-UP SERVICES, ENSURING TIMELY CARE AND SUPPORT.ESSENTIAL NEEDS: STABILITY STARTS WITH ACCESS TO LIFE'S MOST ESSENTIAL NEEDS SAFE HOUSING AND NUTRITIOUS FOOD. UWCI PRIORITIZES FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS THAT MEET THESE ESSENTIAL NEEDS AND HAS ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT SUCCESSES. AMONG THEM, NEARLY 6,000 HOUSEHOLDS PARTICIPATING IN HOUSING-FOCUSED PROGRAMS, AND MORE THAN 2,600 HOUSEHOLDS SECURING SAFE AND STABLE HOUSING. ADDITIONALLY, OVER 260,000 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FOOD ASSISTANCE THROUGH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES, HELPING FAMILIES BRIDGE CRITICAL GAPS.UNITED WAY COMMUNITY IMPACT SERVICES: THE VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM MOBILIZES VOLUNTEERS TO FOSTER A THRIVING COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY IMPACT SERVICES STAFF RESEARCH COMMUNITY CONDITIONS AND MEASURES PROGRESS OF UNITED WAY INVESTMENTS. COMMUNITY IMPACT SERVICES ALSO OVERSEES A VOLUNTEER, CITIZEN-LED ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS OF UNITED WAY-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS IN PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.

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 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 June 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 May 1938.

    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.