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United Way of Mahaska County

EIN 42-0869502 · Oskaloosa, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

United Way of Mahaska County empowers our communities by promoting education, encouraging healthy living, and strengthening financial stability.

Income
$480,602
Spending
$363,673
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
21 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
4
Volunteers
382
Highest pay
$57,068, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 95 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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, 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 (12)
  1. $160,691 spent. Community Investment (Allocations): Occurs each February. After our annual campaign, a group of community volunteers come together to allocate campaign dollars to social service agencies that serve Mahaska County. Local agencies submit grant applications and make presentations outlining the programs they would like funded. In 2024, United Way of Mahaska County funded 8 local agencies. These agencies focus their efforts on addressing education, income, health, and basic needs throughout Mahaska County.
  2. $26,500 spent. Special Grants: United Way of Mahaska County provided a special grant to two local organizations in Mahaska County. Funding went to a program that helped local high school students fund a project that provided clothing and Christmas presents to local children in need, and the local community park rebuild.
  3. $16,512 spent. Take-Along Food Program: United Way of Mahaska County's Take-Along Weekend Food Program provides bags of meals, snacks, and drinks to students who struggle with food insecurity over the weekend. Each Friday during the school year, the program served approximately 168 students at Oskaloosa Elementary School, Oskaloosa Middle School, Eddyville Elementary School, and Fremont Elementary School.
  4. $3,675 spent. Back to School Fair: Each summer United Way of Mahaska County sponsors a school supply drive, collecting school supplies and accepting donations for the purchase of backpacks and supplies. Any child or youth (preschool through 12th grade) residing in Mahaska County is eligible to receive a filled backpack through this program. In 2024, a drive-thru Back to School Fair was organized to distribute the backpacks, as well as offer shoes and socks. Agencies that offer programming for youth were able to submit information about their activities for inclusion in the backpacks. Approximately 400 backpacks were distributed to families in need. Some of the leftover school supplies were given to local schools to stock school supply closets, which teachers can utilize throughout the year. We partnered with Mahaska YMCA, Soles 4 Souls, and the school districts in Mahaska County.
  5. $2,920 spent. Volunteer Mahaska: United Way of Mahaska County operates a Volunteer Center in Mahaska County. Local agencies are able to post volunteer needs on the Volunteer Mahaska website. Community members can access the website to find volunteer opportunities that match their interests and availability. The Volunteer Center coordinated many volunteers for the Oskaloosa Summer Lunch Program in 2024.
  6. $2,770 spent. Designated gifts: United Way of Mahaska County accepts designated donations from donors during the annual fundraising campaign. Donations are forwarded to designated human service 501 (c)3 agencies.
  7. $1,599 spent. Imagination Library: United Way of Mahaska County provides free books for children 5 and under through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program
  8. $972 spent. VITA Tax Site: United Way of Mahaska County recruits volunteers, coordinates and hosts a VITA Tax Preparation Assistance Site. IRS Certified Volunteer Tax Preparers provide free tax preparation for seniors and low-income families and individuals.
  9. $747 spent. Days Of Caring: United Way of Mahaska County empowers volunteers in our community to come together to assist in completing a variety of projects each year, including those that serve seniors and individuals with disabilities, city and council projects, local non-profit agencies, and schools. In 2024, we completed 29 projects with approximately 147 volunteers.
  10. Winter Coat Drive: United Way of Mahaska County coordinated a local Coat Drive. Volunteers provided manpower for distribution of collection boxes and regularly collected coats and other winter outerwear items. Of these items, many were given to local schools. A distribution event was held at Penn Central Mall to distribute the remaining items to the public at no charge.
  11. Oskaloosa Summer Lunch Program: United Way of Mahaska County promotes the Oskaloosa Community School's Summer Lunch Program within the community and recruits and coordinates volunteers for both meal preparation and distribution.
  12. $66,066 spent. Compensation, Wages and Allocable Expenses (in aggregate) included in Program Service Expenses on Part IX - Statement of Functional Expenses but not specifically separated in reporting to individual Program Service Accomplishments.

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

  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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1963.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.