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United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties Inc

EIN 42-6062055 · Iowa City, IA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF JOHNSON & WASHINGTON COUNTIES, INC. (UWJWC) UNITES IN PURPOSE TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$2.4 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
13
Volunteers
1,600
Highest pay
$133,251, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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

    16 of 16 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 March 31, 2026, 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)
  1. $1.3 million spent. UNITED WAY OF JOHNSON & WASHINGTON COUNTIES, INC. (UWJWC) PROVIDES FUNDING SUPPORT TO 28 PARTNER AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SERVICES ADDRESSING THE GREATEST NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE FOCUS OF OUR FOUR STRATEGIC IMPACT AREAS: HEALTHY COMMUNITY, YOUTH OPPORTUNITY, FINANCIAL SECURITY, AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCY. INVESTMENTS TO PARTNER AGENCIES ARE DETERMINED THROUGH A VOLUNTEER-LED BI-ANNUAL PROCESS THAT USES DATA FROM OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC COMMUNITY ROADMAP TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO MAKE THE GREATEST IMPACT. THE UWJWC PARTNER AGENCY NETWORK CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESOURCE SHARING AS WELL AS A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO SOLVING COMPLEX, COMMUNITY-WIDE ISSUES.
  2. $631,483 spent. UNITED WAY OF JOHNSON & WASHINGTON COUNTIES, INC. (UWJWC) WORKS TO IDENTIFY GAPS, SET SHARED GOALS, AND INVEST IN SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE A MEASURABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. UWJWC CONDUCTS A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT EVERY THREE YEARS, WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GATHER QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE INSIGHTS TO INFORM A SHARED COMMUNITY ROADMAP THAT UNITES LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS IN DRIVING MEANINGFUL, LONG-TERM CHANGE. UWJWC SERVES AS A HUB FOR VOLUNTEERISM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH OUR ONLINE VOLUNTEER PORTAL, CONNECTING COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THROUGH COORDINATED GROUP VOLUNTEER PROJECTS, BOOK AND SUPPLY DRIVES, AND OUR ANNUAL DAY OF CARING, WHICH CONNECTED 100 VOLUNTEERS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES TO COMPLETE PROJECTS AT 15 NONPROFIT LOCATIONS AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.UWJWC LEADS THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER (COAD) COALITION, MAINTAINS THE EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER CENTER (EVC), AND PARTICIPATES IN PLANNING EFFORTS WITH JOHNSON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER TO COORDINATE DISASTER RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS. UWJWC ALSO MAINTAINS A ROBUST DISASTER RELIEF FUND, WHICH PROVIDED TEMPORARY HOUSING SUPPORT FOR 26 INDIVIDUALS DISPLACED BY FIRE IN FY26.UWJWC ALSO MANAGED A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES IN FY26 INCLUDING SUMMERSHIPS (84 CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED), HOLIDAY ADOPT-A-FAMILY (94 ORGANIZATIONS, GROUPS, AND INDIVIDUALS CONNECTED WITH 193 FAMILIES, INCLUDING 481 CHILDREN) THE 211 HOTLINE AND ONLINE RESOURCE (1,387 CALLS ANSWERED IN OUR SERVICE AREA IN 2025), AND THE FOOD ACCESS NETWORK FUND FOR EMERGENCY SNAP RELIEF ($26,668 RAISED). ADDITIONALLY, UWJWC PROVIDES VARIOUS LEVELS OF FISCAL MANAGEMENT, VOLUNTEER COORDINATION, AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY INITIATIVES SUCH AS READY SET SCHOOL, HEALTHY KIDS IOWA, THE BOARD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND MORE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2026, 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 November 6, 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 March 2026.

    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 July 1961.

    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 November 4, 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.