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United Way of Greater Kansas City Inc

EIN 44-0545812 · Kansas City, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLES THE BEST AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE FARTHEST-REACHING NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE IN NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$26.6 million
Spending
$28.5 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
4.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
105
Volunteers
1,721
Highest pay
$573,329, chief executive officer

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

Weak: 49 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 40% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 25% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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

    33 of 33 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 (3)
  1. $17.7 million spent. UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY OPERATES TWO SIGNATURE GRANTMAKING INITIATIVES THAT FOCUS ON THE HUMAN SERVICE NEEDS OF THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA. THE FIRST OF THESE INVOLVES PROVIDING ANNUAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO 100 HIGH-PERFORMING HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE NONPROFITS, UNDER OUR IMPACT 100 GRANTMAKING INITIATIVE. WE INVEST IN ORGANIZATIONS ADVANCING THE HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL, AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING OF VULNERABLE POPLULATIONS IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA. ORGANIZATONS ARE SCREENED BASED ON UNIFORM CRITERIA THAT ASSESS THE STRENGTH OF PROGRAMS' METHODOLOGY, CAPACITY, PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES AND FIT WITH UNITED WAY COMMUNITY IMPACT AGENDA. ORGANIZATIONS SELECTED FOR THE IMPACT 100 RECEIVE A ONE-YEAR, UNRESTRICTED GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THROUGH A SECOND APPROACH, UNITED WAY ADMINISTERS A CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANT PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS BIPOC LED/SERVING NONPROFIT ORGANIZAITONS WITH SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUDGETS. THE CATALYST FUND IS INTENDED TO REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITY GAP FACED BY ORGANIZAITONS FOUNDED BY AND SERVING PEOPLE OF COLOR, WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER NONPROFITS. BY INVESTING IN STRATEGIES THAT STRENGTHEN OPERATIONS, INCREASE FUNDRAISING CAPABILITIES, AND SUPPORT PROGRAM EXPANSION, UNITED WAY HOPES TO ELEVATE THE ESSENTIAL WORK DONE IN COMMUNITY BY SMALLER, BIPOC-LED/SERVING ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $3.3 million spent. UNITED WAY PLAYS AN IMPORTANT HUMAN SERVICE ECOYSTEM ROLE BY ADDRESSING THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF POVERTY AND RACIAL & ETHNIC DISPARITIES THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH A RANGE OF COLLABORATIVE INTERVENTIONS. SUMMARIZED BELOW ARE KEY EXAMPLES OF THIS WORK IN THE KANSAS CITY REGION. EVICTION PREVENTION FUND - UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY SERVES AS PARTNER TO VARIOUS CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS THROUGHOUT THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN REGION IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, PAIRED WITH LEGAL DEFENSE PROVIDED BY NONPROFIT LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, AIMED AT PREVENTING EVICTION. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THIS WORK HAS INVOLVED THE BRAIDING OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS, PHILANTHROPIC FUNDS, AND STATE GRANTS. IN 2024, MORE THAN 1,561 HOUSEHOLDS AVOIDED EVICTION THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE. UTILITY ASSISTANCE FUND - UNITED WAY HAS A LONGSTATNDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILIES IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, THROUGH WHICH THOUSANDS OF LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AIMED AT PREVENTING THE LOSS OF UTILITY SERVICE-A KEY RISK FACTOR IN HOMELESSNESS. DIRECT ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS - UNITED WAY AWARDED $772,961 IN SUPPORT TO 824 HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT DISTRIBUTES PREPAID DEBIT CARDS TO FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH THE IMPACTS OF POVERTY AND HIGH INFLATION. FAMILY EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE - THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY AND THE SIEMER INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY STABILITY WITH THE SUPPORT OF SIX PARTNER COMMUNITY AGENCIES IS SERVING 478 FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING INSTABILITY. WITH TARGETED CASE MANAGEMENT AND DIRECT CLIENT ASSISTANCE, FAMILES ARE ABLE TO RESOLVE FINANCIAL AND HOUSING STABILITY ISSUES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE PUSH THEM TO THE BRINK OF HOUSELESSNESS.
  3. $1.9 million spent. UNITED WAY 211 IS AN EASY-TO-REMEMBER CENTRAL PHONE NUMBER CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH AVAILABLE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES. UNITED WAY 211 IS AVAILABLE 24/7/365 AND IS COMPLETELY FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL. TRAINED, PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS WORK WITH CALLERS TO DETERMINE THE MOST APPROPRIATE REFERRAL(S), UTILIZING A COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCE DATABASE. UNITED WAY 211 PROVIDES LANGUAGE TRANSLATION CAPACITY IN 150 LANGUAGES. UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY 211 SERVES RESIDENTS OF 16 COUNTIES IN MISSOURI (ANDREW, BATES, BUCHANAN, CALDWELL, CASS, CLAY, CLINTON, DEKALB, HENRY, JACKSON, JOHNSON, LAFAYETTE, PETTIS, PLATTE, SALINE, RAY) AND 7 COUNTIES IN KANSAS (DONAPHAN, FRANKLIN, JOHNSON, LEAVENWORTH, LINN, MIAMI, WYANDOTTE). UNITED WAY 211 MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE IN NEED OF INFORMATION OR SERVICES TO NAVIGATE THE COMPLEX AND FRAGMENTED HUMAN SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE GOAL IS TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME THEIR OWN ADVOCATE AND FOSTER SELF-SUFFICIENCY. SHORT-TERM SUCCESS IS MEASURED BY THE UTILIZATION OF THE SERVICE AND ENGAGEMENT INDICATORS SUCH AS CALL VOLUME, NEEDS PRESENTED, AND UNMET NEEDS. IN ADDITION, FOLLOW-UP CALLS ARE CONDUCTED ON A TARGETED PERCENTAGE OF CALLS TO DETERMINE SATISFACTION WITH THE SERVICE, WHETHER THE CALLER RECEIVED ASSISTANCE AS A RESULT OF THE REFERRAL(S), AND HOW THE CALLER HEARD OF UNITED WAY 211. LAST YEAR, 211 RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 155,000 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 December 1947.

    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.

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