Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sioux Empire United Way Inc

EIN 46-0233701 · Sioux Falls, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO LEAD, SUSTAIN, AND NURTURE A UNIFIED, EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.

Income
$9.0 million
Spending
$8.8 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 97%
Employees
13
Volunteers
731
Highest pay
$127,548, chief operations off

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: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 31 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 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 (3)
  1. $136,969 spent. 5 VOLUNTEERS SERVED ON THE MARKETING DIVISION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. COMMUNICATIONS BUILT ON TWO MAIN MESSAGES. WE HELP CHILDREN, VULNERABLE ADULTS, AND PEOPLE IN CRISIS. FUNDED BY UNITED WAY. THANKS TO YOU. (2024 CAMPAIGN THEME) EVENTS KICKOFF WEEK: CELEBRATED THE WEEK WITH 6 DAYS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHICH INCLUDED:O TUESDAY: FREE COFFEE AT SCOOTERS (FREE COFFEE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS)O WEDNESDAY: DONUT DAY FOR AGENCIES (VOLUNTEERS AND BOD MEMBERS DELIVERED FLYBOY DONUTS TO PARTNER AGENCIES)O THURSDAY: UNITED WAY & SEVERANCE BREWING CO. LAUNCHED COLLABORATION BEER, "SEUW BREW" AT SEVERANCE TAPROOM. PROCEEDS BENEFITED SEUW.O FRIDAY: COMMUNITY MEAL SPONSORED BY FIRST INTERSTATE BANK. SERVED THE COMMUNITY BY GIVING AWAY OVER 300 MEALS AND ENJOYING LIVE MUSIC AT LEVITT AT THE FALLS. THANK YOU EVENT: APPROX 300 IN ATTENDANCE. ANNOUNCED TOTAL AND RECOGNIZED OUTSTANDING NOMINEES AND AWARD RECIPIENTS. CAMPAIGN E-UPDATES WERE EMAILED WEEKLY DURING THE FALL TO 600+ VOLUNTEERS WITH AN AVERAGE OPEN RATE OF 48%. INFORMATIONAL EMAIL UPDATES WERE DISTRIBUTED MONTHLY TO 9,000+ SUPPORTERS WITH AN AVERAGE OPEN RATE OF 29%. WITHIN SOCIAL MEDIA: INCREASED FACEBOOK PAGE VISITS BY 110% INCREASED INSTAGRAM PROFILE VISITS BY 51% INCREASED LINKEDIN FOLLOWERS BY 38% INCREASED LINKEDIN REACTIONS BY 305% CONTINUED SHARING IMPACT STORIES, NEWS OR RELATED INFORMATION IN COMMUNITY RELEVANT TO OUR FOLLOWERS, PROGRAMS AND DONORS.
  2. $137,779 spent. THE COMMUNITY IMPACT DIVISION HAD APPROXIMATELY 60 VOLUNTEERS SERVING WITHIN SIX DIFFERENT COMMITTEES. THESE SIX COMMITTEES INCLUDED: AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES, AT-RISK YOUTH/YOUTH OUTREACH, CHILDREN & YOUTH EDUCATION, DISABILITIES/SENIORS, MENTAL HEALTH/INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES IN CRISIS, AND OUT OF SCHOOL TIME. ONGOING FUNDING PROCESS: HELD IN-PERSON REVIEW MEETINGS WITH ALL PROGRAMS THAT COMPLETED THE FULL APPLICATION. VOLUNTEERS REVIEWED THE APPLICATION, MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PROGRAM, SOUGHT ADDITIONAL FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION (AS NEEDED), AND MADE FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. AFTER REVIEWING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE VOLUNTEERS RECOMMENDED FUNDING OF APPROXIMATELY $7.5 MILLION TO 73 PROGRAMS AND 38 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. IN TOTAL, OVER 1,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE INVESTED IN THIS PROCESS. ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE REGULAR ONGOING FUNDING PROCESS: TRANSLATION/INTERPRETER FUNDS: O PROVIDED GRANT FUNDING TO 14 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WITH TRANSLATION/INTERPRETER SERVICES. AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS (AED) FUNDS:O PROVIDED MATCHING FUNDS TO 23 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO PURCHASE AEDS. AS A RESULT, AN ADDITIONAL 33 AEDS WERE PLACED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
  3. $7.4 million spent. HELPING CHILDRENQUALITY CHILDCARE & EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION10,595 CHILDREN AGED 0-5 RECEIVED 140,611 BOOKS THOUGH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM. 1,777 CHILDREN ATTENDED QUALITY CHILDCARE AND EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. SUPPORT FOR PARENTS5,946 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR PARENTING JOURNEY AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN.OUT OF SCHOOL TIME CARE ANDOPPORTUNITIES3,054 YOUTH WERE PROVIDED WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES TO FILL OUT OF SCHOOL TIME WITH SAFE AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.YOUTH OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES13,478 YOUTH WERE PROVIDED WITH MENTORING AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING.PHYSICAL & MENTAL WELLBEING6,444 CHILDREN AND YOUTH WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES LIKE COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, FOOD, DENTAL, AND SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY.HELPING VULNERABLE ADULTSCOMMUNITY CONNECTIONS & QUALITY OF LIFE EXPERIENCES3,546 ADULTS BENEFITED FROM SERVICES AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT FOSTERING STRONGER COMMUNITY TIES, ENHANCING THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE, AND BROADENING THEIR RANGE OF EXPERIENCES.STABILIZE HEALTH & LENGTHEN INDEPENDENT LIVING6,444 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED SUPERVISED CARE, TRANSPORTATION, OR SERVICES TO ALLOW FOR CONTINUED INDEPENDENT LIVING.HELPING PEOPLE IN CRISISFAMILY SUPPORT1,674 AT-RISK FAMILIES RECEIVED INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, LEGAL SERVICES, NURSING SERVICES AND SUPPORT.HOUSING STABILITY, FINANCIAL CARE, & CAREER EMPOWERMENT17,439 INDIVIDUALS AND 1,439 FAMILIES UTILIZED SERVICES THAT PROVIDE ACCESS TO TRANSITIONAL AND STABLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIKE FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAINING, AND MORE.CARE FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE & SEXUAL ASSAULT2,034 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO SAFE SHELTER, CRISIS INTERVENTION, COUNSELING SERVICES OR COMMUNITY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES ON ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT.MENTAL HEALTH CARE3,433 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE, COUNSELING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES.

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 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 March 1957.

    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.