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United Way of the Black Hills

EIN 46-0259754 · Rapid City, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF THE BLACK HILLS ORGANIZES AND IMPLEMENTS AN ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO HELP SUPPORT THE BUDGETS OF LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES. CURRENTLY, COMMUNITY-WIDE CAMPAIGNS ARE CONDUCTED IN RAPID CITY, STURGIS AND THE NORTHERN HILLS COMMUNITIES OF LEAD, DEADWOOD, SPEARFISH AND BELLE FOURCHE, AS WELL AS THE SOUTHERN HILLS COMMUNITIES OF HOT SPRINGS, CUSTER, HILL CITY, KEYSTONE, AND EDGEMONT. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SPEARHEADS EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY COMMUNITY NEEDS, DEVELOPS A COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO THOSE NEEDS, AND PROMOTES TEAMWORK AMONG LOCAL NONPROFITS.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
34.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
9
Volunteers
1,067
Highest pay
$102,988, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 34.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 46% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 26% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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

    22 of 22 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, 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 (5)
  1. $1.4 million spent. FUNDRAISING & ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDE OFFICE AND MEETING SPACE TO AREA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $285,058 spent. ACCEPTED A "GRADE-LEVEL READING INITIATIVE GRANT" THAT WILL BE USED TO COORDINATE LITERACY EFFORTS IN THE COMMUNITY AMONGST LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES, IDENTIFY AREAS OF STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES, AND GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INITIAL GOALS AND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS. INITIATED A NON-PROFIT FOUNDATION GRANT TO PROVIDE PROJECT MANAGEMENT, FACILITATION, AND SUPPORT TO THE EARLY LEARNER RAPID CITY INITIATIVE AND THE BLACK HILLS READS PROGRAM, SUPERVISED BY UNITED WAY OF THE BLACK HILLS.
  3. $243,949 spent. NONPROFIT 360 PROVIDES NONPROFITS IN THE BLACK HILLS WITH FREE TOOLS, TRAINING, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT TO HELP GROW STRONGER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE. THIS FREE PROGRAM INCLUDES FOUR DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, BOARD TRAINING, TRAINING WORKSHOPS, AND CONSULTING.
  4. $37,173 spent. ACCEPTED A PRIVATE FOUNDATION GRANT FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITIES THAT CARE, A COMMUNITY-OWNED PREVENTION SYSTEM PROVEN TO REDUCE YOUTH HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS COMMUNITY WIDE. ACCEPTED A PRIVATE FOUNDATION GRANT FOR MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES, USING A COLLABORATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EVERYDAY STRONG PROGRAM A LAYMANS GUIDE TO WORKING WITH YOUTH IN CRISIS AND IN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
  5. ACCEPTED A PRIVATE FOUNDATION GRANT FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND COLLABORATIVE ARRANGEMENT TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITIES THAT CARE, A COMMUNITY-OWNED PREVENTION SYSTEM PROVEN TO REDUCE YOUTH HEALTH AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS COMMUNITY WIDE. ACCEPTED A PRIVATE FOUNDATION GRANT FOR MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES, USING A COLLABORATIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EVERYDAY STRONG PROGRAM A LAYMANS GUIDE TO WORKING WITH YOUTH IN CRISIS AND IN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 1959.

    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.

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