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United Churches Elizabethtown Area

EIN 46-1431772 · Elizabethtown, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceGood71 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO STRIVE FOR WIDER FELLOWSHIP, COOPERATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AMONG THE CHURCHES IN THE ELIZABETHTOWN AREA AND TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS TO MEET THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ELIZABETHTOWN AREA COMMUNITY.

Income
$360,577
Spending
$375,609
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
-28.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
5
Volunteers
125

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

Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $286,724 spent. CPOW (COMMUNITY PLACE ON WASHINGTON) THIS PROGRAM IS THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF UCEA LOCATED AT 53-61 & 105 EAST WASHINGTON STREET IN ELIZABETHTOWN, PA. IT CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND A POLE BARN. CPOW PROVIDES SPACE THROUGH LICENSING AGREEMENTS TO OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED AT GREATLY REDUCED RATES. UCEA ALSO PROVIDES BUILDING OVERSITE, VOLUNTEER RECEPTIONISTS, INTERNET, UTILITIES, CLEANING, REPAIRS AND OTHER OVERHEAD COSTS. IN ADDITION, UCEA ALSO PROVIDES SPACE AT LITTLE OR NO CHARGE FOR SERVICES SUCH AS GED CLASSES, COMPUTER LAB, BEAR BAGS, TOAST MASTERS, AND VITA TAX PREPARATION, AND PROVIDES SPACE FREE OF CHARGE FOR A WINTER HOMELESS SHELTER AND A COMMUNITY CLOTHING BARN. FOUR LIVING UNITS WITHIN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WERE RECENTLEY RENOVATED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS. CPOW (COMMUNITY PLACE ON WASHINGTON) THIS PROGRAM IS THE PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF UCEA LOCATED AT 53-61 & 105 EAST WASHINGTON STREET IN ELIZABETHTOWN, PA. IT CONSISTS OF MULTIPLE BUILDINGS AND A POLE BARN. CPOW PROVIDES SPACE THROUGH LICENSING AGREEMENTS TO OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED AT GREATLY REDUCED RATES. UCEA ALSO PROVIDES BUILDING OVERSITE, VOLUNTEER RECEPTIONISTS, INTERNET, UTILITIES, CLEANING, REPAIRS AND OTHER OVERHEAD COSTS. IN ADDITION, UCEA ALSO PROVIDES SPACE AT LITTLE OR NO CHARGE FOR SERVICES SUCH AS GED CLASSES, COMPUTER LAB, BEAR BAGS, TOAST MASTERS, AND VITA TAX PREPARATION, AND PROVIDES SPACE FREE OF CHARGE FOR A WINTER HOMELESS SHELTER AND A COMMUNITY CLOTHING BARN. FOUR LIVING UNITS WITHIN ONE OF THE BUILDINGS WERE RECENTLEY RENOVATED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HOUSING OPTIONS.
  2. $57,593 spent. FOOD MINISTRY THE BIGGEST PART OF THE FOOD MINISTRY PROGRAM IS THE COMMUNITY CUPBOARD OF ELIZABETHTOWN. FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED TWICE A WEEK TO THOSE IN NEED WITHIN THE ELIZABETHTOWN AREA. DURING 2023, OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS, RANGING IN AGE FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RETIRED PERSONS, GAVE OVER 2,100 HOURS OF THEIR TIME. OVER 1,800 HOUSEHOLDS (OVER 2,600 INDIVIDUALS) WERE SERVED. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS NEEDING ASSISTANCE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. FOOD IS DONATED BY INDIVIDUALS, CHURCHES AND GROCERY STORES AND CASH IS RECEIVED FROM INDIVIDUALS, CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES. CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK GIVES FOOD, GRANTS, AND SPECIAL PRICING TO THE COMMUNITY CUPBOARD OF ELIZABETHTOWN. MEALS ON WHEELS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THE FOOD MINISTRY. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LANCASTER COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING, MEALS ARE DISTRIBUTED ALMOST EVRY WEEKDAY TO THOSE APPROVED. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATE OVER 15 HOURS A WEEK. FOOD MINISTRY THE BIGGEST PART OF THE FOOD MINISTRY PROGRAM IS THE COMMUNITY CUPBOARD OF ELIZABETHTOWN. FOOD IS DISTRIBUTED TWICE A WEEK TO THOSE IN NEED WITHIN THE ELIZABETHTOWN AREA. DURING 2023, OVER 100 VOLUNTEERS, RANGING IN AGE FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RETIRED PERSONS, GAVE OVER 2,100 HOURS OF THEIR TIME. OVER 1,800 HOUSEHOLDS (OVER 2,600 INDIVIDUALS) WERE SERVED. THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS NEEDING ASSISTANCE HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. FOOD IS DONATED BY INDIVIDUALS, CHURCHES AND GROCERY STORES AND CASH IS RECEIVED FROM INDIVIDUALS, CHURCHES AND BUSINESSES. CENTRAL PA FOOD BANK GIVES FOOD, GRANTS, AND SPECIAL PRICING TO THE COMMUNITY CUPBOARD OF ELIZABETHTOWN. MEALS ON WHEELS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THE FOOD MINISTRY. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LANCASTER COUNTY OFFICE OF AGING, MEALS ARE DISTRIBUTED ALMOST EVRY WEEKDAY TO THOSE APPROVED. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATE OVER 15 HOURS A WEEK.
  3. $16,093 spent. FUNDRAISING FOR UCEA IS ACCOMPLISHED VIA COMMUNITY AWARENESS WHICH INCLUDES NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, PARTICIPATION AT THE ELIZABETHTOWN FAIR, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, AND COMMUNITY INVITATIONS TO EVENTS AT CPOW. FUNDRAISING IS ALSO DONE THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCHES IN TWO WAYS - WRITTEN ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THEIR CHURCH BULLETINS AND/OR CHURCH NEWSLETTERS/SPECIAL APPEALS. THE DELEGATES OF UCEA ARE ALSO CHURCH MEMBERS REPRESENTING EACH OF THE CHURCHES. AS SUCH, THEY ARE PERSONALLY REPONSIBLE FOR UCEA INFORMATION TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO CHURCH MEMBERS.
  4. FUNDRAISING FOR UCEA IS ACCOMPLISHED VIA COMMUNITY AWARENESS WHICH INCLUDES NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, PARTICIPATION AT THE ELIZABETHTOWN FAIR, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, AND COMMUNITY INVITATIONS TO EVENTS AT CPOW. FUNDRAISING IS ALSO DONE THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCHES IN TWO WAYS - WRITTEN ANNOUNCEMENTS IN THEIR CHURCH BULLETINS AND/OR CHURCH NEWSLETTERS/SPECIAL APPEALS. THE DELEGATES OF UCEA ARE ALSO CHURCH MEMBERS REPRESENTING EACH OF THE CHURCHES. AS SUCH, THEY ARE PERSONALLY REPONSIBLE FOR UCEA INFORMATION TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO CHURCH MEMBERS.

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 October 2016.

    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.