United Way of Virginias Blue Ridge
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. UNITED WAY OF VIRGINIA'S BLUE RIDGE SERVES PEOPLE IN THE CITIES OF ROANOKE AND SALEM, THE TOWN OF VINTON, AND THE COUNTIES OF BOTETOURT, CRAIG, ROANOKE, AND FRANKLIN.
- Income
- $6.1 million
- Spending
- $6.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 35
- Volunteers
- 394
- Highest pay
- $115,203, president & ceo
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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 10% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 6% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2533 of 33 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $4.6 million spent. UNITED WAY OF VIRGINIA'S BLUE RIDGE IS A UNIQUE ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY. UW ENGAGES LOCAL BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS AND INDIVIDUALS TO DETERMINE AND PRIORITIZE OUR REGION'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS. A COMMITTED NETWORK OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS DETERMINES WHICH PROGRAMS MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN ADDRESSING THESE NEEDS. FROM JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025, UNITED WAY OF VIRGINIA'S BLUE RIDGE INVESTED OVER $4.2 MILLION DOLLARS IN QUALITY PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, AND SMALL GRANTS THAT MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. $3.7 MILLION CAME IN THE FORM OF GRANTS SPECIFICALLY AWARDED TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT UNITED WAY'S SIGNATURE INITIATIVES - EARLY LEARNING STRATEGIES AND FAMILY HEALTH STRATEGIES, AND THE REMAINDER CAME FROM DONATIONS TO THE COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND. ADDITIONALLY, UNITED WAY MADE INVESTMENTS IN THE WORK OF OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING SERVICES WHICH ADDRESSED KEY PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE AREAS OF EARLY LEARNERS, SUCCESSFUL YOUTH AND HEALTHY ADULTS USING A FUNDING MODEL THAT BUILDS ON PARTNERSHIPS AMONG SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BETTER ADDRESS CLIENT NEEDS AND BUILD COALITIONS THAT SHARE OUTCOMES TO ATTRACT OTHER FUNDERS. THIS MODEL RESULTS IN SUSTAINED SOCIAL PROGRESS, STREAMLINED ACCESS FOR CLIENTS AND DEEPENED CONNECTIONS AMONG PARTNERS. IN 2024 - 2025 FY, FUNDING WAS AWARDED IN TWO TIERS. TIER 1 WAS FOR THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP THAT ADDRESSES FAMILY NEEDS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE HUB. FAMILIES ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, WHO THEN WORK ONE ON ONE TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND ALIGN THE FAMILY WITH SUPPORTS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. UNITED WAY INVESTED $200,000 IN THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE HUB PARTNERSHIP. TIER 2 IS FOR SYSTEM INNOVATION COLLABORATIONS THAT ADDRESS COMPLEX SOCIAL ISSUES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AMONG THE SERVICE PROVIDER NETWORK. UNITED WAY INVESTED $230,000 IN 3 SYSTEM INNOVATION COLLABORATIONS THAT ADDRESSED EARLY EDUCATION, YOUTH PROGRAMMING, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THIS MODEL HAS SEEN OVER 6,000 CHILDREN ACCESS QUALITY EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE WITH 439 RECEIVING MEDICAL SERVICES; 387 YOUTH WERE SERVED AT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, OVER 1,000 ADULTS AND YOUTH WERE CONNECTED WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES; 2,905 PEOPLE WHO WORKED WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WERE ASSISTED WITH LOCATING NECESSARY RESOURCES, AND 308 ADULTS WERE ASSISTED WITH EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. AN ADDITIONAL $70,000 WAS PROVIDED IN SMALL GRANTS THAT SUPPORTED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND OTHER HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS.
- $328,100 spent. UNITED WAY OF VIRGINIA'S BLUE RIDGE ALSO PROCESSES DIRECT DESIGNATIONS TO AGENCIES AS A SERVICE TO ITS DONORS. THESE ORGANIZATIONS MUST MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS SO UNITED WAY CAN ACCEPT FUNDS ON THEIR BEHALF. IN THE FALL 2024 CAMPAIGN, MORE THAN 140 AGENCIES RECEIVED DESIGNATIONS THROUGH UNITED WAY DONORS AMOUNTING TO JUST OVER $150,000.
- UNITED WAY OF VIRGINIA'S BLUE RIDGE RELIES ON THE SUPPORT OF HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO LIVE IN THE REGION. IN 2024 - 2025, 394 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS TO BRING LASTING CHANGE TO OUR COMMUNITY WHICH INCLUDED SERVING ON GOVERNANCE COMMITTEES, ASISTING IN OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN EFFORTS AND REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND PROGRAMS DURING THE INVESTMENT PROCESS. BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS, OVER $5.11 MILLION WAS SECURED BY UWVBR THROUGH THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN AND GRANT AWARDS, OF WHICH $4.2 MILLION WAS DIRECTLY REINVESTED TO PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1942.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
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.