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United Way of Greater Charlotte

EIN 56-0529948 · Charlotte, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY USES COLLECTIVE GIVING TO BUILD PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, PRIMARILY THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED, GRASSROOTS AND RESPONSIVE SOLUTIONS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.UNITED WAY WAS FOUNDED 90 YEARS AGO IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AS "EMERGENCY RELIEF" TO HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE GREAT DEPRESSION THROUGH THE POWER OF COLLECTIVE GIVING.WE WORK AS A FOCUSED, COLLABORATIVE TEAM WITHIN GREATER CHARLOTTE, DEVELOPING TAILORED SOLUTIONS FOR EACH PART OF OUR REGION TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC MOBILITY. SERVING ANSON, CABARRUS, MECKLENBURG AND UNION COUNTIES, OUR ACTIONS ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED BY RESIDENTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.LEADERSHIP: COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, BUSINESSES, FAITH COMMUNITIES, DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS TO MOBILIZE RESOURCES QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND ADVANCE LASTING SOLUTIONS, UNITED WAY IS ENSURING THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

Income
$17.1 million
Spending
$22.4 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 61%
Employees
61
Volunteers
2,162
Highest pay
$232,522, interim president /ceo (as of 7/24)

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    27 of 27 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. $9.3 million spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY ACROSS THE REGION, WHILE ALSO HELPING PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN NEED. ANNUALLY, UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INVESTS IN MORE THAN 100 LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND INITIATIVES THROUGH THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY GENEROUS CORPORATE AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) UNITED WAY TAILORS ITS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS TO THE ASSETS, STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF EACH COUNTY IN OUR FOUR-COUNTY FOOTPRINT. IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, UNITED WAY FUNDS TWO INITIATIVES:1) THROUGH UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS, UNITED WAY SUPPORTS RESIDENT-DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORTS THAT IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY SO THAT A PERSON'S ZIP CODE NO LONGER DETERMINES THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS IN THE CHARLOTTE REGION. UNITED WAY LAUNCHED UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEPTEMBER 2017 WITH AN INVESTMENT OVER THREE YEARS INTO THE GRIER HEIGHTS AND RENAISSANCE WEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHARLOTTE. WE EXPANDED TO THE LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN FY22. IN FY23, UNITED WAY DEEPENED OUR COMMITMENT TO UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS, INVESTING $4.9M IN 50+ HISTORICALLY DISINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, AND IN NORTHERN MECKLENBURG COUNTY.UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS FOCUSES ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESSES, AND NONPROFITS, BACKED BY MULTI-YEAR FUNDING AND STAFF RESOURCES FROM UNITED WAY. UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS SERVES 50+ NEIGHBORHOOD'S IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY FOCUSING ON FUNDING COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK ORGANIZATIONS FOR EACH GEOGRAPHY AS WELL AS NONROFIT AGENCIES PROVIDING DIRECT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BASED ON NEIGHBORHOOD PRIORTIES. NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS PARTICIPATE IN CREATING PRIORITIES AND SERVING ON GRANT REVIEW PANELS, SELECTING THE NONPROFITS THAT RECEIVE FUNDING TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. 51% OF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD GRANT REVIEW PANEL MUST BE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS.UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO SUPPORTS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF COMPREHENSIVE REVITALIZATION WITH "BLOCK BUILDING GRANTS." THESE GRANTS ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, FUNDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND COMPLETING RESIDENT-DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS.2) UNITE CHARLOTTE SUPPORTS NEW AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH GRANTS AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. UNITE CHARLOTTE WAS FOUNDED AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH OTHER LOCAL FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT LED TO THE UNREST IN CHARLOTTE IN THE FALL OF 2016. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, UNITED WAY SUPPORTS 55 SMALL AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER ALL CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS. UNITED CHARLOTTE AGENCIES RECEIVE GRANTS RANGING FROM $20,000 TO $60,000 AS WELL AS CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING. THE FOUNDERS AND LEADERS OF THESE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.UNITED WAY FUNDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE HELP STABILIZE AND GROW NONPROFITS, PREPARING THEM TO SECURE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING. WE ALSO WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES WITHIN UNITE CHARLOTTE ORGANIZATIONS. DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THE GRANT REVIEW PROCESS, EVALUATING AGENCY APPLICATIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN GENERATE THE GREATEST IMPACT.IN ANSON COUNTY, UNITED WAY FUNDING SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING RESIDENTS' BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD SECURITY, RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH MENTORING. VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO FOUR AGENCIES WORKING IN ANSON COUNTY.IN CABARRUS COUNTY, UNITED WAY'S INVESTMENTS SUPPORT A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. BROADLY, THE COLLABORATIVE'S GOALS ARE TO REDUCE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, PREPARE INDIVIDUALS TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MENTAL WELLNESS. VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO SIX AGENCIES WORKING IN CABARRUS COUNTY.IN UNION COUNTY, UNITED WAY'S FUNDING SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING A RANGE OF CRITICAL NEEDS, INCLUDING EDUCATION ACCESS AND QUALITY, HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY, INCLUDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND FOOD SECURITY. UNITED WAY FUNDING ALSO ADDRESSES A CRITICAL GAP IN SERVICES IN UNION COUNTY BY FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IN VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO 12 AGENCIES WORKING IN UNION COUNTY.IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, UNITED WAY PARTNERS WITH MECKLENBURG COUNTY, THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, AND OVER 250 PEOPLE REPRESENTING 150+ AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS TO ADVANCE A HOME FOR ALL, A COMMUNITY PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY ON A SYSTEMIC LEVEL. A HOME FOR ALL'S VISION IS A COMMUNITY IN WHICH UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE, INC. HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING AND EVERY PERSON HAS ACCESS TO PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN IT.ACROSS ALL FOUR COUNTIES, UNITED WAY'S IMPACT STRATEGY ADVANCES RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE REPORT. UNITED WAY FOCUSES ON IMPROVING ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL STABILITY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOCUSING ON BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVING THE SYSTEMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.ACROSS ALL INITIATIVES, NONPROFITS RECEIVING UNITED WAY FUNDING SERVED, 88,665 PEOPLE IN THE REGION.UNITED WAY'S BOARD APPROVES GRANT AWARDS ANNUALLY. GRANT FUNDING CYCLES GENERALLY BEGIN ON JANUARY 1 AND CONCLUDE ON DECEMBER 31. WE MAXIMIZE THE FUNDS PROVIDED BY DONORS BY DIRECTING THEM TOWARD CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT BUILD PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.CRITICAL NEEDS
  2. $5.3 million spent. GOVERNMENT GRANTS: UNITED WAY PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS THAT, TOGETHER, WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS.
  3. $1.7 million spent. DESIGNATIONS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS AND OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS: DONORS MAY DIRECT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUT OF AREA UNITED WAYS OR QUALIFIED TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, HOUSING, AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THESE FUNDS ARE RAISED AND DISTRIBUTED BY OUR UNITED WAY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.

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 April 1958.

    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.