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United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County Inc

EIN 56-0576157 · Asheville, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE MOBILIZE AND SUPPORT A ROBUST NETWORK OF PEOPLE, PARTNERS, AND RESOURCES TO CO-CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE FREE FROM POVERTY AND INJUSTICE.

Income
$16.3 million
Spending
$9.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
7.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
47
Volunteers
6,706
Highest pay
$159,345, 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: 93 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.1 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 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 163% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

    24 of 24 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 (1)
  1. $7.9 million spent. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE CHANCE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. UNITED WAY IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CLEAR THE PATH TO SUCCESS, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER. OUR STAFF SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY IN ONE OF NINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALIGNING RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE HUBS OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. ONE EXAMPLE: BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 4 AND DECEMBER 18, 2025, 4,382 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE 55 COMMUNITY NIGHTS HELD AT LOCAL SCHOOLS. FAMILIES FOUND A HEALTHY MEAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH TEACHERS AND NEIGHBORS, AND ACCESS ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR THEIR CHILDREN. UNITED FOR YOUTH THIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL, CROSS-SECTOR, CRADLE-TO-CAREER PARTNERSHIP WAS FORGED BETWEEN ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS, BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS, UNITED WAY OF ASHEVILLE AND BUNCOMBE COUNTY, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICE, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND YOUTH SERVICES COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ENSURING THAT BY 2035, ALL YOUTH GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS IS THE GROUP'S BOLD COMMUNITY GOAL. THE UNITED FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHICH INCLUDED MEMBERS REPRESENTING EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITY, AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, ALONGSIDE 14 OTHER KEY PARTNERS, MET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO OUTLINE THE STRATEGY FOR DOING JUST THAT. MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS HANDS ON ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE, UNITED WAY'S VOLUNTEER CENTER, MAKES IT EASY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO GET INVOLVED IN MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. OUR STAFF WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROVIDING WAYS FOR TEAMS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. AND DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, WE PLAY A KEY ROLE IN RESPONSE EFFORTS, AS WE DID DURING HURRICANE HELENE. ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WORK IN ACTION: WE SECURED 17 AMERICORPS NCCC CREWMEMBERS LAST YEAR. TOGETHER, THESE FEDERALLY FUNDED WORKERS HELPED OUR COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTE 30,000 LBS OF GROCERIES AND 25,000 LBS OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, REMOVE 2,400 LBS OF DEBRIS, AND ASSIST IN BUILDING 10 HOMES. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE CHANCE TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. UNITED WAY IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CLEAR THE PATH TO SUCCESS, FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER. OUR STAFF SHOW UP TO WORK EVERY DAY IN ONE OF NINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALIGNING RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE HUBS OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. ONE EXAMPLE: BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 4 AND DECEMBER 18, 2025, 4,382 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE 55 COMMUNITY NIGHTS HELD AT LOCAL SCHOOLS. FAMILIES FOUND A HEALTHY MEAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY, OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH TEACHERS AND NEIGHBORS, AND ACCESS ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR THEIR CHILDREN. UNITED FOR YOUTH THIS MULTI-GENERATIONAL, CROSS-SECTOR, CRADLE-TO-CAREER PARTNERSHIP WAS FORGED BETWEEN ASHEVILLE CITY SCHOOLS, BUNCOMBE COUNTY SCHOOLS, UNITED WAY OF ASHEVILLE AND BUNCOMBE COUNTY, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF LOCAL HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICE, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND YOUTH SERVICES COMMUNITY PARTNERS. ENSURING THAT BY 2035, ALL YOUTH GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL READY TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AND DREAMS IS THE GROUP'S BOLD COMMUNITY GOAL. THE UNITED FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHICH INCLUDED MEMBERS REPRESENTING EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT, CITY, AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, ALONGSIDE 14 OTHER KEY PARTNERS, MET THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO OUTLINE THE STRATEGY FOR DOING JUST THAT. MOBILIZING VOLUNTEERS HANDS ON ASHEVILLE-BUNCOMBE, UNITED WAY'S VOLUNTEER CENTER, MAKES IT EASY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO GET INVOLVED IN MEANINGFUL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS. OUR STAFF WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES, PROVIDING WAYS FOR TEAMS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. AND DURING TIMES OF CRISIS, WE PLAY A KEY ROLE IN RESPONSE EFFORTS, AS WE DID DURING HURRICANE HELENE. ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WORK IN ACTION: WE SECURED 17 AMERICORPS NCCC CREWMEMBERS LAST YEAR. TOGETHER, THESE FEDERALLY FUNDED WORKERS HELPED OUR COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTE 30,000 LBS OF GROCERIES AND 25,000 LBS OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES, REMOVE 2,400 LBS OF DEBRIS, AND ASSIST IN BUILDING 10 HOMES.

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 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 June 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 May 1971.

    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.

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.