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United Way of the Piedmont Inc

EIN 57-0314377 · Spartanburg, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TOGETHER WE ARE STRENGTHENING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR FAMILIES ACROSS SPARTANBURG, CHEROKEE, AND UNION COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.5 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
41
Volunteers
630
Highest pay
$176,959, president/ce

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

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 44% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

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

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 March 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 (2)
  1. $3.1 million spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT/EDUCATION - 1) UNITED WAY SEEKS TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY CITIZENS IN GIVING, ADVOCACY, AND VOLUNTEERISM. WE EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS ABOUT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS THAT FACE OUR REGION AND THEN CHANNEL THEIR INTEREST INTO THE APPROPRIATE VENUE. MUCH OF OUR ADVOCACY IS ROOTED IN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNITED FOR ALICE, SC211, PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND STRATEGIC SPARTANBURG. 2) OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE COORDINATION CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH TARGETED FOCUS FOR MLK DAY OF SERVICE AND DURING TAX SEASON. IN FY 2024-2025, WE COORDINATED APPROXIMATELY 35,200 HOURS OF SERVICE. OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE PREPARED TAX RETURNS FREE OF CHARGE FOR NEARLY 2,550 AREA FAMILIES, RETURNING MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION IN REFUNDS AND 895,000 IN CREDITS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS SAVING OVER 510,000 IN FILING FEES. 3) UNITED WAY LEADS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASK FORCE, WHICH INVOLVES NUMEROUS COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE FOCUS IS ON INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE ACCESS TO NEEDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INVESTING FUNDS AND STAFF TIME TOWARD THIS EFFORT. 4) UNITED WAY LEADS AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE INVOLVING NUMEROUS COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BETTER ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO POVERTY. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION; JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT; CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND DRUG SCREENINGS FOR EMPLOYMENT; AFFORDABLE, QUALITY SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT CHILDCARE; PERSONAL MOTIVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY; FINANCIAL LITERACY; AND SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE BOLD GOAL IS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS BELOW SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY 10% IN 10 YEARS. 5) UNITED WAY OF THE PIEDMONT MANAGES TWO NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP CENTERS IN CHEROKEE AND UNION COUNTIES. THIS EFFORT GIVES LOCAL AGENCIES THAT ARE ANCHORED IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, BUT SERVE THE TWO OUTLYING COUNTIES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF THESE TWO COUNTIES. 6) UNITED WAY'S 2-1-1 HELPLINE PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. ANNUALLY, UNITED WAY PROVIDED 25,170 REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT/EDUCATION - 1) UNITED WAY SEEKS TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY CITIZENS IN GIVING, ADVOCACY, AND VOLUNTEERISM. WE EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS ABOUT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONCERNS THAT FACE OUR REGION AND THEN CHANNEL THEIR INTEREST INTO THE APPROPRIATE VENUE. MUCH OF OUR ADVOCACY IS ROOTED IN OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH UNITED FOR ALICE, SC211, PHILANTHROPIC AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND STRATEGIC SPARTANBURG. 2) OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE COORDINATION CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATE PARTNERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH TARGETED FOCUS FOR MLK DAY OF SERVICE AND DURING TAX SEASON. IN FY 2024-2025, WE COORDINATED APPROXIMATELY 35,200 HOURS OF SERVICE. OUR VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE PREPARED TAX RETURNS FREE OF CHARGE FOR NEARLY 2,550 AREA FAMILIES, RETURNING MORE THAN 2.5 MILLION IN REFUNDS AND 895,000 IN CREDITS TO OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS SAVING OVER 510,000 IN FILING FEES. 3) UNITED WAY LEADS THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASK FORCE, WHICH INVOLVES NUMEROUS COMMUNITY LEADERS WHOSE FOCUS IS ON INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE ACCESS TO NEEDED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, INVESTING FUNDS AND STAFF TIME TOWARD THIS EFFORT. 4) UNITED WAY LEADS AN ECONOMIC MOBILITY INITIATIVE INVOLVING NUMEROUS COMMUNITY LEADERS TO BETTER ADDRESS ISSUES RELATED TO POVERTY. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION; JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT; CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS AND DRUG SCREENINGS FOR EMPLOYMENT; AFFORDABLE, QUALITY SECOND AND THIRD SHIFT CHILDCARE; PERSONAL MOTIVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY; FINANCIAL LITERACY; AND SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THE BOLD GOAL IS TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS BELOW SELF-SUFFICIENCY BY 10% IN 10 YEARS. 5) UNITED WAY OF THE PIEDMONT MANAGES TWO NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIP CENTERS IN CHEROKEE AND UNION COUNTIES. THIS EFFORT GIVES LOCAL AGENCIES THAT ARE ANCHORED IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY, BUT SERVE THE TWO OUTLYING COUNTIES, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS OF THESE TWO COUNTIES. 6) UNITED WAY'S 2-1-1 HELPLINE PROVIDES INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED. ANNUALLY, UNITED WAY PROVIDED 25,170 REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT - UNITED WAY INVESTS OUR FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN CRITICAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THROUGHOUT OUR THREE-COUNTY REGION THROUGH THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS. VOLUNTEERS REPRESENTING UNITED WAY'S DONOR BASE REVIEW AGENCY PROGRAM APPLICATIONS AND RECOMMEND FUNDING LEVELS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN THE AREAS OF EDUCATION, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND HEALTH. WE INVESTED APPROXIMATELY 1.4 MILLION IN 44 AGENCIES AND ABOUT 69 PROGRAMS IN THE INVESTMENT PROCESS. IN ADDITION, DURING THE PERIOD ENDING MARCH 31, 2025, UNITED WAY COORDINATED APPROXIMATELY 140,000 IN FUNDS DESIGNATED TO SPECIFIC AGENCIES BY OUR DONORS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 August 1948.

    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.