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United Way of the Lakelands

EIN 57-6005943 · Greenwood, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood74 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS PROVIDES RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND FAMILIES THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS OF GREENWOOD, ABBEVILLE, MCCORMICK, AND SALUDA COUNTIES. OUR WORK IS GUIDED BY FOUR FOCUS AREAS: COMMUNITY RESILIENCE, HEALTHY LIVING, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES. ONE OF OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES IS THE GREENWOOD COUNTS COMMUNITY CONSORTIUM (GC3), WHICH SERVES AS A CATALYST FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. GC3 OPERATES THROUGH THREE STRATEGIC ALLIANCESLIVE HEALTHY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FOOD AND HUNGERBRINGING TOGETHER PARTNERS TO ALIGN EFFORTS, ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES, AND DRIVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS ALSO EMPHASIZES DIRECT SERVICE COORDINATION THROUGH OUR HUB RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTER, A CENTRALIZED ACCESS POINT THAT CONNECTS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO VITAL SERVICES. ADDITIONAL KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDE VITA TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS AND THE UC3 ONE-STOP BUILDING, WHICH HOUS

Income
$972,774
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
3.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 86%
Employees
21
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$85,912, executive di

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

Good: 74 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $698,538 spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAM UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN CONVENING AND COORDINATING COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH THE GREENWOOD COUNTS COMMUNITY CONSORTIUM (GC3), SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT ACROSS THE LAKELANDS. THROUGH GC3S THREE ALLIANCESLIVE HEALTHY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FOOD AND HUNGER UNITED WAY HELPS ALIGN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS, AND ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS. AS PART OF THIS WORK, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTS SEVEN COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT PROMOTE FOOD ACCESS, NUTRITION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS OPERATES THE HUB RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTER, WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN CONNECT WITH A RESOURCE NAVIGATOR EITHER IN PERSON OR BY PHONE. RESOURCE NAVIGATORS LISTEN TO EACH CLIENTS NEEDS, ASSESS BARRIERS, AND CREATE A CASE USING UNITE US, A CLOSED-LOOP REFERRAL PLATFORM. THROUGH UNITE US, REFERRALS ARE SECURELY SENT TO MORE THAN 50 PARTNER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ENSURING SERVICES ARE ACCESSED AND OUTCOMES ARE TRACKED. UNITED WAY ALSO FUNDS AND PARTICIPATES IN 211 SERVICES ACROSS ALL FOUR COUNTIES, PROVIDING ACCESS TO RESOURCE NAVIGATORS DURING EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS. THE HUB HOUSES SEVERAL ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING VITA FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS. IN 2024, VITA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 LAKELANDS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GENERATING NEARLY 2 MILLION IN TAX REFUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SAVING RESIDENTS AN ESTIMATED 400,000 IN TAX PREPARATION FEES. ADDITIONAL HUB-BASED SERVICES INCLUDE THE MEDICAL SUPPLY CLOSET, WHICH PROVIDES ACCESS TO DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND GUIDED BEGINNINGS, A MATERNAL HEALTH NAVIGATION PROGRAM. THROUGH GUIDED BEGINNINGS, A DEDICATED MATERNAL AND INFANT SPECIALTY NAVIGATOR SUPPORTS PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS, YOUNG MOTHERS, AND FAMILIES BY CONNECTING THEM TO HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY STARTS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN. OUR UNITED WAY BUILDING AND HUB ALSO SERVE AS A HOST LOCATION FOR COMMUNITY TRAINING, SATELLITE SERVICES, AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT MEETINGS. COMMUNITY IMPACT PROGRAM UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN CONVENING AND COORDINATING COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH THE GREENWOOD COUNTS COMMUNITY CONSORTIUM (GC3), SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR COLLECTIVE IMPACT ACROSS THE LAKELANDS. THROUGH GC3S THREE ALLIANCESLIVE HEALTHY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND FOOD AND HUNGER UNITED WAY HELPS ALIGN COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS, AND ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS. AS PART OF THIS WORK, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTS SEVEN COMMUNITY GARDENS THAT PROMOTE FOOD ACCESS, NUTRITION, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION. UNITED WAY OF THE LAKELANDS OPERATES THE HUB RESOURCE CONNECTION CENTER, WHERE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES CAN CONNECT WITH A RESOURCE NAVIGATOR EITHER IN PERSON OR BY PHONE. RESOURCE NAVIGATORS LISTEN TO EACH CLIENTS NEEDS, ASSESS BARRIERS, AND CREATE A CASE USING UNITE US, A CLOSED-LOOP REFERRAL PLATFORM. THROUGH UNITE US, REFERRALS ARE SECURELY SENT TO MORE THAN 50 PARTNER NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, ENSURING SERVICES ARE ACCESSED AND OUTCOMES ARE TRACKED. UNITED WAY ALSO FUNDS AND PARTICIPATES IN 211 SERVICES ACROSS ALL FOUR COUNTIES, PROVIDING ACCESS TO RESOURCE NAVIGATORS DURING EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, AND HOLIDAYS. THE HUB HOUSES SEVERAL ESSENTIAL SERVICES, INCLUDING VITA FREE TAX PREPARATION FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS. IN 2024, VITA SERVED APPROXIMATELY 1,200 LAKELANDS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, GENERATING NEARLY 2 MILLION IN TAX REFUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SAVING RESIDENTS AN ESTIMATED 400,000 IN TAX PREPARATION FEES. ADDITIONAL HUB-BASED SERVICES INCLUDE THE MEDICAL SUPPLY CLOSET, WHICH PROVIDES ACCESS TO DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, AND GUIDED BEGINNINGS, A MATERNAL HEALTH NAVIGATION PROGRAM. THROUGH GUIDED BEGINNINGS, A DEDICATED MATERNAL AND INFANT SPECIALTY NAVIGATOR SUPPORTS PREGNANT INDIVIDUALS, YOUNG MOTHERS, AND FAMILIES BY CONNECTING THEM TO HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO PROMOTE HEALTHY STARTS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN. OUR UNITED WAY BUILDING AND HUB ALSO SERVE AS A HOST LOCATION FOR COMMUNITY TRAINING, SATELLITE SERVICES, AND COLLECTIVE IMPACT MEETINGS.
  2. $127,023 spent. FACILITY RENTAL PROGRAM

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 May 1970.

    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.