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United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley Inc

EIN 58-0572434 · Columbus, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF UNITED WAY IS TO LEAD AND UNITE OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN TRANSFORMING LIVES. FUNDING IS BASED ON MEETING A COMMUNITY NEED, MEASURABLE OUTCOMES, AND GOOD STEWARDSHIP. UNITED WAY OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY RANKS IN THE TOP 75 UNITED WAYS NATIONWIDE BASED ON TOTAL REVENUE.

Income
$11.0 million
Spending
$10.2 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
52
Volunteers
1,610
Highest pay
$310,382, 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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 51% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 30% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    25 of 25 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. $4.6 million spent. UNITED WAY IS FOCUSED ON THREE PRIORITY AREAS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A GREAT LIFE: HEALTH ACCESS, ECONOMIC MOBILITY, AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. OUR APPROACH IS UNIQUE BECAUSE WE INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT MEET A NEED, ACHIEVE RESULTS AND ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF RESOURCES. VOLUNTEERS, WHO ARE DONORS AND LEADERS, REVIEW AND ASSESS PROGRAMS TO DETERMINE FUNDING. EACH YEAR, PEOPLE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY BENEFIT FROM PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, UNITED WAY FUNDING ENSURED HELP WAS AVAILABLE TO MEET THE GROWING NEEDS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $3.8 million spent. UNITED WAY PROGRAMSTHE VOLUNTEER CENTER ASSISTS THE ORGANIZATION BY PROMOTING VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMS NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROVIDES A NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED INITIATIVE LED BY THE ORGANIZATION AIMED AT TRANSFORMING SCHOOLS INTO CENTERS FOR CREATING NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THE STRATEGY, SCHOOLS, STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY THRIVE AS A UNIT TO ACHIEVE STUDENT SUCCESS. THIS TRANSFORMATION IS ACHIEVED THROUGH ROBUST FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, COMPLEMENTED BY THE INTEGRATION OF ESSENTIAL SOCIAL SERVICES. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS UNITED CURRENTLY SERVES DOROTHY HEIGHT, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., AND BREWER EARLY INNOVATION ACADEMY IN MUSCOGEE COUNTY, GA, AND PHENIX CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN RUSSELL COUNTY, AL. THESE SCHOOLS ARE EACH SUPPORTED WITH A FULL-TIME COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR, THROUGH AN ORGANIZATIONAL EMPLOYEE. IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, HOME FOR GOOD: THE ALLIANCETO END HOMELESSNESS IS CHARGED WITH IMPLEMENTING THE 10-YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS. THE 10-YEAR PLAN PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR ADVANCING THE COMMUNITY FROM A MODEL OF MANAGING THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF HOMELESSNESS TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS THROUGH LONG-TERM PLANNING AND KEY STRATEGIES.211 UNITED WAY CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY PROVIDES A SINGLE POINT OF ENTRY FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY TO ACCESS ASSISTANCE WITH ONLINE AND TELEPHONE ACCESS 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK. INDIVIDUALS WILL RECEIVE ACCESS TO EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, SELF-HELP AND QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES, CHILDCARE AND MANY OTHER HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM WILL SERVE 8 COUNTIES AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE ASSISTANCE THEY NEED TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES OF EVERYDAY LIVING AS WELL AS THOSE THAT DEVELOP DURING TIMES OF DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES.THE C4C/CHIPS INITIATIVE WAS CREATED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY THE $280 BILLION CHIPS (CREATING HELPFUL INCENTIVES TO PRODUCE SEMICONDUCTORS) AND SCIENCE ACT. THE C4C EFFORT BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022 WHEN THE FIRST STAKEHOLDERS WERE ENGAGED IN THE CONCEPT OF CREATING A REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUB FOR SEMICONDUCTOR AND OTHER ADVANCED MANUFACTURING IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY AS A PART OF THE UNITED WAY'S POVERTY REDUCTION INITIATIVE TO REDUCE BY HALF THE REGIONS' 20% POVERTY RATE WITHIN 10 YEARS BY JOB CREATION. C4C HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH GEORGIA TECH AND OTHER HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THIS EFFORT.

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 November 6, 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 1952.

    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 November 4, 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.