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Heart of Florida United Way

EIN 59-0808854 · Orlando, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY IS TO IMPROVE LIVES BY MOBILIZING THE CARING POWER OF OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY STANDING UP FOR THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF EVERY PERSON IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

Income
$21.8 million
Spending
$22.0 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
19 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 47%
Employees
195
Volunteers
8,883
Highest pay
$460,689, president and chief executive officer

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 19.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    33 of 33 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. $9.1 million spent. FOUNDED IN 1939, HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY (UNITED WAY) IS CENTRAL FLORIDA'S LARGEST SUPPORTER OF LOCAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES. IN 2024-2025, $21 MILLION DOLLARS WERE INVESTED INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA, INCLUDING OVER $6.7 MILLION DOLLARS RAISED DURING THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN THAT HELPS FUND LOCAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS. WITH THESE INVESTMENTS, UNITED WAY TOUCHED THE LIVES OF 870,113 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AS WELL AS THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES DESIGNED TO CREATE A THRIVING COMMUNITY WHERE ADULTS AND CHILDREN ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL WITH ACCESS TO A SOLID EDUCATION, GOOD HEALTH, SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS AND JOBS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE.
  2. $5.2 million spent. IN FY 2024-2025, HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY 211 AND CRISIS SERVICES CONTACT CENTER MANAGED GRANTS AND FEE-FOR-SERVICE CONTRACTS, TOTALING $4.4 MILLION, TO PROVIDE 24/7 INFORMATION, REFERRAL, AND CRISIS SUPPORT SERVICES VIA PHONE, CHAT, TEXT, EMAIL AND ONLINE DATABASE ACCESS IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA OF ORANGE, OSCEOLA AND SEMINOLE, FLORIDA. HFUW 211 IS ALSO CONTRACTED TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN 17 ADDITIONAL COUNTIES IN FLORIDA, AS WELL AS SERVING AS THE NATIONAL DISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE TEXT CENTER AND REGIONAL 988 SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE. HFUW 211 AND CRISIS SERVICES ANSWERED OVER 242,000 CONTACTS IN FY 2025.
  3. $2.7 million spent. HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY SERVES AS THE LEAD AGENCY FOR RYAN WHITE PART B/GENERAL REVENUE, A FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH-FUNDED PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CARE AND SUPPORT TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN ORANGE, OSCEOLA, SEMINOLE AND BREVARD COUNTIES. ADDITIONALLY, HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING FROM ORANGE COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE CENTRAL FLORIDA HIV PLANNING COUNCIL, A COMMUNITY PLANNING GROUP THAT MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE RECIPIENT OFFICES ON RYAN WHITE PART FUNDS, THROUGH THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PLANNING COUNCIL SUPPORT PROGRAM. THE PLANNING COUNCIL PROVIDES PREVENTION AND CARE PLANNING FOR ORANGE, OSCEOLA, SEMINOLE, LAKE AND BREVARD COUNTIES.

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 July 1942.

    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.