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United Way of the Big Bend Inc

EIN 59-6011150 · Tallahassee, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RAISE AWARENESS, MOBILIZE RESOURCES AND FIND COLLABORATIVE, TARGETED SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VITAL CONCERNS.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.5 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
86
Volunteers
460
Highest pay
$154,858, president/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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. FUNDS FOR THE AGENCY'S PROGRAMS COME FROM THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF UNITED WAY OF THE BIG BEND (UWBB) SUPPORTERS THROUGH THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN. THE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN SOLICITS MONETARY SUPPORT FROM THE CORRESPONDING CONSTITUENTS. UWBB SUPPORTED 77 PROGRAMS ACROSS THE BIG BEND AREA LAST YEAR. THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IS BASED ON THE DECISION OF THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT REVIEW TEAMS COMPRISED OF EXPERTS IN FINANCE, PROGRAMS RELATED TO OUR IMPACT AREAS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITIES' NEEDS. PANELS OF VOLUNTEERS AND EXPERTS REVIEW EACH AGENCY'S FINANCES AND PROGRAMS AND OPERATING CAPACITY TO DELIVER PROPOSED SERVICES. AFTER THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE REVIEW DATA, THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT TEAM RECOMMENDS HOW FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED TO EACH AGENCY'S PROGRAM.
  2. $532,966 spent. 21 CCLCTHIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS THAT PROVIDE ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS FOR CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS WHO ATTEND HIGH-POVERTY AND LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS. THE PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS MEET STATE AND LOCAL STUDENT STANDARDS IN CORE ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, SUCH AS READING AND MATH; OFFERS STUDENTS A BROAD ARRAY OF ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES THAT CAN COMPLEMENT THEIR REGULAR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS; AND OFFERS LITERACY AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN.
  3. $69,714 spent. UNITED WAY OF THE BIG BEND IS HELPING TO SUPPORT IMPROVED READING AND LITERACY RATES FOR 3RD GRADERS THROUGH OUR READINGPALS PROGRAM. READINGPALS IS A STATEWIDE EARLY LITERACY INITIATIVE MANAGED BY THE CHILDREN'S MOVEMENT AND ADMINISTERED THROUGH UNITED WAYS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. EACH PROGRAM RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND SUPPORTS VOLUNTEER MENTORS FOR STUDENTS IN PREK THIRD GRADE WHO NEED EXTRA READING SUPPORT. THE SESSIONS ARE SET UP AS GUIDED ONE-TO-ONE SHARED READING SESSIONS. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR TWELVE YEARS IN LEON COUNTY.
  4. $706,284 spent. ALLOCATED TO EACH AGENCY'S 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 February 1958.

    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.

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