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United Way of the Bluegrass Inc

EIN 61-0444679 · Lexington, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

UNITED WAY OF THE BLUEGRASS (UWBG) FIGHTS FOR THE EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, HEALTH, AND BASIC NEEDS OF EVERY PERSON IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY FOR OVER 100 YEARS. UWBG FOCUSES ON IMPROVING LIVES BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS TO SUCCEED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND VOLUNTEERS, STRIVING TO BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. LAST YEAR UWBG AND OUR PARTNERS SERVED OVER 116,000 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

Income
$3.4 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
59%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
47
Volunteers
792
Highest pay
$210,393, president

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 22% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 26% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    59% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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. $720,733 spent. SUPPORTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: UWBG HELPS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL. WE MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN PROGRAMS SERVING LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED CENTRAL KENTUCKIANS IN THE AREAS OF BASIC NEEDS, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY. WE ALSO SERVE AS AN INCUBATOR FOR NEW PROGRAMS, AND A CONVENER OF PARTNERSHIPS OF AGENCIES SEEKING TO IMPROVE LIVES BY WORKING TOGETHER. UWBG SERVES TEN CENTRAL KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES INCLUDING: ANDERSON, BOURBON, CLARK, FAYETTE FRANKLIN, JESSAMINE, MADISON, MONTGOMERY, SCOTT AND WOODFORD COUNTIES. UWBG IS A LEADER AND MOTIVATOR OF CHANGE FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS FOR CENTRAL KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES. WE INVEST DONOR DOLLARS INTO PROGRAMS THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND SUPPORTING LOW-INCOME AND UNDERSERVED FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. WE HAVE DEVELOPED SYSTEMS TO EVALUATE THE QUALITY AND SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAMS AND PARTNERS THAT OUR INVESTORS HELP FUND, SO THAT THEY CAN BE ASSURED THAT THEIR DOLLARS WILL HAVE MAXIMUM IMPACT ON THEIR COMMUNITY. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN ONLY AFFECT LONG-TERM POSITIVE CHANGE BY WORKING TOGETHER AND LIVING UNITED. WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE AS A VEHICLE THROUGH WHICH MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN JOIN TOGETHER AND MAKE A POWERFUL IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION, INCOME, AND BASIC NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
  2. $754,624 spent. UNITED WAY-AIRS 2-1-1: UWBG 2-1-1 CONNECTS PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY VIA PHONE, CHAT, TEXT MESSAGING, MOBILE APPS AND THE 211 WEBSITE. 211 HELPS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION TO THE WORK 211 IS DOING IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY, THE CONTACT CENTER HAS CONTRACTS THAT HAVE EXPANDED THE REACH OF THE UWBG 2-1-1 PROGRAM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES FOR THEIR KYNECT RESOURCES PLATFORM, UWBG 2-1-1 HAS GONE LIVE WITH THE REMAINDER OF COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY THAT DIDN'T PREVIOUSLY HAVE 2-1-1 SERVICE. 2-1-1 IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL KENTUCKIANS! EFFORTS ARE ONGOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER LOCAL 2-1-1 PROVIDERS AND UNITED WAY OF KENTUCKY TO PROMOTE THE SERVICE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.
  3. $196,286 spent. WAYPOINT: WAYPOINT CENTERS ARE THE NEXT STEP IN THE EVOLUTION OF DELIVERY OF NON-PROFIT-BASED HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN LEXINGTON. UWBG'S WAYPOINT STRATEGY WAS BORN OUT OF AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF OUR REGIONAL COMMUNITY AND CURRENT DEMOGRAPHICS, AND A MEANINGFUL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO EVOLVE INTO A BETTER, MORE RESILIENT BLUEGRASS. WAYPOINT'S MISSION IS TO CREATE A ONE-STOP ACCESS POINT FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, AND TO PROVIDE VITAL PROGRAMMING TO PEOPLE LIVING IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WAYPOINT CENTERS COORDINATE AN ECOSYSTEM OF PARTNERS AND PROGRAMS TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON LOCAL FAMILIES FROM A PHYSICAL AND PLACE-BASED ANCHOR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. UWBG HAS LAUNCHED ITS INAUGURAL THREE (3) WAYPOINT CENTERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS OUR REGION WHERE OUR HELP IS NEEDED MOST. THE THREE CENTERS ARE LOCATED IN 1) LEXINGTON'S WEST END (BLACK AND WILLIAMS RECREATIONAL CENTER), 2) LEXINGTON'S EAST END (MARKSBURY FAMILY WAYPOINT CENTER AT HISTORIC PALMER PHARMACY) AND 3) IN PARIS, KENTUCKY AT THE BOURBON PARIS YMCA. IN THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2024, CENTRO DE SAN JUAN DIEGO WAYPOINT CENTER OPENED AND THE WAYPOINT CENTER IN PARIS, KENTUCKY WAS CLOSED. OUR TEAM OF COMMUNITY IMPACT SPECIALISTS MEET PARTICIPANTS WHERE THEY ARE ON THEIR JOURNEY FORWARD AND PROVIDE PERSONALIZED SUPPORT TO HELP STABILIZE INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS, MOVE FAMILIES TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND CREATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONAL POVERTY. WAYPOINT CENTERS ARE A PLACE WHERE THE COMMUNITY CAN GO TO LEAN ON A TRUSTED NEIGHBOR AND ACCESS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES. WAYPOINT CENTERS WILL HELP STABILIZE, GROW, AND EMPOWER EVERY PERSON AND FAMILY, NO MATTER THEIR CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION OR ZIP CODE.

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 August 1955.

    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.