United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE UNITES THE COMMUNITY AND MOBILIZES RESOURCES SO THAT EVERY CHILD, INDIVIDUAL, AND FAMILY THRIVES.
- Income
- $33.5 million
- Spending
- $37.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 11 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 139
- Volunteers
- 25,700
- Highest pay
- $407,459, president and ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.0 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 2544 of 44 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (11)
- $10.7 million spent. THE COMMUNITY IMPACT FUNDING PROGRAM PROVIDES FUNDING SUPPORT TO 184 NONPROFIT AGENCIES IN CHEATHAM, DAVIDSON, DICKSON, HICKMAN, HOUSTON, MONTGOMERY, STEWART, ROBERTSON, AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES, TN. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND ADULTS BY PROVIDING MEASURABLE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR OR CONDITION IN THREE FOCUS AREAS - EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH. HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES IN THESE AREAS ARE: EDUCATION-94% OF PRE-K CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE READ TO SUCCEED EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM ASSESSED KINDERGARTEN READY. FINANCIAL STABILITY-11,000 FAMILIES BENEFITTED FROM FREE TAX PREPARATION WHICH SAVED FAMILIES MORE THAN $2.75M IN FILING FEES. HEALTH-MORE THAN 374,000 INDIVIDUALS HAD THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET THROUGH FOOD, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OR SHELTER REQUESTS.
- $5.1 million spent. UNITED WAY ADMINISTERS RYAN WHITE PART B FUNDING THAT IS AWARDED TO STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS THROUGH THE HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (HRSA). THIS GRANT FOCUSES ON PROVIDING HIV CARE AND SUPPORT SERVICES (NON-MEDICAL CASE MANAGEMENT, FOOD BANK/HOME-DELIVERED MEALS, TRANSPORTATION, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING, AND PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT) TO INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE STATE OF TENNESSEE. WITH THESE DOLLARS THE PROGRAM CAN SERVE OVER 2,900 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY.
- $2.8 million spent. DURING THE ANNUAL UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN, SOME DONORS CHOOSE TO DIRECTLY DESIGNATE SOME PORTION OF THEIR GIFT TO A SPECIFIC NON-PROFIT AGENCY OR UNITED WAY IN ANOTHER COMMUNITY. DESIGNATED GIFTS ARE AGGREGATED AND ARE THEN PAID TO THE AGENCIES OR ORGANIZATIONS AS THEY ARE COLLECTED, SUBJECT ONLY TO A MODEST ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO HELP SUPPORT THE COST OF THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN. THE DESIGNATED GIFTS ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE RECIPIENT AGENCIES WITHOUT RESTRICTION, FOR USE AS DETERMINED BY THE AGENCY. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR DESIGNATED GIFTS, AGENCIES MUST BE TAX EXEMPT UNDER SECTION 5013, HAVE A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOCUS, AND HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE COMMUNITY.
- $1.1 million spent. IN DECEMBER 2023, THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE AREA WAS HIT WITH TORNADOES, ONCE AGAIN CALLING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND DISASTER RESPONSE INTO ACTION. WE OPENED UP A TORNADO RESPONSE FUND WHICH CARRIED INTO 2024 FOR DEPLOYMENT FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED. WITH LONG-TERM RECOVERY EFFORTS STILL NEEDED, UNITED WAY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE SERVES AS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR BOTH THE DAVIDSON COUNTY LONG-TERM RECOVERY GROUP AND THE CLARKSVILLE-MONTGOMERY COUNTY LONG-TERM RECOVERY GROUP.
- $4.0 million spent. THE NASHVILLE ALLIANCE FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE (NAFI) IS A COALITION OF PROFESSIONALS HELPING WORKING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BUILD ASSETS FOR LONG-LASTING FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. NAFI PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO MORE THAN 50 LOCAL NONPROFITS ON TOPICS RELATED TO FINANCES AND CONVENES MULTI-SECTOR PARTNERS TO EFFECTIVELY PROBLEM-SOLVE TO CHANGE COMMUNITY CONDITIONS. FREE FEDERAL INCOME TAX PREPARATION IS OFFERED THROUGH VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) SITES SPECIFICALLY AIMED AT HOUSEHOLDS EARNING $84,000 OR LESS. THIS SERVICE ENSURES FILERS CLAIM ALL THEIR ELIGIBLE CREDITS. IN 2025, VITA SITES HELPED 11,130 FAMILIES COLLECT OVER $12.7 MILLION IN TOTAL FEDERAL REFUNDS AND SAVE $3.8 MILLION IN FILING FEES. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, UWGN OPERATES THE CITY'S FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER (FEC). THE CENTER PROVIDES FREE ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND TEACHES CLIENTS HOW TO OPEN SAFE AND AFFORDABLE BANK ACCOUNTS, ESTABLISH AND INCREASE CREDIT SCORES, REDUCE DEBT, AND INCREASE SAVINGS. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH WELLS FARGO, THE FEC RECEIVED A $300,000 INVESTMENT TO INCREASE STAFF CAPACITY AND DEPLOY COMMUNITY-BASED MOBILE COUNSELORS. WELLS FARGO ALSO PROVIDED A ONE-TIME $20,000 GIFT TO SUPPORT MOVING MEN FORWARD, A STRATEGIC INITIATIVE TO EXPAND MALE PARTICIPATION IN FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND STRENGTHEN OUTREACH TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE FECS HAVE ASSISTED AND HELPED OVER 11,545 CLIENTS REDUCE DEBT BY OVER $38.6 MILLION AND INCREASE SAVINGS BY OVER $6.4 MILLION THROUGH MORE THAN 36,344 INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING SESSIONS. IN 2019, UWGN BECAME THE INTERMEDIARY FOR MIDDLE TENNESSEE TO RECRUIT, TRAIN, AND MONITOR GRANTEES THROUGH SNAP EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING. IN 2023, UNITED WAY TRANSITIONED INTO THE STATEWIDE INTERMEDIARY ROLE, SERVING ALL 95 COUNTIES ACROSS TENNESSEE THROUGH THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM ADMINISTERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. IN 2025, 1,242 SNAP EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED, 526 PARTICIPANTS OBTAINED AN INDUSTRY CREDENTIAL, AND 469 PARTICIPANTS ARE NOW GAINFULLY EMPLOYED THROUGHOUT UWGN'S NINE-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. MOSTLY ALL PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS HAD NO INCOME AND/OR NO REPORTABLE INCOME PRIOR TO PARTICIPATION.
- $783,484 spent. PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP, BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START, CAN CALL THE 2-1-1 COMMUNITY SERVICES HELP LINE TO SPEAK WITH A COMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST WITH ACCESS TO A COMPREHENSIVE DATABASE OF RESOURCES ACROSS OUR 42-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. THE 2-1-1 HOTLINE HAS TAKEN MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION CONTACTS SINCE 2004. TOP NEEDS FREQUENTLY IDENTIFIED ARE FOOD, UTILITIES, RENT PAYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND TAX PREPARATION SITE INFORMATION. 2-1-1 ALSO SERVES AS THE ENTRY POINT FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES THROUGH THE NASHVILLE ALLIANCE FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE SITES.
- $1.2 million spent. EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2013, UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE PARTNERS WITH GOVERNOR'S EARLY LITERACY FOUNDATION AND THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE PROGRAM IN DAVIDSON, WILLIAMSON AND SUMNER COUNTIES. IMAGINATION LIBRARY DELIVERS ONE HIGH-QUALITY AND AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK EACH MONTH TO CHILDREN FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE FIVE, AT NO COST TO THEIR FAMILIES, REGARDLESS OF INCOME. WITH IMAGINATION LIBRARY COMPLEMENTING THE READ TO SUCCEED PROGRAM, UNITED WAY WILL BE ABLE TO DISPLAY A CLEAR PATH TO LITERACY FOR CHILDREN BEGINNING AT BIRTH.
- $3.2 million spent. THREE OUT OF FOUR NASHVILLE THIRD GRADERS ARE NOT READING AT GRADE LEVEL, A CHALLENGE NASHVILLE HAS WRESTLED WITH FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES. UNITED WAY SERVES AS THE LEAD CONVENER FOR A COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE CALL RAISING READERS NASHVILLE (FORMERLY BLUEPRINT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD SUCCESS). WE ARE CULTIVATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL CHILDREN CAN GROW THE READING SKILLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE BY IMPROVING THE SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT NASHVILLE'S FAMILIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN. THIS WORK EMPOWERS UNITED WAY'S EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, READ TO SUCCEED (RTS). RTS UNITES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS TO ALIGN KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR LIFELONG ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. RTS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHILDCARE CENTERS SERVING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS TO REDUCE RISK FACTORS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO PREPARE FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN. RTS SERVES OVER 800 STUDENTS WHERE 93% OF THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS ARE AT DEVELOPMENTAL LEVEL. BEFORE THE START OF THIS PROGRAM, ONLY 33% OF FOUR-YEAR-OLDS IN THESE CENTERS TESTED AT AVERAGE OR HIGHER ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENTS. IN THE SPRING OF 2022, 90% AND 92% OF THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS MET THEIR LITERACY AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL BENCHMARKS FOR KINDERGARTEN READINESS, RESPECTIVELY. READ TO SUCCEED HAS DEMONSTRATED A SUCCESS RATE OF 90% OR HIGHER SINCE 2007. UNITED WAY IMPLEMENTS A COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAM TO RTS TO SUPPORT FIRST-THROUGH-THIRD-GRADE STUDENTS, RAISE YOUR HAND (RYH). RYH IS A STATE OF TENNESSEE APPROVED TUTORING PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES TUTORING SERVICES IN THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE REGION. RYH SUPPORTS EARLY LITERACY INTERVENTION OF FIRST THROUGH THIRD GRADERS, MATCHING TUTORS WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE PERFORMING BELOW GRADE LEVEL IN READING AND MATH. VOLUNTEERS TUTOR IN CLASSROOMS AFTER SCHOOL AND DURING SUMMER. IN SPRING 2022, METRO NASHVILLE COUNCIL APPROVED AND AWARDED UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE OVER $5.3 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDING TO INCREASE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES' ACCESS TO QUALITY CHILDCARE-A LONGSTANDING CRISIS ACROSS GREATER NASHVILLE. UNITED WAY CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE METRO NASHVILLE FUNDING TO STABILIZE TWELVE (12) CHILDCARE CENTER PROVIDERS THAT SERVE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ON A SLIDING SCALE, REPRESENTING A POPULATION OF FAMILIES SERVED WHO LIVE AT OR BELOW 200% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE, AND THOSE ENROLLED IN THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ("DHS") SMART STEPS CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ("SMART STEPS"). THIS FUNDING SUPPORTS ALL TEN (10) READ TO SUCCEED SITES AND TWO (2) ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY-BASED CHILDCARE CENTERS, INCENTIVIZING PROVIDERS FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES IN THIS DEMOGRAPHIC. THESE FUNDS HELP TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN THE TRUE COST OF HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE AND WHAT PARENTS CAN AFFORD TO PAY AND THE STATE'S INCREASING YET INADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT RATE. AFTER NEARLY 20 MONTHS, UNITED WAY HAS DEPLOYED NEARLY $3 MILLION TO ERADICATE THE FINANCIAL LOSS ABSORBED BY CENTERS ANNUALLY.
- $279,996 spent. THE MAJORITY OF PROGRAM ASSISTANCE INCLUDED HERE ARE ONE-TIME GIFTS OF BASIC NEEDS ITEMS, BOOKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, INFANT CARE ITEMS, ETC. TO PARTNER AGENCIES OF UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE. DURING OUR QUARTERLY DAYS OF ACTION, BOTH MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS AND IN-KIND ITEMS ARE COLLECTED FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF HIGHLIGHTING ONE OF OUR IMPACT AREAS (EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY, OR HEALTH). VOLUNTEERS JOIN IN THE EFFORTS TO RAISE MONEY, SUPPLIES, AND AWARENESS FOR THOSE PARTNER AGENCIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN THAT SPECIFIC IMPACT AREA. THE PROCEEDS, IN THE FORM OF IN-KIND ITEMS, ARE THEN DISTRIBUTED DIRECTLY TO THOSE AGENCIES.
- $899,849 spent. IN 2025, UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY COLLECTIVE AND ITS LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SIEMER INSTITUTE TO STRENGTHEN THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE WORK FOCUSED ON FAMILY HOUSING STABILITY, COACHING, AND NAVIGATION. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FRIST FOUNDATION AND THE JOE C. DAVIS FOUNDATION, UNITED WAY INVESTED IN PARTNERS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY, HELPING MORE THAN 150 FAMILIES ACCESS SUPPORT TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN HOUSING, INCREASE INCOME, AND REDUCE THE RECURRENCE OF HOUSING INSTABILITY. THROUGH THESE PARTNER-LED EFFORTS, 60 FAMILIES OBTAINED AND MAINTAINED HOUSING AND 35 FAMILIES INCREASED INCOME STABILITY. UNITED WAY ALSO USED FUNDING FROM COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COORDINATED PREVENTION AND DIVERSION EFFORT DESIGNED TO LOOK UPSTREAM, IDENTIFY HOUSING RISKS EARLIER, AND CONNECT FAMILIES TO RESOURCES BEFORE INSTABILITY BECOMES A CRISIS. ACROSS THIS WORK, UNITED WAY SERVED AS A CONVENER AND FACILITATOR OF CHANGE BY BRINGING PARTNERS TOGETHER, STRENGTHENING ALIGNMENT ACROSS AGENCIES, AND NURTURING A STRONGER COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE FOCUSED ON FAMILY STABILITY. TOGETHER, THESE EFFORTS REFLECT BOTH THE DIRECT IMPACT PARTNERS ARE HAVING WITH FAMILIES AND UNITED WAY'S BROADER ROLE IN CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS, BETTER COORDINATION, AND INCREASED ACCESS TO LOCAL SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT.
- $2.0 million spent. HANDS ON INSPIRES PEOPLE TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS AND MAKES IT EASY FOR THEM TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY. HANDS ON FINDS VOLUNTEERS FOR MORE THAN 200 SCHOOLS AND NONPROFITS THROUGHOUT UNITED WAY OF GREATER NASHVILLE'S SERVICE AREA, WITH A FOCUS ON DAVIDSON, WILLIAMSON, AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES. IN 2025, MORE THAN 11,500 VOLUNTEERS SIGNED UP FOR 25,400 SERVICE ACTIVITIES BENEFITING OUR NEIGHBORS, SCHOOLS, AND PUBLIC SPACES THROUGH HANDS ON'S COMMUNITY PARTNER, GEEKCAUSE, CORPORATE VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, AND DISASTER PROGRAMS. TOGETHER, THEY DEDICATED MORE THAN 63,000 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1975.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.