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United Way of Central Alabama Inc

EIN 63-0288846 · Birmingham, AL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

UWCA'S MISSION IS TO INCREASE THE ORGANIZED CAPACITY OF PEOPLE TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND TO IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY. WE ARE ENGAGED IN BLOUNT, CHILTON, JEFFERSON, SHELBY, ST. CLAIR AND WALKER COUNTIES TO CREATE COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS.

Income
$128.2 million
Spending
$126.8 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
249
Volunteers
6,204
Highest pay
$624,421, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    52 of 53 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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. $86.5 million spent. HEALTH - UWCA PROVIDES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ADDRESS HUNGER, COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL ALABAMA. THIS INCLUDES: 322,907 CLIENTS WHO RECEIVED HEALTH, MEDICAL OR NUTRITION-RELATED SERVICES; 10,983 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WHO WERE PROVIDED WITH SERVICES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE; 210,784 CLIENTS WHO RECEIVED SERVICES FOR PHYSICAL AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH; 35,957 INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SUCH AS CRISIS COUNSELING AND INTERVENTION; 26,573,265 MEALS DISTRIBUTED TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO FIGHT HUNGER; 72,654 YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED IN SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS; 7,151 CLIENTS WHO RECEIVED ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY HIV; 30,231 CLIENTS WHO RECEIVED COMPREHENSIVE SENIOR SERVICES; AND 1,430 CLIENTS WHO WERE PROVIDED PANDEMIC RESPONSE SERVICES.
  2. $17.8 million spent. ACCESS TO SERVICES - UWCA PROVIDES A NETWORK OF CARE THROUGH MORE THAN 200 PARTNERS AND PROGRAMS IN 1,200 SERVICE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ALABAMA. UWCA SUPPORTS A STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL NETWORK CALLED 211 CONNECTS ALABAMA, WHICH IS AN INNOVATIVE PERSON-TO-PERSON COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM CONNECTING ALABAMIANS TO AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING REFERRALS FOR ALL BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND CHILDCARE. IN 2024, 211 CONNECTED 137,253 CALLERS TO VITAL RESOURCES. UNITED WAY'S AREA AGENCY ON AGING FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY RECEIVED 15,323 CALLS TO ITS AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER AT 1-800-AGE-LINE, A DEDICATED PHONE LINE, STAFFED BY ON-SITE CALL SPECIALISTS WHO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON, AND REFERRALS TO, A WIDE VARIETY OF SERVICES DESIGNED FOR SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.
  3. $14.2 million spent. EDUCATION - UWCA PROMOTES YOUTH HEALTH AND WELLNESS ACROSS THE EDUCATION CONTINUUM, FROM QUALITY CHILDCARE TO DROPOUT PREVENTION. WE PROVIDE YOUTH SUPPORT AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, INCLUDING TUTORING, STEM PROGRAMS, LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, MENTORING AND MORE. OUR SUCCESS BY SIX INITIATIVE, PART OF OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION FOCUS, ENHANCES CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS BY TRAINING PRE-K EDUCATORS AND PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY-LEARNING CURRICULA, CLASSROOM MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND EVALUATION. IN 2024, THE PROGRAM SERVED 2,391 STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR HELP ME GROW CENTRAL ALABAMA PROGRAM SERVED 344 FAMILIES, INCLUDING 425 CHILDREN, CONNECTING THEM WITH COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE CHILDREN START SCHOOL HEALTHY AND READY TO SUCCEED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 November 1941.

    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.