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United Way of Lowndes County Inc

EIN 64-0567987 · Columbus, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER SUSTAINED CHANGES IN EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.

Income
$671,378
Spending
$995,173
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
-5.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
7
Volunteers
975
Highest pay
$70,308, executive director

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

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 1% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 62% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 48% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 39% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 33 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

Good: 77 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $651,136 spent. UNITED WAY ADMINISTERS THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO COLLECT DONATIONS TO INVEST IN EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES DELIVERED BY MULTIPLE PROGRAMS HELPING RESIDENTS OF LOWNDES COUNTY WHO HAVE THE GREATEST NEEDS. ADDITIONALLY, UNITED WAY ADMINISTERS THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO COLLECT DONATIONS THAT ALLOW DONORS TO CHOOSE WHERE THEIR CONTRIBUTION GOES. THESE DESIGNATED FUNDS ARE PASSED THROUGH TO THE OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. UNITED WAY COLLECTS DONOR DOLLARS TO FUND COMMUNITY IMPACT WORK IN EDUCATION, INCOME, AND HEALTH BY MOBILIZING CARING TO EFFECT CHANGE BY PROMOTING VOLUNTEERISM, COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY AND COMMUNITY BUILDING. CURRENT INITIATIVES INCLUDE PARTNERING WITH HELPING HANDS FOR THE ANNUAL FAN DRIVE; PARTNERING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR COAT AND BLANKET DRIVES IN THE WINTER; FAMILYWIZE PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE; EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER GRANT PROGRAM; PARTICIPATING WITH THE LOWNDES COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY FOR DISASTER RESPONSE PREPARATIONS; AND CONDUCTING VARIOUS COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION EVENTS, SUCH AS DAY OF SERVICE, DAY OF GIVING, DAY OF ACTION, AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY.

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 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 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 April 1978.

    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.

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.