Pikes Peak United Way
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO ENHANCE YOUTH SUCCESS AND FAMILY STABILITY IN THE PIKES PEAK REGION BY LEADING AND LIFTING THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH MENTORSHIP, LIFE RESOURCES AND REAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. OUR SIGNATURE PROGRAMS (CONTINUED ON SCH O) (CONTINUED) AND PARTNER AGENCIES INTENTLY FOCUS ON CONNECTING YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES TO RESOURCES AT THE BEGINNING OF THEIR LIFE JOURNEY TO ENSURE ACCESS TO FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS OF FOOD, SHELTER AND LEARNING RESOURCES FOR ALL. #STRONGERTOGETHER
- Income
- $4.9 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 36
- Volunteers
- 1,844
- Highest pay
- $173,693, president/ceo (to 10/2024)
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
Weak: 43 out of 100. Higher than 6% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 13% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 33% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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 2515 of 15 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 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)
- $1.9 million spent. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT - PPUW'S COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND AWARDS GRANTS TO LOCAL NON-PROFITS THAT ARE MOST EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSING THE ISSUES MOST PRESSING TO OUR COMMUNITY. IN THE LAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED GRANTS TOTALING $550,000 TO 27 PROGRAMS AT 27 LOCAL AGENCIES. FUNDED AGENCIES PROVIDE US WITH DETAILED FINANCIAL INFORMATION AS WELL AS PROGRAM RESULTS WHICH OUR VOLUNTEERS REVIEW TO ENSURE PIKES PEAK UNITED WAY FUNDS ARE BEING USED EFFECTIVELY. WE HAVE A SEPARATE FUND THAT ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS TO LOCAL NON-PROFITS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME FORM OF UNANTICIPATED EMERGENCY THAT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC IF THEY DO NOT RECEIVE SOME FORM OF RELIEF. IN THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE PROVIDED $63,000 OF EMERGENCY FUNDS TO LOCAL NON-PROFITS. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)(CONTINUED) AS PART OF OUR FUNDS DISTRIBUTION PROCESSES, WE ALSO USE INFORMATION FROM OUR 211 SERVICE TO HELP INFORM OUR DECISIONS ON WHAT PROGRAMS ARE MOST NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION TO AWARDING LOCAL GRANTS WE ALSO DISBURSE DONOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO NON-PROFITS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED SPECIFICALLY BY DONORS FOR SUPPORT. FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 2025, DONORS CONTRIBUTED OVER $604,000 TO OTHER NON PROFITS THROUGH OUR UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN, WITH MOST OF THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS STAYING IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
- $1.1 million spent. FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER - THE MISSION OF THE PIKES PEAK UNITED WAY FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER IS TO SERVE THE ENTIRE FAMILY AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE, GROW, AND ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.THE FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER IS A NEW INITIATIVE, PARTNERING WITH HARRISON SCHOOL DISTRICT 2 IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO SPRINGS, AND USING THE FORMER PIKES PEAK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO PROVIDE A COMMON SPACE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER FAMILIES LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES WITH LOCAL NON-PROFITS AND SERVICES THAT CAN PROVIDE THEM THE SUPPORT AND TRAINING THEY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL. THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHED INCLUDE JOB READINESS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, GED/ESL ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, FINANCIAL READINESS FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS, (CONTINUED ON SCH O) (CONTINUED) A HEALTH CLINIC AND BENEFITS ENROLLMENT SERVICES, PARENTING CLASSES, SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN, CAREER NAVIGATION, A CHILD CARE CENTER FOR DROP IN CHILD CARE, ENTREPRENEUR MENTORSHIP, LIFE COACHING TO INCREASE FAMILY STABILITY, UTILITIES, RENT AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE AND EVICTION PREVENTION, FREE AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS, AND A FREE GROCERY STORE. FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 2025, THE FAMILY SUCCESS CENTER RECEIVED OVER 40,000 VISITS FROM INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING SERVICES.
- $469,522 spent. 211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL - OUR 2-1-1 PROGRAM IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHETHER YOU NEED HELPFINDING FOOD, HOUSING, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, FILING YOUR TAXES, CHILDCARE, CRISIS COUNSELING OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT. FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 2025, 2-1-1 PROVIDED REFERRALS TO OVER 34,000 CONTACTS WHO REACHED OUT FOR ASSISTANCE IN OUR 12-COUNTY SERVICE AREA INCLUDING EL PASO, TELLER, ALAMOSA, CONEJOS, COSTILLA, CHAFFEE, CHEYENNE, LINCOLN, MINERAL, PARK, RIO GRANDE, AND SAGUACHE COUNTIES. OUR 2-1-1 TEAM ALSO ANSWERED ALMOST HALF OF THE STATE'S TOTAL VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) CALLS, ENSURING THAT MOST FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO FILE THEIR TAXES FOR FREE IN ORDER TO GET THEIR QUALIFIED REFUND FOR SOME MUCH-NEEDED FINANCIAL RELIEF. (CONTINUED ON SCH O)(CONTINUED) 2-1-1 HELPS RESIDENTS FROM THE 12 COUNTIES NOT ONLY TO ACCESS LIFESAVING RESOURCES, BUT ALSO SERVES AS THE EXTENDED ARM OF COLORADO SPRINGS AND EL PASO COUNTY DURING A DISASTER RESPONSE, COORDINATING WITH THE PIKES PEAK REGION OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL RESOURCES TO LOCAL INDIVIDUALS IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCIES.
- $228,009 spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT - IMPACT OUR IMPACT DEPARTMENT ADDRESSES A NUMBER OF NEEDS IN EL PASO AND TELLER COUNTIES THROUGH SEVERAL DIFFERENT INITIATIVES; DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROVIDES BOOKS TO YOUTH 0-5 YEARS OLD WITH 1 AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK MAILED EACH MONTH TO THE CHILD'S MAILING ADDRESS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY OVER 7,400 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED OVER 640,000 BOOKS DURING THE LIFE OF THIS PROGRAM. OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM PROVIDES HEALTHY MEALS TO LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES NEEDING FOOD ASSISTANCE, STAFFING A DISTRIBUTION SITE AT MITCHELL HIGH SCHOOL. IN THE LAST YEAR WE SERVED OVER 7,000 FAMILIES WITH OVER 300,000 POUNDS OF HEALTHY, FREE GROCERIES IN EL PASO COUNTY. WE ALSO RUN A VITA PROGRAM (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE) THAT PROVIDES FREE FEDERAL AND STATE TAX INCOME PREPARATION FOR INDIVIDUALS EARNING LESS THAN $66,000 ANNUALLY. LAST YEAR OUR VITA VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 4,000 HOURS IN FEDERAL AND STATE TAX RETURN PREPARATION. WE PREPARED ALMOST 2,000 INCOME TAX RETURNS, AND FILED OVER $3,000,000 OF REFUNDS DUE TO OUR CLIENTS. WE ALSO MANAGE A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM THAT ALIGNS VOLUNTEERS WITH LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING OUR FOOD DISTRIBUTION, COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS, VITA PROGRAMS, AND MUCH MORE. LAST YEAR WE MATCHED OVER 1,800 LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WITH OVER 13,000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, MAINLY WITH LOCAL PARTNER NON-PROFITS AND OUR OWN PROGRAMS.
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
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 October 13, 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 June 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 December 1961.
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 October 21, 2026.
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