United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Uniting people and resources to build thriving and resilient communities. We find every dollar we can to address these critical issues, but we are more than fundraisers. Our work is centralized around four focus areas; developing housing for all, strengthening children and families, building community capacity, and meeting basic needs. Guided by these, we look for innovative projects, we support area service partners with grant funding and work to increase resources for our tri-county area.
- Income
- $8.4 million
- Spending
- $6.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 6.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 77%
- Employees
- 194
- Volunteers
- 1,289
- Highest pay
- $147,312, 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.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 34% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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, 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)
- $5.7 million spent. COMMUNITY IMPACT:For over eighty years, United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley has built bridges to the community that focused on developing resources for nonprofits. Today, we reach for higher outcomes, address wider gaps, and cultivate a culture of collaboration and partnership to assure equity, inclusion and diversity are a part of every part of our work. Here are some highlights of our work in 2024.AWESOME 3000: 2024 Impact: 380 community volunteers, 2258 participants ranging in age from 3 18 years old. Awesome 3000, once billed as the largest youth fun run west of the Mississippi, resumed after a three-year hiatus under the leadership of the United Way. The Awesome 3000 serves as a fundraiser for the Salem-Keizer School Fund. The proceeds of this run go towards SKSD staff grants for innovative practices.COTTAGES UNITED PROGRAM: This program has created a sustainable, affordable solution to the ever-growing issue of seniors at risk of homelessness. HUD considers a person housing burdened if their monthly housing costs are greater than 30% of a persons income. Many older Oregonians are entitled to Social Security benefits. However, these benefits (currently averaging $1,529 per month for an individual) remain well below the poverty line and often fail to cover the cost of housing. In 2021, we acquired the land and completed the bulk of the background work to lay the foundation for the next phase of this complicated but necessary project. In 2023, we broke ground and completed construction on 10 units that currently house 11 tenants. We are currently working on the construction of 15 more units that will break ground in late 2026 for a total of 25 affordable senior living cottages.GOOD360 GIFTS IN KIND PROGRAM: 2024 IMPACT: 274,367 community members served through 75 Non-Profit Agencies, 380 VOLUNTEERS, 4325 Volunteer HRS. As the regional hub for this national program, the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is uniquely positioned to support hundreds of area service providers, schools, faith-based groups and other nonprofit partners. The Good360 Gifts in Kind Program has grown exponentially in the last year. The program continued to provide goods valued at $9.5 million to those in need and allows area non-profits and schools to use their program dollars on other things.SAFESLEEP UNITED WOMENS SHELTER: 2024 IMPACT: 7822 SHELTER NIGHTS and 11,876 MEALS PROVIDED TO over 216 UNDUPLICATED WOMEN AND CHILDREN: 187 single women, 10 moms, and 19 kids. We also sheltered 31 dogs, 5 cats, 1 lizard, and 1 bunny!As one of the most vulnerable populations, the women who were unsheltered in our community needed a safe, reliable place to sleep safely for the night. Working with our partners, United Way established a unique and vital low barrier shelter where women can feel safe sleeping for the evening. Low barrier reflects a housing-first approach, where people are welcomed as they are, without needing to be clean, sober, employed, or employable as entry criteria. We meet and serve women where they are at as long as they can do activities of daily living independently and behave respectfully. Of the 216 women and kids we sheltered in 2024, 116 individuals, or 53.7%, moved to living arrangements that are considered more stable than overnight emergency shelter.Services offered: Beyond safe sleep, we offer belonging, dignity, and respect, as well as resources, referrals, supports, advocacy, housing assessments, wellness classes, mindfulness exercises, budgeting, employment, and goal planning assistance, community engagement options, and supports for women and families to find and move to permanent housing or shelters with more supports. SCHOOL-AGE ENRICHMENT: 2024 IMPACT: 4719 STUDENTS SERVED, 135 VOLUNTEERS, 4586 HOURS. School Age Enrichment provides equitable programming for academic enrichment at 8 different school sites including elementary, middle, and high schools to encourage youth development and to promote family involvement. College and Career readiness was also offered at area high schools with mentors who provide 1:1 assistance to high school students with post-secondary plans.
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
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.