United Way of Northern California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE LIVES IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BY FOCUSING ON EDUCATION, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND HEALTH BY MOBILIZING AND INTEGRATING RESOURCES AND THE CARING POWER OF THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $4.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- -0.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 38
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $136,631, president and 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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 46% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 68% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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 (2)
- $3.8 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O
- SINCE 1953, UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS SERVED THE NEEDS OF FAR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS. WE COVER THE COUNTIES OF BUTTE, GLENN, LASSEN, MODOC, PLUMAS, SHASTA, SISKIYOU, TEHAMA, AND TRINITY. OUR MISSION IS TO FIGHT FOR THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FINANCIAL STABILITY OF ALL RESIDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND TO BE THERE IN TIMES OF CRISIS. KEY ACTIVITIES IN 2024 INCLUDED: 1. PROVIDED FUNDING FOR CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORTS THROUGH GRANTS TO 78 AGENCIES. 2. ONGOING ENGAGEMENT AS LONG-TERM DISASTER RECOVERY LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT OF FINANCIAL RECOVERY. 45 INDIVIDUAL HOUSEHOLDS SUPPORTED 3. SUPPORTED 534 ADVERSELY IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS WITH EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE (MEDICAL, MORTGAGE/RENT, UTILITIES/ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTS). 4. OPERATED MULTIPLE LOCATIONS OF FREE TAX ASSISTANCE TO 920 INDIVIDUALS TOTALING OVER $579,630 IN TAX RETURNS. 5. ENHANCED IMPACT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY PROJECTS FOR 15 ORGANIZATIONS AND 2 MENTORS THROUGH A $60,000 INVESTMENT. 6. CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE 211 NORCAL HELPLINE, HANDLING NEARLY 9,000 CALLS IN SHASTA, TEHAMA AND SISKIYOU COUNTIES AND ATTRACTING OVER 300,000 WEB SEARCHES. 7. CONTINUING 211 AS A HOMELESS COORDINATION PORTAL FOR TEHAMA COUNTY. 8. SERVING AS FISCAL SPONSOR TO THE SHASTA EQUAL JUSTICE COALITION AND THE OLIVEVIEW COMMUNITY FARM PROJECT, WHICH TEACHES AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SKILLS TO JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
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 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 2024.
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 1957.
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.