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United Way of San Diego County

EIN 95-2213995 · San Diego, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SPARK BREAKTHROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION THAT ELEVATES EVERY CHILD AND FAMILY TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

Income
$5.5 million
Spending
$6.3 million
Spent on programs
56%
Reserves
23.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
39
Volunteers
439
Highest pay
$289,763, president & ceo

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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 23.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    56% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 25 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 25

    17 of 17 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

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (3)
  1. $1.2 million spent. UNITED WAY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY ENSURES CHILDREN, INDIVIDUALS, AND FAMILIES HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS AND FINANCIAL SECURITY.EDUCATION:UNITED WAY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO EDUCATION, AND THE URGENCY OF OUR WORK HAS NEVER BEEN MORE APPARENT AS THE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT GAPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO WIDEN. BY LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION'S DISTINCT, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, WE URGENTLY ADDRESS DEEPLY ROOTED DISPARITIES IN HISTORICALLY UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN ARE NOT REACHING THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE COLLABORATE WITH THESE COMMUNITIES AND LEVERAGE THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTNERS COUNTYWIDE - BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, POLICYMAKERS, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS - TO COLLECTIVELY ACHIEVE LASTING CHANGE FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, AND FAMILIES. TO BRIDGE THESE GAPS ACROSS THE REGION, WHICH TYPICALLY FALL ALONG RACIAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC LINES, WE STRATEGICALLY FOCUS ON KEY AREAS SUCH AS EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY, SO CHILDREN CAN REACH MILESTONES LIKE READING PROFICIENTLY BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE, AND CAREER READINESS, SO STUDENTS ARE EXPOSED TO HIGH-PAYING, IN-DEMAND STEAM CAREERS ACROSS DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES. WE ENGAGE 12K DONORS, 341 COMMUNITY AND CORPORATE PARTNERS, 22 SCHOOLS, AND 942 VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE OVER 45K FAMILIES AND CHILDREN THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY. WE KNOW WE ARE ACHIEVING OUR GOALS BY TRACKING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, DEVELOPING LITERACY-RICH ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN, AND MEASURING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO SEE STEAM CAREERS AS A POSSIBILITY THROUGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND SUMMER WORK-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. $854,664 spent. ECONOMIC MOBILITY:IN THE FACE OF THE WIDENING ECONOMIC DISPARITIES IN OUR REGION, UNITED WAY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY REMAINS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ESSENTIAL FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND CREATING PATHWAYS FOR ECONOMIC MOBILITY THAT CAN PROFOUNDLY IMPACT THE LIVES OF THOSE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WE IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF FAMILIES THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND COUNSELING, FREE TAX FILING ASSISTANCE TO MAXIMIZE REFUNDS AND ENSURE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE ALL AVAILABLE TAX CREDITS, AND ACCESS TO SAFE, AFFORDABLE FINANCIAL SERVICES THROUGH TRUSTED BANKS. THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS COUNTYWIDE, THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT FAMILIES IN BECOMING FINANCIALLY SECURE, EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY, AND ENGAGED IN THE COMMUNITY. FOR OVER 24 YEARS, OUR SAN DIEGO COUNTY EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT COALITION HAS GROWN TO OVER 47 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2025, OUR COMBINED EFFORTS BROUGHT BACK $31.7M IN FEDERAL AND STATE RETURNS, WHICH INCLUDED THE CHILD TAX CREDITS. THE COALITION SERVED 42.6K FAMILIES, SAVING THEM $7.6M IN TAX PREPARATION FEES.
  3. $1.5 million spent. GIVING BACK:OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES PROVIDE OVER $2.6M IN FUNDING TO UWSD AND DESIGNATE OVER $991K TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO COUNTY AND THE COUNTRY THROUGH WORKPLACE GIVING. WE PARTNER WITH MANY CORPORATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIPS, SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND VOLUNTEERISM FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES, AS INDIVIDUALS, IN TEAMS, OR AS A WHOLE COMPANY. OUR GROWING AND ROBUST FUNDRAISING EFFORTS BRING IN OVER $5.1M FOR PROGRAMS AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.

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

  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 June 2025.

    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 May 1966.

    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.