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United Way of Central Eastern California Inc

EIN 95-2274560 · Bakersfield, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak27 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE UNITED WAY OF KERN COUNTY IS TO "MOBILIZE DONORS, ADVOCATES AND VOLUNTEERS TO IMPROVE LIVES IN KERN COUNTY." THE ORGANIZATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY RAISING AND INVESTING FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN PROGRAMS THAT ADVANCE THE COMMON GOOD; COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES AROUND CRITICAL COMMUNITY ISSUES; ENGAGING VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE; AND ADVOCATING FOR PUBLIC POLICIES THAT FURTHER ITS OBJECTIVES.

Income
$985,155
Spending
$1.4 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 89%
Employees
33
Volunteers
87
Highest pay
$86,339, interim president

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: 27 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 80% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 58% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 92% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 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 (3)
  1. $413,616 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY AND DEVELOPMENT: THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND SCHOOL READINESS AMONG PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN BY EMPOWERING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO BE THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST TEACHERS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE RAISING A READER, WHICH PROVIDES BOOK DISTRIBUTIONS TO LOW-INCOME PRESCHOOLS; BORNLEARNING, WHICH PROVIDES PARENT EDUCATION MATERIALS, BOOKS AND RESOURCES TO FAMILIES OF NEWBORNS AND YOUNG CHILDREN; AND A BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB, WHICH PROVIDES FREE CHILDREN'S BOOKS TO MORE THAN 440 FAMILIES EACH MONTH. BORNLEARNING TRAILS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN SIX LOCAL PARKS, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR PARENTS TO ENGAGE IN WITH THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY ENJOY TIME TOGETHER AT PLAY.
  2. $551,488 spent. VITA PROGRAM:DURING THE YEAR, UWKC LED A COALITION OF PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN PROVIDING FREE VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA) SERVICES TO LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME TAXPAYERS. THE GROUP, KNOWN COLLECTIVELY AS THE KERN VITA PARTNERSHIP, OPERATES FIXED-SITE AND MOBILE TAX PREPARATION CENTERS, STAFFED BY IRS-CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS. THE GOAL IS TO HELP ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS CLAIM ALL THE TAX BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED, PARTICULARLY THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT AND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. NEARLY 2,900 TAX RETURNS WERE FILED, AND $6,015,417 MILLION IN REFUNDS CLAIMED.
  3. $165,447 spent. UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL EASTERN CALIFORNIA REMAINS A DEEPLY ENGAGED AND INVOLVED MEMBER OF THE BAKERSFIELD KERN REGIONAL HOMELESS COLLABORATIVE TO ADDRESS THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. AS A CAL-AIM PROVIDER FOR KERN, INYO, AND MONO COUNTIES, UWCEC OFFERS A HOST OF WRAP-AROUND SERVICES TO THOSE ARE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS AND THOSE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

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 June 1965.

    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.