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United Way of San Luis Obispo County

EIN 95-3459538 · Sn Luis Obisp, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak22 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 49% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

UNITED WAY IS WORKING TO BUILD A STRONGER, HEALTHIER, MORE COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY IN SLO COUNTY THROUGH IMPACT GRANT AWARDS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMMING BY FOCUSING ON THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF A GOOD LIFE; EDUCATION, INCOME AND HEALTH.

Income
$344,166
Spending
$516,176
Spent on programs
49%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
15
Volunteers
135
Highest pay
$60,579, ceo/interim coo

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

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 87% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    49% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 92% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (2)
  1. $148,778 spent. GROSS FUNDS AWARDED/ALLOCATED TO AGENCIES TO SUPPORT VARIOUS NON PROFITS.
  2. $103,212 spent. 211 - 211 CONNECTS USERS WITH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH CALLS, TEXTS, AND WEB SEARCH. UW SLO COUNTY 211 SERVES SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES. 211 RECEIVES OVER 3,000 CALLS, TEXTS, AND CLICKS TO THE HOTLINE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. 211 IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK VIA PHONE, TEXT, AND ONLINE. WHEN PEOPLE CALL 211, THEY SPEAK TO A TRAINED SPECIALIST WHO CAN FIND SERVICES MOST TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS. WHEN CALLERS FIND THEMSELVES IN A TOUGH SPOT, OFTEN MULTIPLE FORMS OF ASSISTANCE ARE NEEDED. 211 CAN CONNECT THEM TO ALL APPLICABLE SERVICES TO FORM A COHESIVE RECOVERY PLAN. THEN, ONCE RECEIVING SERVICES, THE CALLER CAN TAKE PROACTIVE MEASURES TO MITIGATE FUTURE STRUGGLES. DURING TIMES OF DISASTER, 211 IS AN INDISPENSABLE RESOURCE TO HELP CALLERS STAY INFORMED OF RECOVERY SERVICES. BY HELPING US RECOVER QUICKLY WHEN AFFECTED BY DISASTER, 211 IS KEY IN STRENGTHENING THE RESILIENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY.

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 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 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 September 1980.

    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.