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United Way of Buffalo and Erie County
United Way of Buffalo and Erie County reported $11.0 million in revenue and $11.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.02 went to program services, $10.06 to management and general costs and $9.92 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 94.6% of the total. Government grants made up 22.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $196,340 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 38% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $12MFor context, the median across 1,001 covered philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities: $91.65 programs, $6.50 management, $1.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.0% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 10.1% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 9.9% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.11 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 94.6% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 22.4% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 3.5% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $196,340 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.67% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 25.4 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 27 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseProgram investments - investments (allocations) in competitively awarded grant programs to many local agencies, focused in our "impact" areas of education, income, and health and wellness. By investing in the highest needs areas of the community the United Way hopes to significantly improve overall educational outcomes, stabilize and improve family financial well being, and build a strong and healthy community
Donor designations - the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County allows donor choice, where the donor can direct gifts to any 501(c)(3) organization
Grant program and initiatives - these programs are aimed at providing support to various community organizations, groups and agencies, and unique initiatives providing support aimed at the united ways focused areas of need
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $184,204 | $0 | $12,136 | $196,340 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $104,250 | $0 | $704 | $104,954 |
2 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from United Way of Buffalo and Erie County (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $301K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b27 · 27 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 561
- Volunteers Part I, line 62,484
Private foundation grants it received
30 private foundations reported grants to United Way of Buffalo and Erie County totaling $1.2M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from United Way of Buffalo and Erie County's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 United Way of Buffalo and Erie County spent in FY2025, $80.02 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Northwest NC Community FoundationWinstonSalem, NC · revenue $11M · programs 95.0% · 2024
- Kosciusko County Community FoundationWarsaw, IN · revenue $11M · programs 81.2% · FY2025
- United Way of the Chattahoochee ValleyColumbus, GA · revenue $11M · programs 81.4% · FY2025
- Franciscan Health FoundationMishawaka, IN · revenue $11M · programs 99.7% · 2024
- Cambodian Childrens FundSanta Monica, CA · revenue $11M · programs 87.1% · 2025
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of United Way of Buffalo and Erie County's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, United Way of Buffalo and Erie County reported that 80.0% of its $11.7 million in expenses went to program services, 10.1% to management and general and 9.9% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does United Way of Buffalo and Erie County pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation United Way of Buffalo and Erie County reported for one person in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025 was $196,340, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does United Way of Buffalo and Erie County get its money?
Of $11.0 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, 94.6% came from contributions and grants (including 22.4% from government grants) and 3.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is United Way of Buffalo and Erie County a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 16-0743969 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, object 202640299349300804 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, object 202500239349301000 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, object 202410299349301641 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, object 202330349349300528 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021, object 202210429349301611 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, object 202100399349301110 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 16-0743969: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.