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United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago reported $47.1 million in revenue and $48.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.91 went to program services, $9.67 to management and general costs and $6.42 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.7% of the total. Government grants made up 15.5%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $435,406 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 50% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $49MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $47MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.9% | 90.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.7% | 6.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 6.4% | 1.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.07 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.7% | 79.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 15.5% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $435,406 | $325,675 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.89% | 1.56% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 23 | 3 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.0 | 56.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 30 of 31 | 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 expenseImpact grantsfor more than 90 years, United Way of metro chicago ("United Way") has mobilized private and philanthropic support, as well as public sector resources, to build thriving communities. We invest in organizations across the region to provide the building blocks to stabilize households and achieve community-identified goals via access to health care, housing, safety from abuse, food assistance, early learning, workforce development, and legal assistance.United Way of metro chicago grounds its grantmaking in local data, community input, and insights from organizations and leaders with…
Neighborhood networks at United Way of metro chicago, we work alongside local neighborhood leaders to help identify community priorities and create a resident-driven neighborhood strategy. This place-based approach is led by the community quarterback, an agency that helps bring to the table all the people, resources, and ideas needed to execute community plans. United Way provides funding, capacity building, and connections. We then work on the ground with the community quarterback to develop and support their work in the areas of economic and workforce development, education, housing…
The critical work of United Way requires significant resources. Support is raised through a diversified revenue model. United Way conducts workplace giving campaigns, receives individual and major gifts, and is awarded grants from private foundations and the local, state, and federal government. Strategic efforts are in place to further grow significant revenue from grants and individual giving. Other program service achievements include designations by donors to other 501(c)(3) organizations
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 Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $408,461 | $0 | $26,945 | $435,406 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $287,910 | $0 | $12,825 | $300,735 |
| CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER Officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $217,504 | $0 | $18,632 | $236,136 |
| VP, MARKETING Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $183,133 | $0 | $46,853 | $229,986 |
| CHIEF PEOPLE & CULTURE OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $191,623 | $0 | $23,573 | $215,196 |
| EXEC DIRECTOR, PSPC Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $185,159 | $0 | $29,692 | $214,851 |
| CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $179,588 | $0 | $18,910 | $198,498 |
| EXEC DIRECTOR, 211 Highest compensated employee, 37.50 hrs/week | $158,877 | $0 | $16,275 | $175,152 |
23 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (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–1b31 · 30 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 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5169
- Volunteers Part I, line 66,388
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| LEVEL-1 GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LLC 211 technical buildout | $270,796 |
| 311 WEST MONROE LOCATION LLC 211 lease | $220,374 |
| UPIC SOLUTIONS Online platform services | $179,226 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 13 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
33 private foundations reported grants to United Way of Metropolitan Chicago totaling $3.5M 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 Metropolitan Chicago'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 Metropolitan Chicago, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 United Way of Metropolitan Chicago spent in FY2025, $83.91 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Community Foundation Santa Cruz CountyAptos, CA · revenue $47M · programs 96.2% · 2024
- Central Carolina Community FoundationColumbia, SC · revenue $47M · programs 93.8% · FY2025
- The College Foundation of the University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VA · revenue $47M · programs 61.3% · FY2025
- Liberty Hill FoundationLos Angeles, CA · revenue $47M · programs 86.6% · FY2025
- Sacramento Region Community FoundationSacramento, CA · revenue $47M · programs 86.8% · 2024
All philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking charities · Largest charities in Illinois
Questions people ask
How much of United Way of Metropolitan Chicago's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, United Way of Metropolitan Chicago reported that 83.9% of its $48.9 million in expenses went to program services, 9.7% to management and general and 6.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does United Way of Metropolitan Chicago pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation United Way of Metropolitan Chicago reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $435,406, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does United Way of Metropolitan Chicago get its money?
Of $47.1 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 95.7% came from contributions and grants (including 15.5% from government grants) and 0.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is United Way of Metropolitan Chicago a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 30-0200478 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 June 30, 2025, object 202503529349301510 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202423539349301107 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202323549349300622 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202243539349301514 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202221369349301622 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202013589349300011 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 30-0200478: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.