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Communities Unlimited
Communities Unlimited reported $17.4 million in revenue and $15.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $82.68 went to program services, $16.96 to management and general costs and $0.36 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 87.3% of the total. Government grants made up 57.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $182,296 (CEO). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 116% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $16MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 82.7% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.0% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.4% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 87.3% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 57.1% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 9.5% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $182,296 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.16% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 17.8 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 8 | 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 expenseCU's Community Infrastructure Services Program works with small population community infrastructure management systems: community drinking water systems; wastewater systems; and solid waste management systems through on-site technical assistance, training, publications, and financing. With a current staff of over 50 highly trained professional technical assistance providers, CU Community Infrastructure Services supports efforts to provide access to safe drinking water for everyone and responsible waste disposal within an ever-changing regulatory environment. Our technical assistance focuses…
In 1992, CU started making loans to water and wastewater systems in rural areas to ensure that residents had clean, healthy drinking water and safe wastewater treatment systems. In 2001 CU was certified as a CDFI. Loans made to water and wastewater management systems are used for improvement projects, pre-development financing, purchase of equipment and emergency financing needs. In 2025, CU closed $3,970,346 in loans to 18 water and wastewater systems to improve their systems. These loans included $931,000 (24%) loaned in Persistent Poverty Counties. Loans ranged from the small loan needed…
Housing, Entrepreneurship, and Community Sustainability: CU follows a holistic, community-centered housing approach with a focus on local capacity building, technical assistance, resource development, and housing preservation and development. CU staff works with their communities to create a housing taskforce, complete a comprehensive housing needs assessment, assist with strategic planning, and support the communities in grant writing. CU provided prepurchase homebuyer education and housing counseling to support individuals and families as they apply for mortgages for home purchases or loans…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Officer, 30.00 hrs/week | $157,969 | $0 | $24,327 | $182,296 |
| CFO Officer, 40 hrs/week | $139,472 | $0 | $24,004 | $163,476 |
| Director of Program Services Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $126,092 | $0 | $30,255 | $156,347 |
| Director of Entrepreneurship Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $117,828 | $0 | $22,562 | $140,390 |
| Director of Community Sustainability Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $106,864 | $0 | $26,336 | $133,200 |
| Director of Loan Fund Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $118,866 | $0 | $13,438 | $132,304 |
| Director of Community Infrastructure Highest compensated employee, 40 hrs/week | $105,543 | $0 | $14,542 | $120,085 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Communities Unlimited (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $141K (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–1b8 · 8 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 50
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to Communities Unlimited totaling $678K 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 Communities Unlimited's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Communities Unlimited, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Communities Unlimited spent in FY2025, $82.68 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Community Action of Eastern IowaDavenport, IA · revenue $17M · programs 94.4% · FY2025
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- Rebuild MetroBaltimore, MD · revenue $17M · programs 77.2% · 2024
- ProvportProvidence, RI · revenue $18M · programs 40.6% · FY2025
- Community Action Partnership of Sonoma CountySanta Rose, CA · revenue $17M · programs 87.9% · FY2025
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in Arkansas
Questions people ask
How much of Communities Unlimited's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Communities Unlimited reported that 82.7% of its $15.7 million in expenses went to program services, 17.0% to management and general and 0.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Communities Unlimited pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Communities Unlimited reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $182,296, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Communities Unlimited get its money?
Of $17.4 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 87.3% came from contributions and grants (including 57.1% from government grants) and 9.5% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Communities Unlimited a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 71-0464321 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 September 30, 2025, object 202631149349302153 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202502249349302780 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202430449349300403 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202310469349302246 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202221599349301502 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202101059349301835 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 71-0464321: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.