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United Ways of California
United Ways of California reported $25.1 million in revenue and $25.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $94.23 went to program services, $5.27 to management and general costs and $0.50 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.0% of the total. Government grants made up 83.2%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $357,369 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 385% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $26MFor 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
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $25MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 94.2% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.3% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.5% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.0% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 83.2% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 2.0% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $357,369 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.40% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.9 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 9 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseUsda food and farmworkers relief program: under the usda's food and farmworkers relief program, uwca partnered with 16 local United Ways to distribute $600 payments to food and farmworkers throughout the state as consideration for their continuing to work through the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization was able to provide this relief to more than 38,000 individuals, many of whom are outside the reach of ordinary social services. Grants were made to individuals and also to agencies that participated in the outreach and distribution efforts
Cal eitc. Under the california earned income tax credit program (cal eitc), uwca partnered with 13 local United Ways, lutheran services, onela, and john burton advocates for youth to enable our thousands of california customers to receive over $46 million in tax credits
2-1-1: partnering with 8 local United Ways as well as other local partners, the organization provided access for 96% of californians to the 2-1-1 network. This provides californians with trained call center staff who offer support, resources and information about access to available services for shelter, food, medical services and emergency disaster relief and recovery services
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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, 40.00 hrs/week | $314,877 | $0 | $42,492 | $357,369 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,150 | $0 | $31,722 | $250,872 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $117,840 | $0 | $16,860 | $134,700 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from United Ways of California (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $648K (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
2024 · 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–1b9 · 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 537
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| INLAND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNITED WAY Crm software service | $149,870 |
| PASCHAL ROTH PUBLIC AFFAIRS INC Cal eitx campaign communications | $136,073 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
4 private foundations reported grants to United Ways of California totaling $1.1M 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 Ways of California'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 Ways of California, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 United Ways of California spent in 2024, $94.23 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Institute of Management AccountantsMontvale, NJ · revenue $25M · programs 75.8% · FY2025
- Midwest Minnesota Community Development CorporationDetroit Lakes, MN · revenue $25M · programs 92.6% · 2024
- Florida Community Loan FundOrlando, FL · revenue $25M · programs 84.2% · FY2025
- Middle Georgia Community Action AgencyWarner Robins, GA · revenue $25M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- American Friends of OgenUniversity Heights, OH · revenue $25M · programs 99.5% · 2024
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of United Ways of California's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, United Ways of California reported that 94.2% of its $25.5 million in expenses went to program services, 5.3% to management and general and 0.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does United Ways of California pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation United Ways of California reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $357,369, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does United Ways of California get its money?
Of $25.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 98.0% came from contributions and grants (including 83.2% from government grants) and 2.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is United Ways of California a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 94-1646369 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202533189349307003 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423199349309822 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202313189349307076 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243159349307454 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133149349306463 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043189349313064 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 94-1646369: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.