Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$47,075,947

Total expenses

$48,854,628

Contributions and grants received

$45,069,699

Grants paid

$28,397,762

Program service revenue

$189,060

Investment income

$1,676,981

Other revenue

$140,207

Total assets, end of year

$48,777,265

Total liabilities, end of year

$11,966,637

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$36,810,628

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$40,995,808

Management and general expenses

$4,721,272

Fundraising expenses

$3,137,548

Program service expenses (Part III)

$40,995,808

Program services were 83.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• IMPACT 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 DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. WE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING (SEE SCHEDULE O) HIGH-QUALITY DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT RESPOND TO THE MOST PRESSING NEEDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS OUR KEY FOCUS AREAS.WE BELIEVE IN A COLLABORATIVE AND COMMUNITY-LED APPROACH TO PHILANTHROPY ONE THAT VALUES THE EXPERTISE OF THOSE DELIVERING SERVICES AND CREATES SPACE FOR ONGOING FEEDBACK, SHARED LEARNING, AND INNOVATION. OUR GRANTS ARE UNRESTRICTED, SO PARTNERS CAN APPLY FUNDING WHERE IT IS NEEDED MOST FROM STAFFING AND SERVICE DELIVERY TO ORGANIZATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH. UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO'S ROLE IS NOT ONLY TO FUND BUT ALSO TO SERVE AS A CONNECTOR, CAPACITY BUILDER, AND PARTNER IN ADVANCING COMMUNITY-LED CHANGE.MORE THAN $6 MILLION WAS INVESTED FROM JULY 1, 2024, TO JUNE 30, 2025, TO SUPPORT THE OUTLINED IMPACT GRANT STRATEGIES ACROSS THE CHICAGO REGION.JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025, INVESTMENTS / OUTCOMESUNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO ("UNITED WAY") AWARDED IMPACT GRANTS ACCORDING TO THE STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS OUTLINED BELOW. UNITED WAY'S 2024-25 FUNDING SUPPORTED FOUR GRANT STRATEGIES: PLACE-BASED WRAPAROUND SERVICES, PLACE-BASED ISSUE-FOCUSED SERVICES, REGIONWIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, AND REGIONWIDE ISSUE-FOCUSED SERVICES. THESE GRANT STRATEGIES EACH EMPLOY DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO ACHIEVING UNITED WAY'S ULTIMATE GOALS OF STABILIZING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN CRISIS AND BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES.IN ALL UNITED WAY IMPACT GRANTS, WE ARE SEEKING TO ACHIEVE GOALS IN AT LEAST ONE OF OUR FOCUS AREAS:- BASIC NEEDS: THE FOCUS AREA INCLUDES PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, SAFETY FROM ABUSE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT.- EARLY LEARNING: PROVIDING SUPPORT SO THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES CAN BUILD A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THE START OF SCHOOL.- WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: PREPARING INDIVIDUALS FOR SUCCESS AND LONG-TERM LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.SOME OUTCOMES FOR JULY 1, 2024 - JUNE 30, 2025- FOOD SECURITY: 260,000+ MEALS TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY- WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: # 19,000+ INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS; # 5,000+ INDIVIDUALS WERE PLACED IN LIVING-WAGE JOBS- HEALTH CARE: 24,000+ INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED ONGOING BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES LEADING TO IMPROVEMENT- EDUCATION: # 10,000+ CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN EARLY-LEARNING PROGRAMS; # 92% OF CHILDREN AGES 0-5 IN EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS IMPROVED ACROSS DEVELOPMENTAL DOMAINS, SUCH AS FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND COMMUNICATION

  Expenses $10,840,548 · Grants $6,329,385

• 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, SAFETY, AND MORE. UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO SUPPORTS NETWORKS IN 17 NEIGHBORHOODS: AUBURN GRESHAM, (SEE SCHEDULE O) AUSTIN, BLUE ISLAND/ROBBINS, BRIGHTON PARK, BRONZEVILLE, CHICAGO HEIGHTS/FORD HEIGHTS, ELGIN, ENGLEWOOD, EVANSTON, FAR SOUTH, GARFIELD PARK, HARVEY, LITTLE VILLAGE, PARK FOREST/RICHTON PARK, SOUTH CHICAGO, SUMMIT, AND WEST CHICAGO.SOME MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS & OUTCOMES:- UNITED WAY PARTNERS IN WEST GARFIELD PARK BROKE GROUND ON SANKOFA VILLAGE WELLNESS CENTER, A NEW HUB THAT WILL BRING ESSENTIAL HEALTH RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. - THE PARK FOREST/RICHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK CELEBRATED THE RIBBON CUTTING OF THE NICI SOUTHLAND CLEAN ENERGY TRAINING CENTER, PROMOTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.- THE ASPIRE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION CELEBRATED THE GRAND OPENING IN THE AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK.CATALYTIC INVESTMENTSUNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO CREATED A CRITERION FRAMEWORK TO ASSESS LARGE, CATALYTIC INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK COMMUNITIES. WHEN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, UNITED WAY CONSIDERS A PROJECT'S ALIGNMENT WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK'S OVERARCHING GOALS, HOW PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WILL UTILIZE THE SPACE, THE RIPPLE EFFECT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ITS LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY.CATALYTIC INVESTMENT DECISIONS CONSIDER THE PROJECT'S IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY, RANGING FROM LOCAL HIRING DURING CONSTRUCTION TO PERMANENT JOBS, AND HOW SERVICES CAN SERVE AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR FAMILY STABILITY.CATALYTIC INVESTMENT IMPACTS:- IN AUBURN GRESHAM, UNITED WAY'S CATALYTIC INVESTMENT SUPPORTED PHASE TWO OF THE GREEN ERA CAMPUS.- IN THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY, UNITED WAY'S CATALYTIC INVESTMENT SUPPORTED THE OPENING OF THE ASPIRE CENTER FOR WORKFORCE INNOVATION.- UNITED WAY INVESTED IN THE SOUTH CHICAGO QUALITY OF LIFE PLAN AND ENGLEWOOD MASTER PLANMORE THAN $8.5 MILLION WAS INVESTED TO SUPPORT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK INITIATIVE FROM JULY 1, 2024, TO JUNE 30, 2025.

  Expenses $15,063,182 · Grants $8,794,821 · Revenue $189,060

• 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.

  Expenses $10,722,078 · Grants $10,722,078

• OTHER PROJECTS (CHICAGO BRIDGEBUILDERS FUND 211 METRO CHICAGO)MORE THAN $2.5 MILLION WAS INVESTED TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S SPECIAL INITIATIVES AND INVESTMENTS, INCLUDING THE CHICAGO BRIDGEBUILDERS FUND AND 211 METRO CHICAGO DURING THE FY25 PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2024, TO JUNE 30, 2025. CHICAGO BRIDGEBUILDERS FUNDCHICAGO BRIDGEBUILDERS FUND (CBBF) LAUNCHED IN THE FALL OF 2021 TO SUPPORT SMALL, LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF THE CITY AND THE SOUTH SUBURBS. CBBF IS DESIGNED TO CONNECT GRANTEES TO NEW CAPACITY-BUILDING AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT MEET THEIR NEEDS AND ADVANCE THEIR LONG-TERM GOALS.THE COHORT-BASED PROGRAM INCORPORATES THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:- UNRESTRICTED FUNDING: FUNDING TWO-YEAR GENERAL OPERATING GRANT AWARD (UP TO $50,000 TOTAL)- NETWORKING AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING: COHORT MODEL WITH AGENCY PEERS, BUILDING CROSS-SECTOR RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORKING WITH POTENTIAL FUNDERS AND INVESTORS- CAPACITY BUILDING: INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP CAPACITY-BUILDING SESSIONS WITH DEPAUL UNIVERSITY FACULTY AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS - HOLISTIC SUPPORT APPROACH: TARGETS ORGANIZATIONS WITH AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF LESS THAN $1M THAT OFTEN DON'T QUALIFY FOR TRADITIONAL GRANTS, PROVIDING HOLISTIC SUPPORT AND STRATEGIES FOR GROWTHINITIAL PROGRAM SUCCESSESS SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2021: - 39 GRANTES - $1.88 MILLION GRANTED - 150+ HOURS OF CAPACITY BUILDING PROVIDED 211 METRO CHICAGO211 METRO CHICAGO LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2023. IT IS A FREE 24/7/365 HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES HELPLINE. COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS CAN CALL, TEXT, OR USE THE WEB CHAT WITH A COMPASSIONATE, LOCAL RESOURCE NAVIGATOR TO GET CONNECTED TO CRITICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING, AND UTILITY PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. DATA COLLECTED FROM THE 2-1-1 CONTACT CENTER HELPS INFORM COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS' GREATEST NEEDS.211 METRO CHICAGO IMPACTS:- IN FY25, 211 METRO CHICAGO ASSUMED OPERATIONS FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO'S COORDINATED ENTRY CONTACT CENTER, SUPPORTING HOUSEHOLDS IN COMPLETING A NEW HOMELESSNESS ASSESSMENT, UPDATE AN EXISTING ONE, OR MAINTAIN AN ACTIVE APPLICATION WITHIN THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS).- FROM JANUARY 2023 THROUGH JUNE 2025, TOTAL SYSTEM ENGAGEMENTSINCLUDING CALLS, WEB SESSIONS, AND RESOURCE UPDATESREACHED 421,026, SURPASSING PREVIOUS MILESTONES AND REFLECTING ONGOING TRUST IN 211 ACROSS COOK COUNTY.- THE TOP 5 NEEDS ACROSS COOK COUNTY INCLUDE HOUSING AND SHELTER, UTILITY ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO FOOD, EMPLOYMENT, AND INCOME ASSISTANCE - THE TOP 3 CITY OF CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS SERVED ARE AUBURN GRESHAM, CHATHAM, AND SOUTH SHORE. - THE TOP 3 SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY COMMUNITY AREAS SERVED ARE CHICAGO HEIGHTS/FORD HEIGHTS, CALUMET CITY, PHOENIX/HARVEY.

  Expenses $4,370,000 · Grants $2,551,479

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

• METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES

  $2,038,325

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

  $1,322,556

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

  $1,050,471

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• URBAN GROWERS COLLECTIVE INC

  $1,000,000

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• CATHOLIC CHARITIES ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO

  $786,602

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• RAND CORPORATION

  $639,543

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

  $630,886

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER

  $623,953

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• LATINOS PROGRESANDO

  $573,063

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

• JEWISH FEDERATION OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO

  $559,660

  PROGRAM SUPPORT

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

• UNITED WAY - MCCORMICK PARTNERSHIP

  501(C)(3) · NEIGHBORHOOD · IL · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by UWMC

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

18 December 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.2

Source object

202503529349301510

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.