Form 990 for tax year 2023

Totals

Total revenue

$20,608,188

Total expenses

$19,916,731

Contributions and grants received

$19,853,011

Grants paid

$12,634,779

Program service revenue

$260,073

Investment income

$495,104

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$32,199,529

Total liabilities, end of year

$7,543,251

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$24,656,278

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$16,763,521

Management and general expenses

$1,830,709

Fundraising expenses

$1,322,501

Program service expenses (Part III)

$16,763,521

Program services were 84.2% 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 · 2023

• COMMUNITY INVESTMENT: THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS FOCUSES ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY ACROSS THE REGION, WHILE ALSO HELPING PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN NEED. ANNUALLY, UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INVESTS IN MORE THAN 100 LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND INITIATIVES THROUGH THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY GENEROUS CORPORATE AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) UNITED WAY TAILORS ITS COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROCESS TO THE ASSETS, STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF EACH COUNTY IN OUR FOUR-COUNTY FOOTPRINT. IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, UNITED WAY FUNDS TWO INITIATIVES:1) THROUGH UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS, UNITED WAY SUPPORTS RESIDENT-DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORTS THAT IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY SO THAT A PERSON'S ZIP CODE NO LONGER DETERMINES THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS IN THE CHARLOTTE REGION. UNITED WAY LAUNCHED UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS IN SEPTEMBER 2017 WITH AN INVESTMENT OVER THREE YEARS INTO THE GRIER HEIGHTS AND RENAISSANCE WEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHARLOTTE. WE EXPANDED TO THE LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD IN FY22. IN FY23, UNITED WAY DEEPENED OUR COMMITMENT TO UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS, INVESTING $4.9M IN 50+ HISTORICALLY DISINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, AND IN NORTHERN MECKLENBURG COUNTY.UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS FOCUSES ON PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESIDENTS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESSES, AND NONPROFITS, BACKED BY MULTI-YEAR FUNDING AND STAFF RESOURCES FROM UNITED WAY. FROM FY18 TO FY23, NEARLY 50 COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDED SUPPORT THROUGH THE UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM. IN FY24, 63 NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE GRANT REVIEW PROCESS, SELECTING THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WOULD RECEIVE FUNDING TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS THE COMMUNITIES WITH HELPING FAMILIES BECOME FINANCIALLY STABLE, FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PREPARE CHILDREN TO ENTER SCHOOL READY TO READ AND LEARN.UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS ALSO SUPPORTS NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF COMPREHENSIVE REVITALIZATION WITH "BLOCK BUILDING GRANTS." THESE GRANTS ARE FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, FUNDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND COMPLETING RESIDENT-DRIVEN NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS.2) UNITE CHARLOTTE SUPPORTS NEW AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH GRANTS AND CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, UNITED WAY SUPPORTS 55 SMALL AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS. THE FOUNDERS AND LEADERS OF THESE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.UNITE CHARLOTTE WAS FOUNDED AS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH OTHER LOCAL FUNDERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT LED TO THE UNREST IN CHARLOTTE IN THE FALL OF 2016. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, 55 SMALL ORGANIZATIONS, WORKING TO SUPPORT AND EMPOWER ALL CHARLOTTE RESIDENTS, RECEIVED GRANTS RANGING FROM $20,000 TO $60,000 AS WELL AS CAPACITY-BUILDING TRAINING.UNITED WAY FUNDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE HELP STABILIZE AND GROW NONPROFITS, PREPARING THEM TO SECURE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING. WE ALSO WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES WITHIN UNITE CHARLOTTE ORGANIZATIONS. IN FY24, 89 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN THE GRANT REVIEW PROCESS, EVALUATING AGENCY APPLICATIONS TO IDENTIFY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN GENERATE THE GREATEST IMPACT. 15 OF THOSE VOLUNTEERS WERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE CLOSE TO ISSUES THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO ADDRESS.IN ANSON COUNTY, UNITED WAY FUNDING SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING RESIDENTS' BASIC NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD SECURITY, RENT AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, AND HOUSING. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING CHILDREN AND YOUTH A PATHWAY OUT OF POVERTY, UNITED WAY ALSO SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND YOUTH MENTORING. IN FY24, VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO FOUR AGENCIES WORKING IN ANSON COUNTY.IN CABARRUS COUNTY, UNITED WAY'S INVESTMENTS SUPPORT A COLLABORATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. BROADLY, THE COLLABORATIVE'S GOALS ARE TO REDUCE STIGMA AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, PREPARE INDIVIDUALS TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT MENTAL WELLNESS. IN FY24, VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO SIX AGENCIES WORKING IN CABARRUS COUNTY.IN UNION COUNTY, UNITED WAY'S FUNDING SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING A RANGE OF CRITICAL NEEDS, INCLUDING EDUCATION ACCESS AND QUALITY, HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND QUALITY, AND ECONOMIC STABILITY, INCLUDING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, AND FOOD SECURITY. UNITED WAY FUNDING ALSO ADDRESSES A CRITICAL GAP IN SERVICES IN UNION COUNTY BY FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING PROGRAMS THAT OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS LIVING WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IN FY24, VOLUNTEERS AWARDED FUNDING TO 12 AGENCIES WORKING IN UNION COUNTY.IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY, UNITED WAY PARTNERS WITH MECKLENBURG COUNTY, THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, AND OVER 250 PEOPLE REPRESENTING 150+ AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS TO ADVANCE A HOME FOR ALL, A COMMUNITY PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY ON A SYSTEMIC LEVEL. A HOME FOR ALL'S VISION IS A COMMUNITY IN WHICH UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE, INC. HOMELESSNESS IS RARE, BRIEF, AND NONRECURRING AND EVERY PERSON HAS ACCESS TO PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND RESOURCES TO SUSTAIN IT.ACROSS ALL FOUR COUNTIES, UNITED WAY'S IMPACT STRATEGY ADVANCES RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG OPPORTUNITY TASK FORCE REPORT. UNITED WAY FOCUSES ON IMPROVING ECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH AND FINANCIAL STABILITY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY FOCUSING ON BUILDING STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVING THE SYSTEMS THAT SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.RESULTS FROM AGENCY PROGRAMS FUNDED BY UNITED WAY:- 28,521 INDIVIDUALS ACCESSED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO INCREASE THEIR FOOD SECURITY.- 9,717 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN UNITED WAY FUNDED PARTNER PROGRAMS ACCESSED HIGH QUALITY HEALTH OR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.- 6,024 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ACCESSED AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION MODIFICATION.- 5,597 STUDENTS IMPROVED OR DEMONSTRATED POSITIVE BEHAVIORS WITH PEERS AND ADULTS. - 3,268 INDIVIDUALS AND/OR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OBTAINED SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.UNITED WAY'S BOARD APPROVES GRANT AWARDS ANNUALLY. GRANT FUNDING CYCLES GENERALLY BEGIN ON JANUARY 1 AND CONCLUDE ON DECEMBER 31. WE MAXIMIZE THE FUNDS PROVIDED BY DONORS BY DIRECTING THEM TOWARD CRITICAL PROGRAMS THAT BUILD PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.CRITICAL NEEDS: UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE UNDERSTANDS THAT MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE FOUR-COUNTY REGION ARE LIVING IN A CRISIS SITUATION EVERY DAY. UNITED WAY IS COMMITTED TO CHANGING THAT BY PROVIDING FLEXIBLE FUNDING TO MORE THAN 100 NONPROFITS WORKING YEAR-ROUND TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS.2-1-1: NC 2-1-1 IS A SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE UNITED WAY OF NORTH CAROLINA AND IS NORTH CAROLINA'S RESOURCE FOR FREE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES REGARDING HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND RESOURCES. NC 2-1-1 HAS A DATABASE OF OVER 19,000 RESOURCES, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, HOMELESS SHELTERS, UTILITY AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, HEALTH CLINICS, PRESCRIPTION DRUG ASSISTANCE, COUNSELING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, CHILD CARE RESOURCES, SENIOR RESOURCES, RESOURCES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND MUCH MORE. VOLUNTEERISM: UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE'S VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS ALIGN WITH THE OVERALL STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION BY FOCUSING ON GENERATING REAL IMPACT FOR OUR PARTNER NONPROFIT AGENCIES AND RAISING REVENUE TO FURTHER OUR MISSION. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE OFFERED DIRECTLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. YEAR-ROUND OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS LIVE UNITED DAY AND MLK DAY OF SERVICES OFFER VOLUNTEERS MEANINGFUL SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT THE RESIDENTS WE SERVE THROUGH UNITED NEIGHBORHOODS.

  Expenses $8,500,491 · Grants $6,136,858 · Revenue $260,073

• GOVERNMENT GRANTS: UNITED WAY PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE, MECKLENBURG COUNTY, AND THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS THAT, TOGETHER, WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS.ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS: DURING FY21 UNITED WAY BEGAN ADMINISTERING VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT WERE ESTABLISHED LARGELY IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THESE PROGRAMS WERE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN COMMUNITIES WE SERVE AS WELL AS VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT ARE AIMED AT MOVING THOSE EXPERIENCING OR AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING. UNITED WAY RECEIVES LITTLE OR NO COMPENSATION FOR PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THESE ARRANGEMENTS.

  Expenses $7,039,165 · Grants $5,274,056

• DESIGNATIONS TO OTHER UNITED WAYS AND OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS: DONORS MAY DIRECT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUT OF AREA UNITED WAYS OR QUALIFIED TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF HEALTH, HOUSING, AND CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THESE FUNDS ARE RAISED AND DISTRIBUTED BY OUR UNITED WAY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.

  Expenses $1,223,865 · Grants $1,223,865

As filed on the 2023 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

• HOUSING COLLABORATIVE

  $1,609,832

  RESTRICTED PROGRAM FUNDING TO ACHIEVE CONTRACTED OUTCOMES

• LAKEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE INC

  $270,395

  DONOR DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• RENAISSANCE WEST COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

  $257,206

  DONOR DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• ADA JENKINS FAMILIES AND CAREERS DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC

  $235,176

  DONOR DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM OPERATING COST, RESTRICTED PROGRAM FUNDING TO ACHIEVE CONTRACTED OUTCOMES

• CROSSROADS CORPORATION

  $232,481

  PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• THE BULB GALLERY

  $232,021

  DONOR DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• CHARLOTTE CENTER FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY

  $220,350

  DONOR DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• THE LIFE PROJECT OF NORTH CAROLINA

  $212,869

  PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS

  $203,657

  PROGRAM OPERATING COST

• CHARLOTTE SPEECH AND HEARING CENTER INC

  $203,405

  DONOR DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM OPERATING COST

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

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2023

Filed

22 April 2025

IRS schema version

2023v6.0

Source object

202521139349301422

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.