Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$8,910,279

Total expenses

$9,996,311

Contributions and grants received

$8,343,875

Grants paid

$4,241,753

Program service revenue

$209,587

Investment income

$356,817

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$19,460,731

Total liabilities, end of year

$3,125,037

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$16,335,694

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$7,228,426

Management and general expenses

$1,476,413

Fundraising expenses

$1,291,472

Program service expenses (Part III)

$7,228,426

Program services were 72.3% 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

• UWSM ensures every young person can thrive by expanding access to early childhood education, literacy development, out of school learning, and strong family engagement. Many Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households face barriers such as high child care costs and limited access to early learning resources that affect school readiness and third-grade reading, a key milestone for lifelong success. UWSM advances Thrive2027 Goal 1: By 2027, reduce the third-grade reading proficiency gap to no more than 10 percentage points between all third-grade students and those who have not fared as well. To support this goal, UWSM invested $306,354 in community schools and early learning programs and $60,814 in essential services like nutritious food and vision/hearing screening. Through the Child Care Incubator, one new child care business launched, with two more openings by May 2026. Volunteers contributed 1,150+ hours reading with children. Emerging Leaders United supported programs that help youth build literacy, explore STEAM, and stay engaged after school. UWSM also leads United 4 Child Care, a public-private partnership creating up to 400 new child care slots, including 24-hour options for families working non-traditional hours. Altogether, UWSM invested $1,221,807 in Youth Opportunity.

  Expenses $563,967 · Grants $392,752

• UWSM helps individuals and families, especially ALICE households, build financial stability by expanding access to education, job training, income supports, and safe, stable housing. UWSM advances Thrive2027 Goal 2: By 2027, 70% of households will pay less than 30% of income on housing. In the past year, UWSM funded programs helped 698 households move from homelessness into safe housing and 1,425 households access or maintain shelter and safety. UWSM also supported LD 641, legislation with the potential to prevent homelessness for more than 1,000 Mainers each year. Through CA$H Greater Portland, UWSM helped 8,504 households secure more than $1.4 million in refunds and save filing fees; 161 households received the Earned Income Tax Credit totaling $342,751. Women United invested in eight programs supporting single mothers through child care, housing navigation, legal aid, education, and job training. As the backbone of the Southern Maine Workforce Initiative, UWSM leads a collaborative of 26 partners creating career pathways and employer readiness, including the Bridge Program, which provides industry specific training and wraparound services for jobseekers entering high demand fields. Altogether, UWSM invested $1,620,617 in Financial Security.

  Expenses $986,725 · Grants $345,674

• UWSM works to ensure that every person can live a healthier life by expanding access to nutritious food, mental health services, substance use supports, and community resources. UWSM advances Thrive2027 Goal 3: Reduce preventable premature deaths by 10% by 2027. To save lives, UWSM partnered with the Maine Department of Education to create a multilingual animated naloxone training video used across the state. UWSM trained 191 individuals to recognize and respond to opioid overdoses and distributed 598 naloxone doses across Southern Maine. In December 2024, UWSM launched Read Away, enabling incarcerated mothers and grandmothers to record themselves reading to their children; 39 participants reached 55 children, who received books and materials supporting more than four hours of additional reading time. UWSM funded programs supported 364 youth healing from abuse and trauma and invested over $300,000 in nine programs expanding access to behavioral health care. Through UWSM's support of 211 Maine, residents received 6,400 referrals for mental health and addiction services, ensuring timely, confidential access to lifesaving resources. Altogether, UWSM invested $1,176,609 in Healthy Community.

  Expenses $876,925 · Grants $657,380

• 211 Maine, supported by United Way of Southern Maine (UWSM), is a free, confidential 24/7 information and referral service connecting people to essential supports, including housing and shelter, food assistance, mental health services, addiction treatment, utilities help, and crisis resources. Last year, 211 Maine fielded more than 67,008 calls, texts, and emails, providing vital assistance during times of need. 211 also operates specialized services such as the Opiate Helpline, Problem Gambling Helpline, and the statewide Help Me Grow access point. During emergencies, 211 partners with the Maine Emergency Management Agency to direct residents to shelters, provide real time updates, and support disaster recovery. UWSM also manages Keep ME Warm, Maine's only statewide emergency heating assistance initiative. Funds are distributed using LIHEAP formulas to Community Action Agencies, local United Ways, and 211. In 2024, 211 Maine provided over $208,000 in emergency heating support to 523 households and 1,149 individuals, ensuring families had safe, reliable heat during the winter months. Donor Designations: Giving your way.Donor designations allow contributors to direct all or part of their United Way gift to a nonprofit of their choice. These contributions support health and human service organizations across the region. Each designated agency is verified for nonprofit status and compliance with the USA Patriot Act before receiving funds, ensuring responsible stewardship and honoring donor intent.Volunteering: Change starts with people. UWSM believes lasting change happens when people come together to share their time, talent, and compassion. Volunteers are essential to supporting individuals and families who are working hard but struggling to make ends meet, especially ALICE households. Through year-round volunteer opportunities, UWSM connects people to causes they care about reading with students, preparing taxes, assembling literacy kits, and participating in custom workplace projects. UWSM also coordinates large scale community events such as the annual food drive, Day of Action, and literacy and meal kit assembly events. Last year, more than 1,200 volunteers contributed their time to community projects or served on UWSM committees guiding local investments. UWSM also hosts uwsme.galaxydigital.com, where individuals can find opportunities and nonprofits can post their needs. Whether someone volunteers for a single day or makes a long term commitment, every hour helps strengthen and connect our community.

  Expenses $4,800,809 · Grants $2,845,947 · Revenue $209,587

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

• The Opportunity Alliance

  $518,397

  Community Investment, Heating Assistance, Donor Designations

• 2-1-1 Maine Inc

  $221,642

  Community Investment

• Children's Odyssey

  $189,583

  Community Investment

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine

  $176,296

  Community Investment, Donor Designations

• Youth & Family Outreach

  $156,477

  Community Investment, Donor Designations

• Catherine Morrill Day Nursery

  $142,137

  Community Investment, Donor Designations

• York County Community Action

  $138,618

  Community Investment, Emergency Heating Assistance, Donor Designations

• Preble Street

  $131,718

  Community Investment, Donor Designations

• Southern Maine Workforce Initiative

  $99,600

  Community Investment

• Spurwink

  $93,000

  Community Investment, Donor Designations

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.

• 211 Maine Inc

  501(c)(3) · Health and human service information and referral service · ME · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by United Way Inc

• Joseph How Charitable Trust

  501(c)(3) · Trust · RI · controlled entity

  Directly controlled by United Way Inc

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

5 May 2026

IRS schema version

2024v5.5

Source object

202621279349301312

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

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