GREAT RIVERS UNITED WAY INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

GREAT RIVERS UNITED WAY INC

EIN 39-0848188 · Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations (T70Z)

What they do

OUR MISSION is to UNITE PEOPLE and RESOURCES to IMPROVE LIVES and STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES. OUR VISION is THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS and FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES WILL ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH EDUCATION, INCOME STABILITY and HEALTHY LIVES.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $79.90 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2025The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders21 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

83.22%of revenue went to mission work79.9% of expenses · Program services

9.00%of revenue went to fundraising8.6% of expenses

$104.13spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

11.91%of revenue went to management and office costs11.4% of expenses

$1.03in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

92.4%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $118,341 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $131,624 for MARY KAY WOLF (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2025

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$2,865,577

Mission workProgram services$2,384,80983.22% of revenue79.9% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$341,16011.91% of revenue11.4% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$257,9499.00% of revenue8.6% of expenses

Total expenses$2,983,918104.13% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2025CurrentExpense mix: 79.9% mission · 11.4% management · 8.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.13% of revenue

2024Expense mix: 82.9% mission · 5.3% management · 11.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 88.49% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 82.0% mission · 3.1% management · 14.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.43% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 81.3% mission · 5.8% management · 12.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.05% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 85.2% mission · 4.5% management · 10.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.09% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 87.9% mission · 3.7% management · 8.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 91.83% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 86.7% mission · 3.7% management · 9.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 106.26% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 85.8% mission · 4.0% management · 10.2% fundraisingTotal expenses: 98.88% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$2,865,577

Expenses$2,983,918

Annual shortfall $118,341 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$2,384,809 · 79.9% of expenses

Management and office costs$341,160 · 11.4% of expenses

Fundraising$257,949 · 8.6% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$2,865,577

Expenses$2,983,918

Assets$3,068,109

Income$3,300,379

Contributions$2,647,644

Mission work (program services)$2,384,809

Fundraising$257,949

Grants given$8,816,469

Average grant$40,629

Management and general$341,160

Executive compensation (total)$121,302

Stocks and bonds$974,043

Accounting fees$15,425

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2025

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MARY KAY WOLFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $131,624Base $111,636 · Other $19,988

AMY HACKBARTHFINANCE DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $91,300Base $85,000 · Other $6,300

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (21)

MARY KAY WOLFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

AMY HACKBARTHFINANCE DIRECTOR

TONYA WAGNERBOARD MEMBER

AARON ENGELBOARD MEMBER

TONY SAAREMBOARD MEMBER

TODD ANTHONYBOARD MEMBER

STEVE THICKETREASURER

SHANTEL HARTZELLBOARD MEMBER

NICK WESTBOARD MEMBER

KIM BAUERVICE CHAIR

JULIE CHRISTENSENBOARD MEMBER

JOSH OELTJENBOARD MEMBER

JERRY ARNDTBOARD MEMBER

ISAAC ZICKERTBOARD MEMBER

HOLLY BLANCHARDBOARD CHAIR

DANI STUHRBOARD MEMBER

CAROLYN BOSTRACKBOARD MEMBER

BRENDA LEAHYBOARD MEMBER

ANGELA NEWMANBOARD MEMBER

ANDREA HAUSERBOARD MEMBER

AMY KLEIBERBOARD MEMBER

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1954
Location: 1855 EAST MAIN STREET, ONALASKA, WI 54650
County: La Crosse
In care of: MARY KAY WOLF
Primary officer: MARY KAY WOLF, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Emailinfo@gruw.org Phone(608) 796-1400

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2025
Tax period began: January 1, 2025
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: JOHNSON BLOCK & CO INC
NTEE classification: Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations (T70Z)
IRS tax category: Other Grantmaking and Giving Services
Grant-giving organization: Yes