UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHARLOTTE INC

EIN 56-0529948 · Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations (T700)

What they do

UNITED WAY USES COLLECTIVE GIVING to BUILD PATHWAYS to ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY for ALL, PRIMARILY THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED, GRASSROOTS and RESPONSIVE SOLUTIONS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.UNITED WAY WAS FOUNDED 90 YEARS AGO IN MECKLENBURG COUNTY AS "EMERGENCY RELIEF" to HELP PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE GREAT DEPRESSION THROUGH THE POWER of COLLECTIVE GIVING.WE WORK AS A FOCUSED, COLLABORATIVE TEAM WITHIN GREATER CHARLOTTE, DEVELOPING TAILORED SOLUTIONS for EACH PART of OUR REGION to ADDRESS ECONOMIC MOBILITY. SERVING ANSON, CABARRUS, MECKLENBURG and UNION COUNTIES, OUR ACTIONS ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED BY RESIDENTS of THOSE COMMUNITIES.LEADERSHIP: COLLABORATING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, BUSINESSES, FAITH COMMUNITIES, DONORS and VOLUNTEERS to MOBILIZE RESOURCES QUICKLY and EFFICIENTLY and ADVANCE LASTING SOLUTIONS, UNITED WAY is ENSURING THE MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY to ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $72.80 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 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

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

They name their leaders35 people are listed in the latest report.

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

Money made simple

95.26%of revenue went to mission work72.8% of expenses · Program services

9.56%of revenue went to fundraising7.3% of expenses

$130.90spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

26.08%of revenue went to management and office costs19.9% of expenses

$1.19in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

90.9%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 $5,287,674 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $232,522 for KATHRYN FIRMIN-SELLERS (INTERIM PRESIDENT /CEO (AS OF 7/24)). 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 2024

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$17,113,009

Mission workProgram services$16,302,01795.26% of revenue72.8% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$4,463,04326.08% of revenue19.9% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$1,635,6239.56% of revenue7.3% of expenses

Total expenses$22,400,683130.90% 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

2024CurrentExpense mix: 72.8% mission · 19.9% management · 7.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 130.90% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 84.2% mission · 9.2% management · 6.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.64% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 84.6% mission · 6.7% management · 8.7% fundraisingTotal expenses: 99.60% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 86.0% mission · 6.5% management · 7.5% fundraisingTotal expenses: 85.96% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 87.3% mission · 5.8% management · 6.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 115.56% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 80.3% mission · 9.6% management · 10.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 66.93% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 85.8% mission · 6.9% management · 7.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 118.46% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 84.3% mission · 7.8% management · 7.9% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.43% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$17,113,009

Expenses$22,400,683

Annual shortfall $5,287,674 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)$16,302,017 · 72.8% of expenses

Management and office costs$4,463,043 · 19.9% of expenses

Fundraising$1,635,623 · 7.3% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$17,113,009

Expenses$22,400,683

Assets$26,676,212

Income$17,578,840

Contributions$15,547,527

Mission work (program services)$16,302,017

Fundraising$1,635,623

Grants given$132,355,198

Average grant$80,655

Management and general$4,463,043

Stocks and bonds$12,203,149

Accounting fees$82,878

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

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

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

KATHRYN FIRMIN-SELLERSINTERIM PRESIDENT /CEO (AS OF 7/24) · 40 hrs/week $232,522Base $200,321 · Other $32,201

LAURA YATES CLARKPRESIDENT/CEO (THRU 6/24) · 40 hrs/week $230,479Base $213,116 · Other $17,363

CLINT HILLCHIEF DEVELOP. OFFICER (THRU 3/25) · 40 hrs/week $197,211Base $177,651 · Other $19,560

KENDRA GREENCHIEF ADMIN. OFFICER (AS OF 7/24) · 40 hrs/week $136,737Base $130,597 · Other $6,140

JAMESE IVYCHIEF IMPACT OFFICER (AS OF 7/24) · 40 hrs/week $123,300Base $119,422 · Other $3,878

LEANNE SKIPPERINT. CHIEF DEV. OFFICER (AS OF 3/25) · 40 hrs/week $120,567Base $101,805 · Other $18,762

OSHAUNA HUNTERDIRECTOR OF HOUSING SOLUTIONS · 40 hrs/week $110,098Base $105,507 · Other $4,591

ROBERT WILKINSONDIRECTOR OF FINANCE (THRU 8/2024) · 40 hrs/week $103,989Base $100,841 · Other $3,148

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 (35)

KATHRYN FIRMIN-SELLERSINTERIM PRESIDENT /CEO (AS OF 7/24)

LAURA YATES CLARKPRESIDENT/CEO (THRU 6/24)

CLINT HILLCHIEF DEVELOP. OFFICER (THRU 3/25)

KENDRA GREENCHIEF ADMIN. OFFICER (AS OF 7/24)

JAMESE IVYCHIEF IMPACT OFFICER (AS OF 7/24)

LEANNE SKIPPERINT. CHIEF DEV. OFFICER (AS OF 3/25)

OSHAUNA HUNTERDIRECTOR OF HOUSING SOLUTIONS

ROBERT WILKINSONDIRECTOR OF FINANCE (THRU 8/2024)

MITCH GIBSONBOARD DIRECTOR

MARCEL SOLOMONVOLUNTEER ADVISORY REP

MICHAEL BRYANTBOARD DIRECTOR

MICHAEL MARTINOBOARD DIRECTOR

MICHAEL J OLEARYBOARD DIRECTOR

MICHELE JULIANAASCEND AGENCY REP

WILL PITTSBOARD DIRECTOR

RAJ NATARAJANPAST BOARD CHAIR

RHETT BROWNUNION COUNTY CHAIR

RON MESSENGERVICE CHAIR

SIL GANZOPARTNER AGENCY REP

TODD PEARCEBOARD DIRECTOR

AVALEEN CRAWFORD WILLIAMSFINANCE VICE CHAIR

LULA JACKSONANSON COUNTY CHAIR

LORETTA AYERSBOARD DIRECTOR

KEITH GIDDENSBOARD DIRECTOR

JOHN FAGGBOARD DIRECTOR

JOE WALLFINANCE CHAIR

HENDRICK ELLISCAMPAIGN VICE CHAIR

HEATHER TAMOLBOARD DIRECTOR

HEATHER KESNERBOARD DIRECTOR

HANK ALSTONCABARRUS COUNTY CHAIR

DENNIS WILLIAMSBOARD DIRECTOR

CATHY CAMPBELLCAMPAIGN CHAIR

BRIAN MIDDLETONCOMMUNITY IMPACT CHAIR

BILL CURRENSBOARD CHAIR

BEAU FISHERBOARD DIRECTOR

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1958
Location: 601 E 5TH ST STE 350, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202-3060
County: Mecklenburg
In care of: KATHRYN FIRMIN-SELLERS
Primary officer: KATHRYN FIRMIN-SELLERS, PRESIDENT AND CEO

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(704) 372-7170

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP
NTEE classification: Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations (T700)
Grant-giving organization: Yes