United Way of Greater Lafayette

What United Way of Greater Lafayette does

United Way of Greater Lafayette Inc. (EIN 35-0891621) is an Indiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1923 that mobilizes community resources across Tippecanoe, Montgomery, and Carroll counties. Its mission is to enable all community members to thrive through four program impact areas: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. The organization operates three physical offices (Lafayette HQ at 1114 E State Street; Crawfordsville Montgomery County office at 221 E Main St.; Carroll County office) and delivers programs both directly and through 24+ funded local nonprofit partners.

Core programs include the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program — IRS-certified free tax preparation for households earning $84,000 or less, in operation since 2010 with a record-setting 2026 season returning $4.33M+ to the community — alongside Kindergarten Countdown Camp (free summer school-readiness program), Read to Succeed (volunteer classroom reading program), Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (monthly book delivery for children birth-to-five), First Door (Montgomery County centralized resource navigation), and the Tippecanoe Housing Solutions Coalition. Underlying technology is conventional SaaS: GiveSmart powers online donations and the donor portal; Salesforce Experience Cloud hosts the Community Investment Fund grant application portal; VolunteerHub powers the volunteer engagement site; the Drupal-based website is managed by OneEach Technologies; Google reCAPTCHA protects forms. Microsoft 365 supports internal productivity.

Revenue mechanics are entirely donation-driven: an annual community campaign that hit a $4.5M goal in 2025 (with Jordan Wysong chairing the 2026 campaign); workplace campaigns across 100+ employers with payroll deduction and matching; tiered Vanguard Leadership Giving ($1,000-$10,000+) and Alexis de Tocqueville Society gifts; multi-tier corporate sponsorships led by Caterpillar (Platinum) with Gold sponsors Evonik and River Bend Hospital and multiple Silver/Bronze sponsors; affinity groups (Women United, Emerging Leaders United, Retire United); restricted grants (notably $100K from SK hynix and $60K from Purdue Federal Credit Union); ticketed special events; and recurring monthly program-specific gifts (Imagination Library $10/$25/$50 tiers). Governance is provided by an independent Board of Directors chaired by Jacque Chosnek, with CEO David Bathe retiring June 30, 2026 and Jennifer Million (a 16-year internal veteran who launched VITA in 2010) succeeding as CEO effective July 1, 2026.

Name

United Way of Greater Lafayette

Legal name

United Way of Greater Lafayette Inc.

Website

https://uwlafayette.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Greater Lafayette is an Indiana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes community resources across Tippecanoe, Montgomery, and Carroll counties through fundraising, workplace campaigns, and direct programs including free tax preparation (VITA), kindergarten readiness, early literacy, and resource navigation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit social services
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Volunteer tax assistance
• Community resource navigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lafayette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Annual Community Campaign Donations: Annual fundraising effort combining individual gifts, workplace payroll deduction campaigns, and one-time contributions. The 2025 Annual Campaign met its $4.5 million fundraising goal; 2026 chair is Jordan Wysong.
2. Leadership Giving Tiers (Vanguard Program): Tiered major-donor program with six levels: Pearl ($1,000-$1,499), Topaz ($1,500-$1,999), Sapphire ($2,000-$3,499), Ruby ($3,500-$4,999), Emerald ($5,000-$9,999), and Alexis de Tocqueville Society ($10,000+). Program began in 1987 with a grant from Great Lakes Chemical Corporation and was chaired first by Jim Risk of Kirby Risk Corporation (116 charter members contributing $163,400).
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Multi-level sponsorship program (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) where corporate partners provide financial support above and beyond annual campaign contributions. Sponsors are promoted throughout the year in exchange for support.
4. Restricted Grants: Targeted grant funding from institutions such as Purdue Federal Credit Union ($60,000 grant supporting VITA program in absence of IRS VITA Grant) and SK hynix ($100,000 gift supporting 2025 campaign success).
5. Special Event Ticketing: Ticketed events such as the Women United Social 'Cycle of Care' held July 15 with $40 admission including wine, hors d'oeuvres, and raffle entry. Includes optional Period Product Drive with additional raffle tickets for donations.
6. Recurring Program-Specific Donations: Recurring gifts supporting specific programs (e.g., Dolly Parton's Imagination Library at $10/month = 10 children/year, $25/month = 300 children/year, $50/month = up to 600 children).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Way of Greater Lafayette mobilizes community resources through an annual fundraising campaign, workplace giving programs, and a funded-partner network of 24+ local nonprofit organizations across Tippecanoe, Montgomery, and Carroll counties in Indiana. It also directly delivers cornerstone social-service programs: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) free tax preparation for households earning $84,000 or less, Kindergarten Countdown Camp (K-Camp) school-readiness summer program, Read to Succeed volunteer reading placements, First Door resource navigation in Montgomery County, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library early-childhood literacy mailings.

Product overview

United Way of Greater Lafayette operates as a community-impact platform composed of multiple coordinated programs and engagement channels rather than a single unified product. Its core programs address four impact areas: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. The flagship Financial Security program is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) free tax preparation service, which runs alongside the MyFreeTaxes self-prep tool. Youth Opportunity is served by Kindergarten Countdown Camp (K-Camp), Read to Succeed, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Community Resiliency is anchored by First Door in Montgomery County and the Tippecanoe Housing Solutions Coalition. Engagement is delivered through affinity groups (Women United, Emerging Leaders United, Retire United), the Volunteer Center, and the annual Community Campaign with its Vanguard Leadership Giving Program and Workplace Campaigns. Funding flows through GiveSmart-powered online donations and a Salesforce-based grant application portal for partner agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Women United: Affinity group of women committed to creating opportunities for local families and children; hosts events such as the annual Women United Social.
• Emerging Leaders United
• Retire United
• Read to Succeed
• Kindergarten Countdown Camp (K-Camp)
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
• First Door
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
• The Vanguard (Vanguard Leadership Giving Program)
• Alexis de Tocqueville Society

Products and services

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free IRS-certified tax preparation service for households earning $84,000 or less, operating across multiple sites in Tippecanoe, Montgomery, and surrounding counties. Delivered since 2010 with in-person appointments, drop-off service, virtual submissions, and VITA To-Go mobile events in rural communities; 70 volunteers contributed 3,650+ service hours during the 2026 season to prepare 2,765 federal returns (5,529 including state) and serve approximately 2,750 households.
• Kindergarten Countdown Camp (K-Camp) Free summer school-readiness program for incoming kindergarteners with little or no preschool experience. Operates across multiple school corporations in Tippecanoe County with letter/number recognition, name writing, classroom routine instruction, breakfast/lunch, backpacks, and supplies provided. 250+ students across 20 schools and 3 districts attended in the most recent year, with 185 students showing an average 20.8% increase in literacy assessment scores.
• Read to Succeed Volunteer reading program placing adult community members in K-5 classrooms across Tippecanoe County (Lafayette, West Lafayette, and Tippecanoe school corporations) for one hour per week. Volunteers are matched with teachers to support reading-skill development and confidence-building among students.
• First Door Resource navigation program in Montgomery County serving as a central access point connecting individuals and families to housing support, food assistance, healthcare, legal assistance, financial support, and other essential needs. In-person support available Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM-4:30 PM with multilingual intake (English and Spanish).
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Early childhood literacy program that mails one free, age-appropriate book per month to enrolled children from birth to age five in Montgomery County and Carroll County. Children enrolled at birth amass a personal library of 60 books by age five. Sustained through recurring monthly donor gifts at $10 (supports 10 children/year), $25 (300 children/year), and $50 (up to 600 children) tiers.
• Community Campaign United Way's annual fundraising effort combining individual giving, workplace campaigns, leadership giving (Vanguard Program tiers from Pearl to Alexis de Tocqueville Society), special events, and affinity-group contributions. The 2025 Annual Campaign met a $4.5 million goal and funded 24 local nonprofit partners across the four impact areas.
• Volunteer Center Central hub for matching community members with volunteer opportunities across United Way and partner agencies, accessible via volunteer.uwlafayette.org. Volunteers can search opportunities by program (including Read to Succeed classroom placements) and role, with background checks and scheduling supported through the platform.
• Women United Community of women committed to creating opportunities for local families and children through giving initiatives, hands-on projects, and shared learning. Hosts annual social events such as the 'Cycle of Care' event with featured speakers, raffles, and Period Product Drive.
• Emerging Leaders United Affinity group for young professionals seeking to grow their network, develop leadership skills, and create community impact through United Way engagement.
• Retire United Affinity group engaging retirees and those nearing retirement in volunteer opportunities, social connection, and continued community impact across Greater Lafayette.
• Workplace Campaigns Structured workplace giving programs enabling employees to support United Way through payroll deduction, special events, or team challenges. United Way provides toolkits (campaign brochure, 10 Easy Steps PDF, donor incentives, pledge forms in English and Spanish, posters, videos) and dedicated campaign staff support across 100+ employer organizations.
• Peer Union Counseling Peer counseling support service for union members and their families, including a Graduate Union Counselor Association (GUCA) food pantry accessible by appointment through the United Way Labor Liaison at 765-742-9077 ext 231.
• Poverty Simulation Educational experience simulating the challenges of living in poverty, designed to build community awareness and empathy among participants.
• Need Help? Community Resource Directory Online resource directory listing crisis hotlines (988, Haven, NAMI), emergency rooms, housing/utility/financial assistance providers (LTHC, LUM, Salvation Army, township trustees, legal aid), food pantries, mental health and substance use supports, early childhood resources, medical care, education, and resource coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.33 million total financial benefit returned to local households in 2026 VITA season ($3.64M+ refunds + $687,500 saved in prep fees)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• First Merchants BankcoreOthersJoined the VITA program as a volunteer partner in 2026, providing team members who supported client communication and scheduling efforts throughout the filing season.
• West Lafayette Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintscoreOthersNew volunteer partnership launched in 2026 with congregation volunteers supporting tax preparation operations and helping meet growing demand.
• United Way Montgomery County Funded Partners networkcoreOthersUnited Way in Montgomery County invests in 17+ programs/services including Boys & Girls Club of Montgomery County, Crawfordsville Adult Resource Academy (CARA), Family Crisis Shelter, F.I.S.H Food Pantry, Hand in Hand Creative Learning, New Beginnings Child Care, Rainbow and Rhymes, Trinity Life Ministry, Willson Preschool Academy, Community Chest of Montgomery County, Crawfordsville Area Transportation, Montgomery County Head Start, Montgomery County Free Clinic, Pam's Promise Transitional Housing, Recovery Coalition Inc., Through the Gate, Volunteers for Mental Health, and Youth Service Bureau.
• Carroll County Grant RecipientscoreOthersSix organizations received first-round Carroll County grant funding totaling nearly $40,000: Upper Youth Room ($9,000), Carroll County Community Center ($7,380), LTHC Homeless Services ($5,000), Carroll County Senior & Family Services ($8,100), Heartford House ($5,000), Food Finders Food Bank ($5,000).
• Tippecanoe Housing Solutions Coalition Steering CommitteeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Greater Lafayette convenes this coalition with Homestead Resources, LTHC Homeless Services, City of Lafayette, City of West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Honor Homes, and consultant Marie Beason (Prosperity Indiana). Mission: develop equitable and sustainable solutions for safe, affordable, and dignified housing.
• Everwise Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontgomery County Advisory Board Member Brittany Carr affiliated with Everwise Credit Union, indicating board-level representation and partnership.
• Hoosier Heartland State BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontgomery County Advisory Board Member Adam Nagele affiliated with Hoosier Heartland State Bank, indicating board-level representation and partnership.
• Wabash CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontgomery County Advisory Board Member Anne Bost affiliated with Wabash College, indicating board-level representation and partnership.
• OneEach TechnologiesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology vendor credited as website builder on the homepage footer ('Website by: OneEach Technologies'). Manages the Drupal-based website platform (uwlafayette-prod-d10.oneeach.dev).

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tippecanoe County Community Foundation: Hyperlocal community foundation operating in Tippecanoe County with grantmaking, scholarships, and donor-advised funds. Directly comparable in geographic reach and funded-partner model, but distinct in endowment-driven vs. annual-campaign funding.
• Indiana United Ways: State association representing Indiana's local United Way affiliates. Comparable in advocacy, training, and standards alignment; useful for benchmarking UWGL's statewide policy positioning and campaign best practices.
• United Way of Central Indiana: The largest United Way affiliate in Indiana, serving Indianapolis and surrounding counties. Directly comparable in mission, model (annual campaign, workplace giving, VITA, funded-partner network), and impact-area structure, but at materially larger scale across an urban footprint.
• Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette: Local philanthropic peer in Tippecanoe County focused on grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and community investment. Comparable in geographic footprint and donor base, with overlapping roles in funding local nonprofits and convening regional initiatives.
• United Way of Southwestern Indiana: Indiana-based United Way affiliate serving Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, and Gibson counties. Comparable in operating model (annual campaign, workplace giving, VITA, funded-partner network) and statewide advocacy alignment, but in a different regional market.
• Heart of Indiana United Way: Anderson/Madison County, Indiana United Way affiliate with overlapping program mix (VITA, early childhood, funded partners). Comparable mission and donor structure; another small-to-mid-scale Indiana UW affiliate useful for benchmarking campaign outcomes.

Others

• Lilly Endowment: One of the largest private foundations in the United States, headquartered in Indianapolis and a major Indiana community-development funder. Relevant as a potential funding source or convener for UWGL's regional initiatives rather than a direct competitor.
• Food Finders Food Bank: Regional food bank serving a 16-county area including Tippecanoe; a UWGL funded partner in Carroll County and a key ecosystem actor for the Healthy Community impact area. Useful for understanding distribution partner economics and scale.

Regional players

• Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: Large Indiana nonprofit focused on workforce development, financial security, and community programs. Comparable in Financial Security and Community Resiliency impact areas, but operates through retail/thrift-driven social enterprise rather than annual campaign fundraising.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella organization supporting 1,000+ local United Way affiliates including UWGL. Comparable as the parent brand and operating framework (Alexis de Tocqueville Society, VITA national partnership, workplace campaign standards), but operates as an enabling/federating body rather than a direct local competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uwlafayette
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uwlafayette

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Way of Greater Lafayette