United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley

What United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley does

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1937, headquartered in Salem, Oregon, and serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. The organization operates as a community convener and philanthropic intermediary, mobilizing individual donors, workplace giving campaigns, planned giving via its Legacy Society, donor-advised funds, and government pass-through funding (including its role as the local board for the federal Emergency Food & Shelter Program). Its revenue model is donation- and grant-driven rather than product-driven: individuals contribute through the website, employers run payroll-deduction workplace campaigns, and selected federal funds (e.g., $179,284 EFSP Phase 41 for Marion and Polk counties) are redistributed to qualifying nonprofits.

The organization delivers a portfolio of direct-service programs and grantmaking rather than technology products. Direct programs include SafeSleep United, a low-barrier 50-bed overnight women's shelter delivering 7,822 bed nights in 2024; Cottages United, an affordable senior housing initiative with 10 cottages renting at $500/month (Phase 1 complete, scaling to 25 units); the Enrichment Academy afterschool program across six middle schools and two high schools funded via the Federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant; ASPIRE college and career mentorship; the Awesome 3000 youth fun-run (2,300 participants in 2025); and the Community Resource Center, which distributes Good360-donated in-kind goods. Grantmaking flows through the Community Investment Program (in partnership with Willamette University MBA students since 2019), the Bus Pass Program (26 nonprofit distribution partners working with Cherriots Public Transit), and long-term Santiam Canyon wildfire recovery (fiscal sponsor for a 110+ partner recovery group).

The technology footprint is minimal: no proprietary platform, no API, no AI/ML capabilities, with volunteer recruitment handled through the third-party Galaxy Digital platform. Governance is via a 100% volunteer board with cross-sector representation (county commissioners, banking, healthcare, legal, education, real estate). The organization is a member of the United Way Worldwide network but operates autonomously with local decision-making authority, and is affiliated with subsidiaries including the United Community Foundation and the Santiam Long Term Recovery Group.

Name

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley

Legal name

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley

Website

https://unitedwaymwv.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1937, mobilizing donations and volunteer power to fund direct-service programs, grantmaking, and emergency relief across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties in Oregon.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Human Services Nonprofit / Community Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), MHPSS & Trauma-Informed Support for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAJ)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Emergency shelter services
• Affordable senior housing
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Disaster recovery coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations & Direct Giving: Individual donors contribute through the organization's website (unitedwaymwv.org/give), with options for one-time and recurring gifts. Donors can also support specific programs such as SafeSleep United, Cottages United, and the Community Resource Center directly.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: The organization runs annual workplace campaigns in partnership with employers across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. Employees make payroll-deducted contributions, with options to designate gifts to specific partner agencies or the United Way general fund.
3. Planned Giving & Legacy Society: The organization accepts planned gifts including bequests, stock donations, retirement assets, insurance, and real property through its Legacy Society program, offering tax advantages to donors.
4. Donor-Advised Funds: Donors can establish charitable investment accounts (Donor-Advised Funds) that generate tax deductions at the time of contribution, with the donor recommending grant distributions to nonprofits over time.
5. Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Federal Funding: United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley serves as the local board for the national Emergency Food & Shelter Program, administering federal Phase 41 funds of $179,284 for Marion and Polk counties to qualifying nonprofits for emergency food, shelter, rent, mortgage, and utility assistance.
6. Wildfire Relief & Recovery Funds: Following the Beachie Creek and Lionshead wildfires (September 2020), the organization raised and distributed over $1 million in long-term recovery funds for the Santiam Canyon, serving as fiscal sponsor for the Santiam Long-Term Recovery Group.
7. Community Investment Grants (PICI): Partnership with Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management to facilitate grant programs for nonprofits in animal welfare, natural resource conservation, and food programs in Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. Funded through donor-designated and organizational philanthropic resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that mobilizes charitable donations, grants, and volunteer labor to fund and deliver direct-service programs across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties in Oregon. Its portfolio spans emergency shelter (SafeSleep United), affordable senior housing (Cottages United), youth enrichment (Enrichment Academy, ASPIRE mentoring, Awesome 3000 fun run), in-kind goods distribution (Community Resource Center via Good360), emergency food/shelter federal fund administration (EFSP), disaster recovery (Santiam Long-Term Recovery), workplace giving campaigns, planned/legacy giving, and grant-making to local nonprofits.

Product overview

United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley operates as a nonprofit community services organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected community programs serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties in Oregon. Core programs include the Community Resource Network and United Community Foundation for resource distribution; housing initiatives like Cottages United and SafeSleep United (women's shelter); education programs including Enrichment Academy and ASPIRE mentorship; emergency services such as the Emergency Food & Shelter Program and Bus Pass Program; recovery efforts through Santiam Long Term Recovery; and fundraising events like Awesome 3000. The organization also provides community facilities through the Community Board Room and offers Planned Giving and Workplace Campaign options for donors. Programs are delivered through partnerships with local nonprofits, government agencies, schools, and volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SafeSleep United Low-barrier overnight shelter for women experiencing homelessness, offering up to 50 beds nightly from 5:45 pm to 7:15 am. Provided 7,822 bed nights and 11,876 meals to 216 unduplicated individuals in 2024.
• Cottages United Affordable housing program providing small cottages for seniors at $500/month rent, located near Swegle Elementary in Salem. Phase 1 included 10 cottages with plans for 25 cottages total across four lots.
• Enrichment Academy After-school enrichment program operating in 6 middle schools and 2 high schools, funded by the Federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant and aligned with local school improvement plans.
• ASPIRE College and career mentoring program placing trained mentors in high schools to help students with post-high school planning and navigation.
• Awesome 3000 Annual youth fun-run fundraiser (since 1983) for Pre-K through High School participants, generating grants through the Salem-Keizer School Fund. The 2025 event brought nearly 2,300 youth participants and over $135,000 has been distributed to school grants since 2023.
• Santiam Long Term Recovery Long-term recovery program supporting survivors of the Beachie Creek and Lionshead Wildfires since September 2020, with over 110 community partners. United Way has raised over $1 million for recovery efforts and serves as fiscal sponsor for the Santiam Long-Term Recovery Group.
• Community Resource Center In-kind goods distribution center at 1100 Front St NE in Salem, distributing food, toiletries, household items, and furniture obtained through the Good360 partnership to local nonprofits serving individuals in need across the three-county service area.
• Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Local board administration for the national Emergency Food & Shelter Program, distributing federal funds for food, lodging, rent, mortgage, utility assistance, and equipment to qualifying nonprofits and government agencies in Marion and Polk counties. Phase 41 allocation was $179,284.
• Community Investment Program (PICI) Grant program partnering with Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management to distribute funds to nonprofits in animal welfare, natural resource conservation, and food programs across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. Partnership established in 2019.
• Bus Pass Program Partnership with Cherriots Public Transit providing free one-day bus passes to 26 qualified nonprofit organizations across Salem-Keizer for distribution to clients needing transportation to vital services.
• Community Resource Network Resource navigation network connecting community members with services and supports across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties.
• United Community Foundation Community foundation supporting investment and grant programs in the Marion, Polk, and Yamhill county region.
• Community Board Room EarthWISE-certified meeting room facility available to local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, accommodating groups up to 40 persons, available 9am-4pm Monday through Thursday with a 2-week minimum advance reservation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7,822 bed nights and 11,876 meals provided; 216 unduplicated women sheltered at SafeSleep United in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Santiam Service Integration TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to support the Santiam Long-Term Recovery Group following the Beachie Creek and Lionshead wildfires (September 2020). United Way serves as fiscal sponsor, and the Santiam Service Integration Team assists in meeting survivor family needs. The LTRG is an organized effort of over 110 community partners including volunteers, social service providers, county, city, and federal teams.
• Willamette University — Atkinson Graduate School of ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership since 2019: MBA students from Willamette University's Atkinson Graduate School of Management research grant applicants, present funding recommendations, and track the progress of grantees. This facilitates the Philanthropic Investment for Community Impact (PICI) grant program for nonprofits in animal welfare, natural resource conservation, and food programs in Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties.
• United Way Worldwide (EFSP National Board)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley serves as the local board (Local Board) for the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP), established March 24, 1983, through the 'Jobs Stimulus Bill' (Public Law 98-8). The National Board is chaired by FEMA and includes representatives from multiple nonprofits including United Way Worldwide. This partnership enables federal funding distribution to Marion and Polk county nonprofits.
• Cherriots Public TransitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through the Bus Pass Program: Cherriots provides one-day bus passes at no cost to United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, which distributes them to qualifying nonprofit organizations for clients needing transportation to vital services (health appointments, social services, employment, school) in the Salem-Keizer Transit District service area.
• Good360coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGood360 is a charity goods organization that supplies excess inventory (food, toiletries, household goods, furniture) to the United Way Community Resource Center. The Community Resource Center at 1100 Front St NE in Salem distributes these in-kind goods to local nonprofits serving individuals in need across the three-county service area.
• Salem-Keizer School FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProceeds from the Awesome 3000 youth fun-run are directed to the Salem-Keizer School Fund, which distributes grants to Salem-Keizer School District faculty and instructors. Since 2023, over $135,000 has been distributed through this partnership, benefiting students, teachers, and programs across the district.
• Community Sponsors (Awesome 3000)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Awesome 3000 program is supported by 31 community sponsors including Capitol Subaru (Presenting Sponsor), Better Together Supports (Unified Tent Sponsor), Oregon Oncology Specialists (Unified Run Sponsor), Willamette Health Council (Pre-K Run Sponsor), Maps Credit Union (Activity Village Sponsor), Mountain West, Ferry Insurance, Garrett Hermann, WFMC Health, Capital Community Media, Childhood Health, Salem Clinic Medical Foundation, Salem Electric, Willamette Valley Bank, A.C. Gilbert, George Fox University, Les Schwab, Cafe Yumm!, Salem Health, Marion-Berries Baseball, Highway Specialties, Empower ATA, Aldrich, Urban Air, and Roths Fresh Market. Plus in-kind sponsors: Sodexo, Wilco Farm Store, Copy Cats NW.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella organization for the United Way federated network. United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley is an independently governed affiliate, making the parent a direct structural peer and brand counterpart.
• The Salvation Army Cascade Division: Regional Salvation Army operating emergency shelter, food, and utility assistance across Oregon. Overlaps with UW MWV's EFSP, SafeSleep United, and Community Resource Center programs.
• American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter: Regional Red Cross providing disaster relief and emergency services across Oregon. Comparable disaster-response capability, especially relevant to UW MWV's Santiam wildfire recovery experience.

Direct peers

• United Way of King County: Large regional United Way serving the Seattle metro. Operates the same federated-giving, direct-service, and grantmaking model across multiple counties, making it the closest comparable peer in the Pacific Northwest.
• United Way of the Bay Area: Regional United Way covering the San Francisco Bay Area with similar workplace-giving, grantmaking, and direct-service programs. Closely comparable mission, structure, and program mix.
• United Way of New York City: Long-running regional United Way chapter combining workplace campaigns, grantmaking, and direct-service programs. Provides a benchmark for scaled-up programming and donor diversification.
• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Large regional United Way with an explicit focus on housing, homelessness, and disaster recovery — overlapping directly with UW MWV's Cottages United, SafeSleep United, and Santiam Canyon work.
• Salem Area Habitat for Humanity: Local Habitat affiliate operating in the Mid-Willamette Valley on affordable housing construction. Comparable volunteer-driven, donor-funded housing model in the same service geography.

Regional players

• The Oregon Community Foundation: Oregon's largest community foundation, distributing philanthropic capital across the state. Comparable as a state-level grantmaker and convener, though broader in geographic scope than UW MWV's three-county focus.
• Marion County Housing Authority: Public housing authority serving Marion County, including partners in UW MWV's Bus Pass Program. Comparable affordable-housing operator in the same service geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnitedWayMWV
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWayMWV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-the-mid-willamette-valley
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwaymwv

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 the Mid-Willamette Valley