United Way of the Mid-South
United Way of the Mid-South is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1923 that fights poverty across the AR/MS/TN Mid-South region through Driving The Dream (a 200-agency coordinated care network), Free Tax Prep at 30+ locations, the MemphisCares emergency food fund, and corporate-anchored workplace giving and grant fundraising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1923
- HeadquartersMemphis, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What United Way of the Mid-South does
United Way of the Mid-South is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable foundation established in 1923 and headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, operating as a regional affiliate of United Way Worldwide. The organization fights poverty and promotes economic mobility across the Mid-South region (Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee metro area anchored by Memphis and Shelby County), where the local poverty rate stands at 22.6% against a 12% US average. Its core offerings are organized around three flagship programs: Driving The Dream, a coordinated care network linking nearly 200 independent social service agencies into a single system helping families move from poverty to financial stability (over 20,000 served); Free Tax Prep, which provides IRS-certified volunteer tax preparation at 30+ locations and online for households earning $67,000 or less, returning over $11M in refunds and saving families an estimated $2.2M in preparation fees; and MemphisCares, an emergency food-insecurity fund launched in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and the City of Memphis in response to SNAP benefit suspensions affecting 167,000 Shelby County residents. Supporting engagement programs include Stuff the Bus (school supply drive), Women United, Emerging Leaders (ages 21-40), Youth United Way, and the Tocqueville Society major-donor group.
The organization's revenue model is diversified across individual donations, corporate workplace giving campaigns, foundation grants, and government partnerships. Anchor corporate and institutional funders include FedEx (with a $1M historic corporate gift and large-scale employee volunteer participation), Regions Bank, Wells Fargo, Truist Bank, Hyde Family Foundation, Gates Foundation, Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and the City of Memphis. Distribution is multi-channel: a 24/7 call center, the 211 referral service, 30+ physical Free Tax Prep sites, online self-filing and program portals (uwmidsouth.org, dtd.uwmidsouth.org), workplace giving payroll deduction campaigns (with TruGreen offering a 50-cent-on-the-dollar match), and the Kroger Community Rewards loyalty program (NPO #IW520). The organization is led by President & CEO Tomeka Hart Wigginton, who succeeded Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D. on December 2, 2024, and operates with 51-100 employees and a Charity Navigator four-star rating.
United Way of the Mid-South firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- United Way of the Mid-South
- Legal name
- United Way of the Mid-South
- Website
- https://uwmidsouth.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1923
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- United Way of the Mid-South is a Memphis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1923 that fights poverty across the AR/MS/TN Mid-South region through Driving The Dream (a 200-agency coordinated care network), Free Tax Prep at 30+ locations, the MemphisCares emergency food fund, and corporate-anchored workplace giving and grant fundraising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where United Way of the Mid-South is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Memphis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
United Way of the Mid-South business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Donations: Individual donations, corporate workplace giving campaigns, and annual fundraising drives. Memphis has been recognized as the second most generous major metropolitan area in the nation according to Chronicle of Philanthropy research.
- Corporate and Foundation Grants: Funding from corporate partners such as FedEx, Regions Bank, Wells Fargo, and institutional foundations including Hyde Family Foundation and Gates Foundation. Grants support specific programs like Free Tax Prep and MemphisCares.
- Government Partnerships: Partnerships with City of Memphis and public sector entities for community initiatives like MemphisCares food security fund and SNAP response.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free community services for residents |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Stuff the Bus Sponsorship Levels |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
United Way of the Mid-South product offering
Product offeringCore offering
United Way of the Mid-South is a nonprofit charitable foundation that delivers coordinated social services through its Driving The Dream program, which networks nearly 200 independent agencies into an unduplicated system of care for individuals and families experiencing poverty. It also provides free tax preparation for households earning $67,000 or less at 30+ locations, emergency food assistance through the MemphisCares Fund, school supply drives through Stuff the Bus, and engagement groups including Women United, Emerging Leaders, and Youth United Way. All services are provided free of charge and funded by individual donations, corporate giving campaigns, and foundation grants.
Product overview
United Way of the Mid-South is a nonprofit charitable foundation offering a portfolio of interconnected social impact programs. The core offerings include Driving The Dream (a networked system of care connecting nearly 200 partner agencies to help families achieve economic mobility), Free Tax Prep (free tax preparation services for low-to-moderate income households), and MemphisCares (food insecurity response fund). Additional programs include Stuff the Bus (school supply drives), Youth United Way (teen leadership), Emerging Leaders (young professional volunteers), and Women United (women's engagement group). The organization serves as a convener connecting nonprofits, funders, and public sector partners to address poverty through education, financial stability, and health initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Driving The Dream: An unduplicated network of services helping people move from poverty to financial stability, networking nearly 200 independent agencies into a system of care.
- Free Tax Prep
- Women United
- Emerging Leaders
- Youth United Way
- Tocqueville Society
Products and services
- Driving The Dream An unduplicated, coordinated care network connecting nearly 200 independent agencies to help individuals and families living in poverty achieve financial stability and economic mobility. Serves as a single entry point to multiple social services for residents of Memphis, Shelby County, and the Mid-South region.
- Free Tax Prep Free tax preparation service for households earning $67,000 or less, delivered at 30+ locations across the Mid-South with online self-filing options. IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file returns at no charge, helping families maximize refunds and avoid predatory fees.
- MemphisCares Fund Community emergency fund launched in partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and the City of Memphis to support families experiencing food insecurity, particularly in response to SNAP benefit suspensions. Provides resources to the Mid-South Food Bank and local pantries while directly assisting SNAP recipients.
- Stuff the Bus United Way's signature community-wide school supply drive inviting companies and individuals to donate school supplies to help Mid-South students and teachers start the school year equipped. Corporate sponsorship opportunities available at multiple tier levels.
- Women United Engagement group for women business executives, community leaders, and entrepreneurs to make a difference in the community, with focus on women, children, and families in the Mid-South.
- Emerging Leaders Volunteer engagement group for young professionals ages 21-40 who want to make the community a better place, hosting events and service activities.
- Youth United Way Youth leadership program engaging teenagers in community service and volunteer activities, including initiatives like Shoebox Christmas and College/Career Readiness seminars.
- United Way Agencies Network Network of partner agencies delivering health and human services across the Mid-South, connected through United Way's funding and coordination infrastructure.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 20,000 people served through Driving The Dream program
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use United Way of the Mid-South
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
United Way of the Mid-South technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
United Way of the Mid-South partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Community Foundation of Greater MemphiscoreJoint launch of MemphisCares Fund with United Way and City of Memphis to support families experiencing food insecurity during SNAP benefit suspension. Each organization committed funds to address emergency food needs.
- City of Memphis (Mayor Paul Young)corePartnership through MemphisCares Fund to address food insecurity affecting 167,000 SNAP recipients. City committed funds alongside United Way and Community Foundation.
- FedExcoreEarly supporter of MemphisCares Fund. FedEx has been a long-time major corporate partner, presenting $1 million corporate gift at Day of Caring 2014. Hundreds of FedEx employees volunteer at United Way events.
- State Representative Justin PearsonminorEarly supporter of MemphisCares Fund, providing political support for food security initiatives.
- United Way WorldwidecoreParent organization of United Way of the Mid-South. Angela F. Williams serves as President and CEO of United Way Worldwide - the first Black woman to hold this position in the organization's 135-year history.
- Mid-South Food BankcorePrimary food distribution partner for MemphisCares Fund emergency food assistance. Part of United Way's network addressing food insecurity.
- KrogercoreKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to support United Way through purchases. Kroger donates a portion of purchases when shoppers link their card (NPO #IW520).
- Truist BankcoreJean Morton serves as Truist Memphis market president on United Way board. Truist has more than a dozen Memphis-area branches.
- Driving The Dream Partner Agencies (nearly 200)coreNetwork of nearly 200 independent social service agencies coordinated through Driving The Dream program to provide holistic services for families working toward economic stability.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
United Way of the Mid-South competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- United Way of Greater Atlanta: A larger Sun Belt United Way affiliate serving a comparable high-poverty Southern metro with a similar mix of workplace giving, child and family services, and coordinated-impact investments. Useful upper-tier comp for scaling trajectory.
- Community Foundation of Greater Memphis: The Mid-South's largest community foundation and an explicit MemphisCares co-funder alongside United Way of the Mid-South. Operates overlapping donor-advised funds, grantmaking, and civic-leadership functions in the same geography.
Others
- United Way Worldwide: The parent federation of which United Way of the Mid-South is a local chapter. Sets the brand, national campaign infrastructure, and shared services that the Mid-South affiliate leverages and contributes into.
Regional players
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis: A Mid-South affiliate of a national housing nonprofit addressing one of the economic-mobility pillars United Way targets. Comparable grant-funded, volunteer-driven service model serving the same population around financial stability.
- Memphis Shelby Crime Commission: Another large Memphis-based nonprofit coordinating cross-sector services and convening funders around complex social issues. Comparable board-driven model with corporate and civic leadership engagement.
- Goodwill Industries of Memphis: A Memphis-area workforce-development nonprofit addressing employment and financial-stability goals that align with United Way's economic mobility focus. Comparable beneficiary population, regional funding model, and skill-building service delivery.
Direct peers
- United Way of Greater Nashville: A fellow regional United Way affiliate operating across Tennessee with an analogous portfolio of workplace giving, free tax prep (in partnership), 211 services, and partner agency funding. Same funding model, programmatic structure, and United Way Worldwide umbrella make it the closest functional peer.
- United Way of Central Carolinas: Another mid-sized regional United Way affiliate running similar coordinated-impact networks, free tax preparation (VITA), and corporate campaign infrastructure. Comparable in revenue tier, employee count, and metropolitan service area dynamics.
- Mid-South Food Bank: Primary food-distribution partner inside United Way's Driving The Dream network and the operational arm for MemphisCares emergency food response. Addresses overlapping food-insecurity needs for the same low-income population in the same metro.
- Catholic Charities of West Tennessee: A faith-based social services organization in Memphis providing case management, family support, emergency assistance, and immigration services—directly overlapping with Driving The Dream service categories for the same low-income clients.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
United Way of the Mid-South social profiles
Digital presenceUnited Way of the Mid-South compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
United Way of the Mid-South financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
United Way of the Mid-South leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
United Way of the Mid-South funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
United Way of the Mid-South M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&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-South
What does United Way of the Mid-South do?
United Way of the Mid-South is a nonprofit charitable foundation that delivers coordinated social services through its Driving The Dream program, which networks nearly 200 independent agencies into an unduplicated system of care for individuals and families experiencing poverty. It also provides free tax preparation for households earning $67,000 or less at 30+ locations, emergency food assistance through the MemphisCares Fund, school supply drives through Stuff the Bus, and engagement groups including Women United, Emerging Leaders, and Youth United Way. All services are provided free of charge and funded by individual donations, corporate giving campaigns, and foundation grants.
Is United Way of the Mid-South a public or private company?
United Way of the Mid-South is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was United Way of the Mid-South founded?
United Way of the Mid-South was founded in 1923. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is United Way of the Mid-South based?
United Way of the Mid-South is headquartered in Memphis, United States, in the North America region.
How does United Way of the Mid-South make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Philanthropic Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate and Foundation Grants and government Partnerships.
Who are United Way of the Mid-South's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are United Way of Greater Atlanta and Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. United Way Worldwide is listed as an others. Regional players are Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, Memphis Shelby Crime Commission and Goodwill Industries of Memphis. Direct peers are United Way of Greater Nashville, United Way of Central Carolinas, Mid-South Food Bank and Catholic Charities of West Tennessee.
Does United Way of the Mid-South have an API?
No public API is recorded for United Way of the Mid-South.