United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley

What United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley does

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization headquartered in Wheeling, West Virginia, operating as an independent affiliate of the national United Way movement. Founded in 1918 as the Community War Chest and formally established under the United Way banner in 1964, the organization raises and distributes funds across seven counties in West Virginia (Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler) and Ohio (Belmont), serving families and individuals in need through a network of 25 partner agencies and 32 funded programs. Its operations cover four impact pillars: healthy community, youth opportunity, financial stability, and community resiliency, with service delivery channeled through partner agencies rather than direct programs in most cases.

The organization's core products and services are nonprofit fundraising and grantmaking programs rather than technology offerings. Primary revenue programs include the Annual Campaign (the flagship coordinated workplace-giving initiative), the MATCH Madness matching campaign (with Berger and Green), Small Business United: 365 monthly giving program, the Crisis and Disaster Fund, and the 1999-vintage Endowment Fund managed in partnership with the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. Direct service programs include the 211 hotline (free social service referrals), SingleCare prescription discount cards, Lace Up for Kids (back-to-school shoes distribution), and Operation Toy Lift. Fundraising is also driven by six signature events per year: Reverse Raffle, Sandy O'Haver Day of Caring, Celebrity Scoopers, Wheeling Feeling Chili Cookoff, Battle of the Ballroom, and the Expand Energy Clay Shoot.

The business model is donation-driven across five streams: annual campaign donations (including employee payroll deductions), special event proceeds, corporate sponsorships, the leadership giving society for high-tier individual donors, and endowment investment income. There are no priced software products, no API, no proprietary technology stack, and no paid customer segments; the "customers" in a nonprofit context are donors, volunteers, and the 25 funded partner agencies. The organization operates from a single Wheeling office with a small staff (an Executive Director, Associate Director, Director of Community Engagement, Development Coordinator, and Community Impact Grant Writer), governed by a Board of Directors led by President Ryan Rotilio. Marketing and donor acquisition occur through the website (unitedwayuov.org), social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram), email, press coverage in local outlets (WTRF, The Intelligencer, WTOV9), and the signature events themselves.

Name

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley

Legal name

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley

Website

https://unitedwayuov.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is a regional 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Wheeling, WV, that raises and distributes charitable funds across seven counties in West Virginia and Ohio through a network of 25 partner agencies, 32 programs, and signature community fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Fundraising and Human Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food Services (624210), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAL

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGADAE

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGALAC

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Enterprises & Impact Organizations

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit human services
• Charitable giving campaigns
• Social service referrals
• Community impact programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheeling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Campaign Donations: Primary fundraising campaign combining donations from community-minded individuals and businesses, allocated to nonprofit programs through volunteer allocations panels. Supports employee payroll deduction campaigns and corporate partnerships.
2. Special Events and Fundraisers: Revenue from signature events including Reverse Raffle, Celebrity Scoopers, Chili Cookoff, Rock for a Cause, Battle of the Ballroom, Clay Shoots, and Jackpot Jubilee. All proceeds support United Way-funded programs.
3. Endowment Fund: Endowment Fund created in 1999 with Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. Income generated offsets administrative/operational expenses of the agency.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Businesses provide single yearly donations to support United Way special events, campaigns, and programs. Corporate sponsorship program helps keep overhead costs low.
5. Leadership Giving Society: Individual donors giving at exceptional levels through personal philanthropy, representing people of vision whose community involvement creates solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is a regional nonprofit charitable organization that runs coordinated fundraising campaigns and signature events, then allocates the proceeds to a network of 25 partner agencies across seven counties. It also operates the 211 social services referral hotline, runs direct service programs (Lace Up for Kids shoes, Operation Toy Lift, SingleCare prescription discounts), and provides a Community Impact Grant Writer to help local nonprofits secure funding.

Product overview

United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley is a nonprofit charitable organization operating as a single unified giving plan rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization mobilizes communities through its core Annual Campaign fundraising program, supported by specialized giving programs including the Crisis and Disaster Fund, Endowment Fund, MATCH Madness matching campaign, and Small Business United: 365 monthly giving program. Direct service programs include the 211 Hotline connecting residents to social services, the SingleCare prescription discount card, Lace Up for Kids shoes program, and Operation Toy Lift holiday program. The organization funds a network of 25 partner agencies across seven counties. Annual fundraising events include Reverse Raffle, Sandy O'Haver Day of Caring, Celebrity Scoopers, Wheeling Feeling Chili Cookoff, Battle of the Ballroom, and Expand Energy Clay Shoot. No technology product, API, or SaaS offering exists.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Campaign Flagship annual fundraising campaign combining donations from community members and businesses, allocated to 32 programs through volunteer allocations panels.
• Crisis and Disaster Fund Emergency relief fund providing direct assistance to those affected by crises and natural disasters in the Upper Ohio Valley.
• Endowment Fund Long-term investment fund created in 1999 with the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley to offset administrative expenses.
• Lace Up for Kids Back-to-School Shoes Program Program providing free new shoes to school-age children from low-income families in grades Pre-K through 12 across seven counties.
• MATCH Madness Campaign Annual March fundraising campaign where all donations are matched up to $15,000 by partner Berger and Green.
• Operation Toy Lift Holiday toy drive collecting new toys for children in need, conducted with Wheeling Police Department and Belmont County Sheriff's Department.
• Small Business United: 365 Membership program allowing small businesses to make monthly donations over 12 months with recognition benefits.
• 211 Hotline Service Free 24/7 hotline connecting callers to information about critical social services including housing, food banks, utilities, veterans services, and counseling.
• SingleCare Prescription Discount Card Free prescription discount card program helping individuals and families receive medications at discounted prices through participating pharmacies.
• Reverse Raffle Annual board fundraiser featuring casino-style gaming, buffet dinner, entertainment, and raffle with a $5,000 grand prize; $50 general admission tickets available.
• Sandy O'Haver Day of Caring Annual community volunteer day where volunteers complete hands-on service projects at local nonprofits and community spaces.
• Celebrity Scoopers Event where local celebrities scoop ice cream at local shops competing for tips that benefit United Way programs.
• Wheeling Feeling Chili Cookoff Annual chili cookoff at Heritage Port hosted by City of Wheeling benefiting United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley.
• Battle of the Ballroom Ballroom dancing competition pairing local celebrities with professional dance partners, co-hosted with United Way of Jefferson County.
• Expand Energy Clay Shoot Charity clay shoot event raising money for United Way and regional Emergency Management Agencies; sponsorship tiers from $1,500 to $12,000.
• Member Agency Network Funding Grants and program funding distributed to 25 partner nonprofit agencies providing services across Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, and Tyler Counties in West Virginia and Belmont County, Ohio.
• Community Impact Grant Writing Service In-house Community Impact Grant Writer helps local nonprofit agencies identify, navigate, and secure grants to support program funding and other needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 partner agencies funded annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CovestrocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Lace Up for Kids back-to-school shoes program, providing funding to help children in need get new shoes for school.
• EQTcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Lace Up for Kids program and Match Madness campaign, supporting youth and community initiatives.
• Expand EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for annual Charity Clay Shoot event raising money for United Way and regional Emergency Management Agencies.
• Community Foundation for the Ohio ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 1999 to create and manage United Way's Endowment Fund. Income from the fund offsets administrative/operational expenses.
• West Virginia Northern Community CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner in Lace Up for Kids program, hosting shoe distribution events at their Weirton Campus location.
• WTOV9minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal TV station partner for Lace Up for Kids program, providing media coverage and support for community outreach.
• Kirke's Homemade Ice CreamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal ice cream shop hosting Celebrity Scoopers events where local celebrities scoop ice cream for tips benefiting United Way.
• Wheeling Island Hotel Casino RacetrackminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner hosting Reverse Raffle and other signature fundraising events for United Way.
• City of WheelingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost city for annual Chili Cookoff at Heritage Port, with proceeds benefiting United Way.
• ComcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Lace Up for Kids program supporting children from low-income families.
• Cardinal Operating CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for Lace Up for Kids program helping provide shoes to children in need.
• United Way of Jefferson CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner United Way organization collaborating on Battle of the Ballroom fundraising event bringing together both communities.
• 211 (United Way Worldwide)coreTechnology or IntegrationNational 211 referral service connecting callers to critical social services. United Way UOV operates as local 211 hub for West Virginia.
• WesBancominorGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for allocations panel presentations and sponsor of various events including Battle of the Ballroom.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: National humanitarian nonprofit and one of United Way UOV's 25 funded partner agencies. Comparable as a federated fundraising organization with regional chapters and government-contracted service delivery.
• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella organization that sets brand standards, runs the 211 network, and supports local chapters including United Way UOV. Functions as a broader-incumbent peer given its overlap on 211 infrastructure and federated fundraising.
• Catholic Charities West Virginia: Statewide social services nonprofit funded by United Way UOV. Comparable as a faith-based social services and fundraising organization operating in the same West Virginia region, though structurally different.
• United Way of Greater Cincinnati: Mid-sized regional United Way chapter serving the Cincinnati metro area. Operates the same funding allocations model plus 211 hotline, providing a benchmark for what a larger regional chapter can scale into.

Direct peers

• United Way of the Capital Region (PA): Regional Pennsylvania United Way chapter operating with the same annual campaign, partner agency allocations, and 211 infrastructure in a comparable small-to-mid metro area.
• United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania: Larger regional United Way serving the Pittsburgh area, including parts of the Upper Ohio Valley economy. Operates the same annual campaign, partner agency network, and 211 infrastructure, making it a relevant scale benchmark.
• Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley: Houses United Way UOV's endowment fund and serves as a regional community foundation in the same Upper Ohio Valley geography. Provides a directly comparable community-giving and grantmaking platform in the same service area.
• United Way of Central West Virginia: Regional United Way chapter serving the Charleston/Huntington area with the same annual campaign, allocations panel, and partner agency funding model. Provides the most direct structural comparison for a small-state United Way chapter.
• United Way of Jefferson County: Neighboring West Virginia United Way chapter that co-hosts the Battle of the Ballroom fundraiser with United Way UOV. Operates the same federated fundraising model across a comparable small West Virginia county footprint.

Regional players

• Parkersburg Area Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving a nearby West Virginia region with similar grantmaking and donor-advised fund services. Provides a comparable community-giving alternative for donors in the broader Ohio Valley.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedwayuov
• Facebookfacebook.com/United-Way-of-the-Upper-Ohio-Valley-235894256553365
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-the-upper-ohio-valley-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwayuov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Upper Ohio Valley