What Tulsa Area United Way does

Tulsa Area United Way (TAUW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1924 that operates as a community-convening philanthropic intermediary across an eight-county service area in northeastern Oklahoma. The organization raises charitable contributions through an annual fundraising drive engaging nearly 800 corporate partners and 23,000+ individual donors, then allocates those funds to 54 nonprofit partner organizations across 160 programs in four impact areas: Healthy Communities, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. Funding allocation is performed through Community Investment Panels composed of 180+ trained community volunteers who evaluate applications and conduct site visits.

TAUW's portfolio includes programmatic offerings (Days of Caring volunteer events, Social Innovations Grants, Community Collaborations, NTech Collaborative pro bono IT support, New Voices Board Internship Program), donor development programs (Tocqueville Society, Women United, NextGen United affinity groups), information services (211 Eastern Oklahoma 24/7 resource hotline covering 37 counties), and data/research assets (U.S. Census Bureau Census Information Center designation and statewide ALICE initiative leadership). The underlying technology stack is standard nonprofit infrastructure — Fluxx for grants management, Constant Contact for email, and a website CMS — with no proprietary AI or platform technology.

Revenue derives primarily from annual workplace giving campaigns and individual donations, supplemented by planned/legacy giving through the TAUW Unite Forever Endowment Fund (established 2024), and amplified by challenge grant matches from The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and The Hille Foundation. In 2025 the organization raised $26.6M and reported $29.7M in direct community impact, expanded its service area from five to eight counties following the closure of United Way of Rogers and Mayes Counties, and launched the statewide United for ALICE Oklahoma initiative.

Name

Tulsa Area United Way

Legal name

Tulsa Area United Way

Website

https://tauw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1924

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tulsa Area United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises charitable funds across northeastern Oklahoma and allocates them to 54 partner nonprofits serving eight counties, while operating the 211 Eastern Oklahoma resource hotline, volunteer programs, and data initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy and Nonprofit Grantmaking Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community philanthropy
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Volunteer coordination services
• Community resource helpline

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Fundraising Campaign: Primary revenue stream through annual fundraising drive. In 2025, raised $26,585,627. Companies and organizations run employee workplace giving campaigns with over 20,000 donors participating.
2. Planned Giving / Legacy Giving: Endowment contributions to TAUW Unite Forever Endowment Fund established during 2024 centennial. Includes charitable remainder trusts, donor-advised funds, and family foundations. FreeWill.com partnership for free will writing.
3. Challenge Grant Matching: Matching challenge grants from foundations including The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation (matches new leadership gifts $600-$9,999), Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies (Tocqueville Step Up Program matching), and The Hille Foundation (Women United Challenge matching).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tulsa Area United Way is a community-based nonprofit that raises charitable funds through annual campaigns, workplace giving, and planned giving, then allocates those funds to vetted nonprofit partners across eight northeastern Oklahoma counties via a volunteer-driven grantmaking process. The organization also operates the 211 Eastern Oklahoma 24/7 resource hotline, signature volunteer programs such as Days of Caring, affinity groups for major donors (Tocqueville Society, Women United, NextGen United), and capacity-building services like the NTech Collaborative pro bono IT program for nonprofits.

Product overview

Tulsa Area United Way operates as a philanthropic organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs, platforms, and events. Core offerings include fundraising drives, volunteer coordination through the Volunteer Portal and Days of Caring events, and grant-making via Community Investments Panels and Social Innovations Grants. The organization manages affinity groups (NextGen United, Women United) and the Tocqueville Society for major donors, while providing 211 Eastern Oklahoma as a 24/7 resource hotline. Technology services include the NTech Collaborative for nonprofit IT support and Giving HQ for workplace campaigns. Events include Live United Awards and Pitch United competitions. All programs are funded through donations and deployed to support local nonprofits across eight counties in northeastern Oklahoma.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 211 Eastern Oklahoma: A free, confidential, 24/7 service connecting people across 37 counties to essential services like housing, food, healthcare, and crisis support.
• Days of Caring
• Community Investments
• Tocqueville Society
• Women United
• NextGen United
• Social Innovations Grants
• NTech Collaborative

Products and services

• Days of Caring
• Community Investment Panels
• Affinity Groups (NextGen United, Women United)
• Tocqueville Society
• 211 Eastern Oklahoma
• Social Innovations Grants
• Community Collaborations
• TAUW Unite Forever Endowment Fund
• Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
• NTech Collaborative Pro Bono IT Program
• Challenge Grants
• Giving HQ Workplace Giving Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised $29.6 million in 2025 fundraising drive for community impact
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 211 Eastern OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 202524/7 confidential helpline service provided by TAUW connecting people across 37 counties to essential services including housing, food, healthcare, utility assistance, mental health resources, and crisis interventions.
• AmplifyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration expanding access to sex education and promotion of healthy relationships. Coordinates collective efforts within community and schools.
• Healthy Minds Policy InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration advancing innovative, data-informed policies and capacity-building approaches in prevention and treatment of mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Housing Solutions (A Way Home for Tulsa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration working to end long-term, chronic homelessness through intensive research and coordinated multi-organizational response from 20+ organizations.
• Hunger Free OklahomaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration reducing food insecurity through improved policies, multi-organizational coordination and programming for SNAP Outreach.
• ImpactTulsaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration ensuring every child reaches full potential through better student outcomes and systems-level change.
• Opp ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration ensuring all Tulsa youth have equitable access to before school, after school, and summer enrichment programs that are dynamic, safe, and engaging.
• Tulsa Higher Ed ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration improving Tulsa-area students' journeys towards degree completion, professional independence, and economic mobility.
• Tulsa Regional STEM AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community Collaboration creating skilled workforce through collaborative programming in science, technology, engineering and math.
• United for ALICE (Oklahoma)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Statewide initiative launching fall 2025 to support working families who struggle to afford basic necessities. TAUW leads the initiative using ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data to inform policy decisions.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024TAUW is a member of United Way Worldwide and is required to complete annual certification requirements for membership. Operates under United Way brand standards and shares best practices with global network.
• NTech CollaborativecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology assistance program supported by TAUW providing consulting, solution procurement, direct IT support, shared resources, and training for nonprofit organizations. Offers website development, hosting, cybersecurity, and advanced IT training.
• Siemer InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership bringing national thought leadership, multi-year grant funding, research, and training to support two-generation programs helping families secure long-term housing stability.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heart of America United Way: Kansas City regional United Way. Highly comparable in scale, multi-county service area, workplace giving model, and community impact programs.
• United Way of Central Oklahoma: Oklahoma's other major regional United Way, serving Oklahoma City metro. Closest direct peer by geography, mission, scale, and United Way Worldwide affiliation.
• United Way of the Plains: Wichita-based regional United Way. Comparable mid-size regional United Way operating in a similar energy-adjacent Midwestern economy.
• Tulsa Community Foundation: Local Tulsa-area grantmaking and community foundation. Competes for donor dollars and corporate philanthropy but operates through endowments and DAFs rather than workplace giving.
• United Way Suncoast: Tampa Bay regional United Way. Comparable scale and traditional workplace giving + community impact model with 211 service.
• United Way for Greater Austin: Austin-area regional United Way. Comparable in operating model and community impact focus; differs by serving a faster-growing, tech-driven economy.
• Mile High United Way: Denver regional United Way. Comparable in operating model, community impact framework, and 211 service delivery across a mid-sized metro area.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater Houston: Significantly larger regional United Way operating in a major metro. Comparable operating model but at materially greater scale.
• United Way Worldwide: Federated membership organization of which TAUW is a member. Provides brand standards, certification, and shared services; not a direct fundraiser but a system-wide incumbent.

Emerging players

• Oklahoma City Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation managing charitable assets and grants. Adjacent competitor for corporate philanthropy and donor-advised fund business in Oklahoma.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TulsaAreaUnitedWay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups?gid=2153361&trk=hb_side_g
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwaytulsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tulsa Area United Way