Great Rivers United Way

What Great Rivers United Way does

Great Rivers United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising and community impact organization headquartered in Onalaska, Wisconsin, serving an eight-county region in western Wisconsin (Buffalo, Houston, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties). The organization operates as a local affiliate of United Way Worldwide and has been active since its founding in 1949, maintaining a small staff of 1-10 employees. Its functional role is to intermediate between donors (3,000+ individuals and 200+ corporate partners) and vetted community programs, allocating funds raised through workplace campaigns, online donations, phone pledges, and planned giving to local nonprofits addressing health, financial stability, and education needs.

The organization's product surface is broad and program-oriented rather than technology-based. Core offerings include the 211 resource helpline, the PATCH adolescent health program (Teen Educator workshops delivered in schools and clinical settings), Nourishing Futures (a no-cost prenatal and early-childhood nutrition program), Compass Now (a periodic community needs assessment), Born Learning Trails, Imagination Library, My Free Taxes, HealthConnect, Mental Health Coalition, Community Investment grantmaking, Disaster Response, Learn To Lead, Read to Success, and Prescription Savings. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard donation processing via GiveSmart Fundraise, donor management systems, and the 211 referral platform, with no proprietary technical components described.

Revenue flows entirely through philanthropic contributions: one-time gifts, recurring credit-card pledges, workplace giving campaigns, gifts of stock or mutual funds, and planned/bequest giving. Distribution of services occurs via online channels, phone, the 211 hotline, and direct referrals to vetted community programs. Operational metrics cited include serving someone every 33 seconds, 88% of individuals served increasing disposable income, 1,101 children experiencing child abuse helped, and 6,156 local youth receiving mental health services.

Name

Great Rivers United Way

Legal name

Great Rivers United Way, Inc.

Website

https://greatriversunitedway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Great Rivers United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising organization in western Wisconsin that unites 200+ corporate partners and 3,000 donors with vetted local programs serving an 8-county region through grants, the 211 helpline, and direct community health, education, and financial stability services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Donor management
• Volunteer coordination
• Community resource referral

Headquarters

HQ city

Onalaska

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Great Rivers United Way raises funds from individual donors, corporate partners, and workplace campaigns. These funds are then distributed to local community programs through a community investment process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Great Rivers United Way is a nonprofit fundraising and community impact organization that raises funds from individual donors and corporate partners, then invests those funds in vetted local programs addressing health, financial stability, education, and disaster response. It also operates the 211 resource helpline connecting residents to community services across an 8-county region in western Wisconsin.

Product overview

Great Rivers United Way is a nonprofit organization that serves as a community impact organization rather than a technology company. Its offerings consist of community programs and services including the 211 helpline (a resource connection service), community health programs (Nourishing Futures nutrition program, PATCH adolescent health initiative, HealthConnect, Community Care Program), literacy and education programs (Imagination Library, Born Learning Trails, Read to Success), financial support services (My Free Taxes, Prescription Savings), disaster response, and grantmaking through Community Investment. The organization focuses on uniting corporate partners and donors with local programs to create community impact across an 8-county region in Wisconsin.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PATCH (Providers And Teens Communicating for Health): Teen educator program managed by Great Rivers United Way that promotes open, honest, and medically accurate conversations between adolescents and their health care providers.
• Nourishing Futures

Products and services

• 211 Helpline A free, confidential 24/7 helpline that connects people with local community resources and assistance programs in the Great Rivers region.
• Nourishing Futures A no-cost nutrition program for prenatal individuals and families with children under age five, consisting of 4 to 5 in-person and phone sessions that help families prepare healthy meals. Available to residents of Monroe, Jackson, and Vernon counties.
• Providers And Teens Communicating for Health (PATCH) An adolescent health and wellbeing program partnering with youth to facilitate open, honest conversations between adolescents and healthcare providers through Teen Educator workshops delivered at area schools and universities.
• Compass Now Community Needs Assessment A comprehensive review of community needs in the Great Rivers Region providing data through surveys, focus groups, socio-economic indicators, and community resource inventories to inform regional action plans.
• Born Learning Trails Interactive outdoor learning stations installed in community locations that support early childhood education through physical activity and learning games.
• Imagination Library A program that provides free books to children from birth to age five to foster early literacy and a love of reading.
• My Free Taxes A free tax preparation service to help eligible individuals and families file their taxes at no cost.
• Mental Health Coalition A collaborative initiative addressing mental health resources and support services within the community.
• HealthConnect A program connecting community members to healthcare services and resources.
• Community Investment Funding and support for local nonprofit programs that address community needs in the Great Rivers region through a thorough vetting process.
• Disaster Response Coordinated efforts to assist communities affected by natural disasters and emergencies.
• Learn To Lead A leadership development program to build community capacity and empower local leaders.
• Read to Success A literacy program aimed at helping children develop reading skills and academic success.
• Prescription Savings A program helping community members access affordable prescription medications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of individuals served locally increased disposable income by accessing benefits or reducing household costs
• +2 more outcomes

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.

• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreat Rivers United Way is part of the United Way network, operating under the United Way brand and global community impact model. They benefit from shared resources, best practices, and the global brand recognition of United Way Worldwide.
• Great Rivers 211coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreat Rivers 211 is a United Way partner providing complete referral services for individuals seeking direct assistance. GRUW directs people to 211 when they cannot provide direct monetary support.
• Arcadia High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Bangor High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Black River Falls High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Onalaska High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• La Crosse Health Science AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• La Crosse Polytechnic SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Mayo Clinic Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year - major healthcare provider partner.
• University of Wisconsin La CrosseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Viterbo UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Community Health Worker Core Competency TrainingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.
• Duluth Youth ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPATCH program workshop location for 2025-26 school year.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Heart of Wisconsin United Way: A Wisconsin-based United Way affiliate that, like Great Rivers United Way, operates a regional model with workplace campaigns, a 211 partnership, and community investment in education, health, and financial stability. Most direct regional peer given geographic proximity in Wisconsin.
• Couleecap, Inc. A Community Action Agency serving the same western Wisconsin region as Great Rivers United Way. Comparable as a local nonprofit addressing poverty, housing, and community support needs that GRUW also funds and refers to via 211.
• United Way Fox Cities: Wisconsin-based United Way affiliate serving the Fox Cities region. Operates a similar funnel of corporate campaigns, donor networks, and community investment in health, education, and financial stability initiatives.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse: Local youth development nonprofit in the same service area that GRUW supports. Comparable as a recipient of community investment dollars and a partner in serving youth mental health, education, and family stability outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: National humanitarian organization that, like Great Rivers United Way, runs disaster response programs and coordinates community volunteers and donations. Overlaps significantly in disaster response and community resilience programming.
• United Way Worldwide: Global umbrella organization for the United Way network. Great Rivers United Way operates as a local affiliate under United Way Worldwide's brand and community impact model, relying on its shared infrastructure, including the 211 system and best-practice frameworks.

Direct peers

• La Crosse Community Foundation: A community foundation serving the same western Wisconsin region. Like Great Rivers United Way, it pools charitable donations, distributes grants to local nonprofits, and conducts community needs assessments, making it a direct peer in the local grantmaking ecosystem.
• Greater Twin Cities United Way: A regional United Way affiliate in Minnesota operating a comparable fundraising-and-grantmaking model with community needs assessments, workplace giving, and 211 referral services. Comparable as a peer United Way with a multi-county scope and similar mix of program areas.
• United Way of Dane County: A larger Wisconsin-based United Way affiliate serving the Madison region. Like Great Rivers United Way, it raises funds through workplace campaigns and corporate partners, runs community investment programs, and funds local health, education, and financial stability initiatives.
• United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County: Wisconsin-based United Way affiliate with a similar workplace-giving and community investment model. Directly comparable in mission (health, education, financial stability) and in using community needs assessments to drive grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PATCHLaCrosse
• Instagraminstagram.com/patchlacrosse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Great Rivers United Way