What Kishwaukee United Way does

Kishwaukee United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization (EIN 36-6158489) headquartered at 2201 N. First Street, Suite 100, DeKalb, Illinois, serving DeKalb County, Illinois. The organization operates as a local affiliate of the United Way Worldwide Network and focuses on improving education, health, and economic mobility for county residents. Its program portfolio includes the 211 community referral hotline, the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) research and advocacy initiative, the annual Day of Caring volunteer event, the KUW Scholarship program for local students, a Kids Digital E-Book educational resource, an advocacy program, and the Empowerment Luncheon and Annual Meeting. Business partnerships, workplace giving campaigns, and an individual volunteer program round out the engagement model.

The organization sustains itself through a donation-based revenue model, generating contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations, with no commercial pricing. Distribution occurs through the Zeffy digital donation platform, workplace payroll-deduction campaigns, direct business partnerships, and a network of partner nonprofit agencies that deliver funded services. Marketing and donor engagement are driven by organic social media (Instagram, Facebook), the organization website, email newsletters, and community events. The organization holds a Four Star Charity Navigator rating and 2026 Candid Gold Status, signaling strong accountability and transparency standards.

The underlying technology stack is non-proprietary: the website is built on Wix, donations are processed through Zeffy, and no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or proprietary platforms are disclosed. The organization employs 1-10 staff, with no reported parent company, subsidiaries, or M&A activity. Operating scope is strictly local to DeKalb County, with no global footprint claim.

Name

Kishwaukee United Way

Legal name

Kishwaukee United Way

Website

https://kishwaukeeunitedway.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kishwaukee United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in DeKalb, Illinois that improves education, health, and economic mobility for DeKalb County residents through donations, the 211 referral service, ALICE research, volunteer programs, scholarships, and business partnerships under the United Way network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health Program Grants Management & Administration (HLAJALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit social services
• Volunteer coordination
• Community resource referral
• Workplace giving campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

DeKalb, IL

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: The organization generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting the United Way's mission to improve education, health, and economic mobility in DeKalb County, Illinois.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kishwaukee United Way operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization serving DeKalb County, Illinois. It runs community programs and services focused on improving education, health, and economic mobility, including the 211 community referral service, ALICE research initiative, Day of Caring volunteer event, college scholarships, and corporate partnership programs. Revenue is generated through charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations, which are distributed to local partner agencies and applied to direct community programs.

Product overview

Kishwaukee United Way operates as a single unified charitable organization offering community services focused on improving education, health, and economic mobility in DeKalb County, Illinois. The organization provides a portfolio of interconnected programs including the 211 referral service, ALICE research initiative, Day of Caring volunteer program, Kids Digital E-Book educational resource, KUW Scholarship, and Business Partnership opportunities. The programs are unified under the mission to provide a better quality of life for the communities served, with engagement pathways through volunteering, advocacy, and financial contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 211 Service A community referral service connecting individuals and families to essential resources, including healthcare, food assistance, housing, and other social services through a dedicated hotline.
• ALICE Program Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) research and awareness program that provides data and advocacy for households earning above the poverty level but below the basic cost of living.
• Day of Caring An annual community volunteer day where individuals and businesses come together to support local nonprofit agencies through various service projects.
• Kids Digital E-Book A digital e-book resource for children, providing educational content accessible online.
• KUW Scholarship College scholarship program supporting local students in DeKalb County pursue higher education.
• Business Partnership Program Corporate partnership opportunities enabling businesses to support community initiatives through workplace campaigns, volunteering, and sponsorship.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities connecting community members with local nonprofits for hands-on service and support.
• Advocate Program Advocacy program enabling community members to support policy changes and raise awareness for community issues.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Partner AgenciescoreOthersNetwork of nonprofit agencies that receive funding and support from Kishwaukee United Way to deliver community services in DeKalb County. Partner agencies can apply for support through designated application processes.
• Business PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses engage with Kishwaukee United Way through workplace giving campaigns, employee volunteer programs, and corporate sponsorships of events like the Empowerment Luncheon.
• United Way Worldwide NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated with United Way's global network providing resources, best practices, and the 211 referral system for community services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The national umbrella organization that provides KUW with branding, the 211 system, ALICE research, and shared infrastructure across roughly 1,000 affiliates.
• United Way of Metro Chicago: A much larger Illinois-based United Way affiliate with a broader service area and more developed corporate partnerships; shares brand, infrastructure, and the 211 referral system with KUW.

Direct peers

• United Way of Rock River Valley: A nearby United Way affiliate serving the Rockford, IL region with comparable community services, workplace campaigns, and 211-style referral programs under the same United Way Worldwide umbrella.
• Fox Valley United Way: An Illinois-based United Way affiliate serving the Aurora/Fox Valley region with comparable programs (ALICE reporting, workplace giving, community grants) and similar scale.
• DeKalb County Community Foundation: A local grantmaking organization that also channels philanthropic dollars into DeKalb County causes, scholarships, and community programs — directly competing for the same donor base and employer partnerships.
• Heart of Illinois United Way: A central-Illinois United Way affiliate of similar scale running workplace campaigns, community grants, and volunteer programs for a comparable mid-size county footprint.
• McHenry County United Way: A suburban-Illinois United Way affiliate of comparable scale running workplace campaigns, ALICE research, and community grants for a similarly sized county.

Regional players

• Community Foundation of Northern Illinois: A regional community foundation operating in northern Illinois with overlapping grantmaking, scholarship, and donor-advised fund programs targeting similar donor segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100092282624501
• Instagraminstagram.com/kishwaukeeuw_
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kishwaukee-united-way

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Kishwaukee United Way