United Way of South Central Michigan

What United Way of South Central Michigan does

United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 2022 through the merger of United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region with Capital Area United Way. It serves a six-county region in South Central Michigan (Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties) with a portfolio of community-impact programs targeting ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) households, where 41% of working households in the region fall below the financial-stability threshold. UWSCMI operates four physical offices (Battle Creek, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lansing) and coordinates 94 local partner agencies running 124 programs across the region.

The organization's core products and services include: the 2-1-1 information and referral helpline (75,000+ calls in 2025); the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which served 5,150 households and secured nearly $7.5M in refunds during the 2025 tax season; the Program Assistance Center (PAC), a statewide utility-assistance program that delivered $4.1M in direct aid in 2023-24; the Kalamazoo and Calhoun County Continuums of Care addressing homelessness; the Capital Area Disaster Response Consortium (CADRC); the Capital Area College Access Network (CapCAN); JobSTAR workforce-support network; the Capital Area Child Care Coalition; the Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG); and the 25-Year Employees' Fund for legacy Kellogg/Kellanova workers. The underlying technology is minimal — UWSCMI does not develop software products; service delivery relies on partner-agency coordination, the 211 helpline (operated by Gryphon Place and Central Michigan 211), and standard website/social-media infrastructure.

UWSCMI's revenue model is non-commercial: it raises and distributes charitable funds through individual donations, workplace giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships (Consumers Energy, WK Kellogg Co, Post Consumer Brands, McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation), and government/foundation grants (MEAP, HUD, FEMA, MiLEAP/ECIC, State of Michigan). The organization reports generating $3.28 in community impact for every $1 donated, totaling over $23.6M deployed to local programs in 2023-24. Services to end beneficiaries are free; there is no pricing model. UWSCMI holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating and is a member of United Way Worldwide.

Name

United Way of South Central Michigan

Legal name

United Way of South Central Michigan

Website

https://unitedforscmi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of South Central Michigan is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) regional convener serving six counties in South Central Michigan, coordinating 94 partner agencies on 124 programs including 211 referral, free tax prep, utility assistance, disaster response, homelessness services, and workforce support for ALICE households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Emergency Response & Search-and-Rescue (SAR) (BPAGAAAA)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Disaster relief services
• Utility assistance programs
• Free tax preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Battle Creek

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Annual Campaign: UWSCMI raises funds through annual fundraising campaigns, individual donations, and workplace giving programs. In 2023-24, the organization generated $3.28 for every $1 donated, resulting in over $23.6 million going to local programs across its six-county service area.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: UWSCMI receives grant funding from government programs (Michigan Energy Assistance Program/MEAP, HUD, FEMA/Emergency Food and Shelter Program, State of Michigan via MiLEAP/ECIC) and private foundations. MEAP funding alone allowed PAC to provide $4,096,171 in direct assistance during 2023-24.
3. Corporate and Employer Partnerships: UWSCMI partners with employers for workplace campaigns, corporate sponsorships (e.g., WK Kellogg Co, Post Consumer Brands cereal sale, McLaren Greater Lansing Foundation grant, Consumers Energy $5 million gift), and cause marketing programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises charitable funds and distributes them through a network of 94 local partner agencies operating 124 programs across a six-county region in South Central Michigan. It directly delivers social services including the 2-1-1 information and referral helpline, VITA free tax preparation, the Program Assistance Center (utility bill assistance), disaster relief funding, micro-enterprise grants, and community convening initiatives such as Continuum of Care programs, JobSTAR, CapCAN, and disaster response consortiums.

Product overview

United Way of South Central Michigan operates as a nonprofit social services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing community needs across a six-county region. The organization provides direct services including the 2-1-1 information referral line, utility assistance through the Program Assistance Center, free tax preparation via VITA, and disaster relief funding. It also manages homeless services through Continuum of Care programs in Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties, workforce support through JobSTAR and ALICE at Work, educational access via CapCAN, child care systems through the CACCC, and small business support through KMEG grants. The organization operates local sites in Albion-Homer, Battle Creek/Kalamazoo, Capital Area, and Jackson County, and maintains initiatives like the Equity Challenge and Disaster Response Consortiums. Services are delivered through partnerships with local agencies, government funding, and corporate sponsors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2-1-1 Information and Referral Service A free, 24/7 information and referral service connecting residents to health and human services agencies for disaster, food, health care, mental health, insurance, housing, utility payment, veteran services, and childcare assistance. Operated by Gryphon Place (Battle Creek/Kalamazoo counties) and Central Michigan 211 (Jackson, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham counties).
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free tax preparation service using IRS-certified volunteer preparers to help individuals and families with household incomes at or below $69,000 claim credits including the Earned Income Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Home Heating Credit. Offered February through April in Kalamazoo, Clinton, Eaton, Ingham, and Shiawassee counties via in-person, virtual Scan-and-Go, facilitated self-assistance, and mobile unit modalities.
• Program Assistance Center (PAC) Statewide utility assistance program helping households statewide who fall behind on energy bills, providing direct assistance and self-sufficiency services through Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) funding with additional support from Consumers Energy and DTE Energy.
• Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care (CoC) Program overseen by UWSCMI coordinating homeless services, funding, and community partnerships in Kalamazoo County, including the HUD-funded RentAble one-time financial aid program and community consultants with lived homelessness experience.
• Calhoun County Continuum of Care Partnership of 12 local organizations addressing homelessness across Calhoun County, with UWSCMI serving as the lead agency.
• Capital Area Disaster Response Consortium (CADRC) Consortium linking nonprofits, government agencies, and businesses to meet social needs quickly during emergencies in the Capital Area, modeled after successful consortiums in Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties.
• JobSTAR Resource network in Jackson County helping employees overcome obstacles to work through Success Coach connections and a 20-member network of nonprofits.
• Capital Area College Access Network (CapCAN) Community collaboration led by UWSCMI helping post-secondary education accessibility for students in Eaton and Ingham counties, particularly low-income, first-generation college students, and students of color.
• Kalamazoo Micro-Enterprise Grants (KMEG) Grant program providing funds to microbusinesses with no more than 10 employees and revenue under $1 million, typically serving BIPOC-owned, women-owned, or Shared Prosperity neighborhood businesses, partnered with the City of Kalamazoo and Foundation For Excellence.
• Disaster Relief Fund Fund proactively supporting response and recovery during natural or human-made crises affecting ALICE households, with grants distributed to partner agencies.
• 25-Year Employees' Fund Charitable fund supporting former Kellogg Company, Kellanova, and WK Kellogg Co employees with 25+ years of service who face hardship in retirement, as well as their surviving spouses or dependents.
• Capital Area Child Care Coalition (CACCC) Coalition co-led with LEAP and Capital Area Michigan Works! strengthening regional child care systems across Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties with 70+ coalition members, funded by the State of Michigan's MiLEAP Department.
• RentAble Program One-time financial aid program helping low-income renters with security deposits and rent increases, managed by UWSCMI and the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care using HUD funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.28 in community impact generated per $1 donated in 2023-24, resulting in over $23.6 million going to local programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LEAP serves as the grant recipient and facilitator for the Capital Area Child Care Coalition (CACCC), co-led alongside Capital Area Michigan Works! and United Way of South Central Michigan. LEAP's president and CEO Bob Trezises highlighted the importance of childcare reliability to workforce and regional prosperity.
• Capital Area Michigan Works! (CAMW!)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CAMW! co-leads the Capital Area Child Care Coalition alongside LEAP and UWSCMI, with CEO Carrie Rosingana emphasizing high-quality early learning as essential to economic sustainability and foundational to every other industry in the region.
• Disability Network of Southwest MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Co-hosted the 21-Day Disability Equity Challenge with UWSCMI in August 2024, which had 530 participants exploring disability from a position of equity and pride.
• WK Kellogg Co and Post Consumer BrandsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024WK Kellogg Co and Post Consumer Brands partner with UWSCMI for annual cereal sales benefiting the organization, including a National Cereal Day sale offering 10,000 boxes of cereal at $2 per box.
• Gryphon PlacecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGryphon Place handles 211 calls for Battle Creek and Kalamazoo counties under a partnership with UWSCMI. In 2025, Gryphon Place took roughly 28,163 calls, including over 14,500 from Kalamazoo County and nearly 13,500 from Calhoun County.
• Central Michigan 211coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCentral Michigan 211 handles 211 calls from Jackson, Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties under partnership with UWSCMI. In 2025, Central Michigan 211 took over 47,000 calls from the region.
• Michigan State University (MSU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMSU's Institutional Diversity and Inclusion office hosts MLK Day celebrations and is listed as a community partner for UWSCMI's MLK Day of Service programming.
• City of KalamazoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Kalamazoo partners with UWSCMI on micro-enterprise grants (KMEG), housing initiatives, and advocacy for affordable housing. COO Laura Lam called UWSCMI a trusted partner making the Kalamazoo area a great place to live.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Feeding America West Michigan: Regional food bank serving West and Central Michigan, including UWSCMI's service area. Comparable as a regional nonprofit addressing food insecurity within UWSCMI's six-county region and a likely partner agency in the 94-program ecosystem.
• Kalamazoo Community Foundation: Local community foundation serving Kalamazoo County, a co-funder of UWSCMI disaster response and KMEG microenterprise grants. Comparable as a regional grantmaker and community convener, though focused on endowed grantmaking rather than direct service programs.
• Capital Region Community Foundation: Community foundation serving the greater Lansing/Capital Area region. Comparable as a regional convener and grantmaker partnering on disaster response and child care initiatives in UWSCMI's Capital Area footprint.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross (Michigan Region): National disaster response organization with active Michigan operations, including response to the May 2024 Kalamazoo tornado. Comparable in disaster relief and emergency preparedness but operates at a national scale.
• United Way Worldwide: Parent network of all U.S. United Way affiliates. Provides brand standards, fundraising tools, and ALICE research. Comparable as the umbrella organization whose brand, programs, and ratings UWSCMI operates under.
• The Salvation Army Great Lakes Division: Regional social services organization providing utility assistance, disaster relief, and emergency social services in Michigan. Overlaps with UWSCMI's PAC, disaster relief fund, and 211 referral services.

Direct peers

• Heart of West Michigan United Way: Neighboring United Way affiliate covering Grand Rapids and surrounding counties. Directly comparable as a regional United Way convener running 211, VITA, ALICE programs, and disaster response partnerships in West Michigan.
• United Way of Northwest Michigan: Regional United Way affiliate serving Northwest Lower Michigan. Directly comparable multi-county United Way structure, fundraising model, and ALICE-focused programmatic approach.
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan: Michigan United Way affiliate serving metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Comparable as a regional United Way running 211, workforce development, equity, and emergency response programs across a multi-county footprint.

Emerging players

• 211 of Northeast Michigan (Aunt Bertha / findhelp): National social services referral platform increasingly used by 211 operators. Comparable as a technology-enabled resource and referral infrastructure that complements or competes with traditional 211 helplines operated by UWSCMI's partners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@unitedforscmi
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedforscmi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-south-central-michigan
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedforscmi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Way of South Central Michigan