United Way of East TN Highlands

What United Way of East TN Highlands does

United Way of East TN Highlands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 62-6001105) headquartered at 605 W. Walnut Street, Johnson City, Tennessee, operating continuously since 1931 and currently employing 6-7 staff plus a board of directors. It mobilizes community resources across Carter, Johnson, and Washington Counties in Northeast Tennessee — and across six counties during the post-Hurricane Helene disaster recovery footprint — by aggregating donations, workplace payroll-deduction campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and volunteer hours, then channeling them through 50+ vetted nonprofit partners working in education, health, financial stability, and community resiliency. Its programs target ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households and include the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund (utility assistance co-administered with the Salvation Army and Good Samaritan Ministries), Community Investment (a three-year funding cycle), Women United, Strength in Every Seat (corporate team-building), Celebrity Bagging, an annual golf tournament, and a Week of Caring volunteer initiative.

The organization's product surface consists of a small set of digital platforms: an online donation system, the Assistance Dashboard resource directory for individuals seeking services, the regional Volunteer United platform (a shared deployment with United Ways across Northeast Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia launched in December 2019), and Workplace Campaign resources for employers. Core technology is standard nonprofit web infrastructure — there is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML components, and no API integrations described. Disaster coordination runs through six Long-Term Recovery Groups with co-management from East Tennessee Foundation and First Tennessee Development District, plus media amplification via WJHL/Nexstar.

Revenue is sourced entirely from fundraising rather than product sales. Streams include individual donations (one-time, recurring, stock, QCD), workplace giving payroll deduction running January 1 through December 31, event and corporate sponsorships with tiered pricing (e.g., $100 hole sponsor up to $5,000 presenting sponsor), Leadership Givers ($500+) and Tocqueville Society ($10,000+) recognition programs, planned giving and bequests, and 100%-pass-through disaster relief donations with no administrative fee. No audited revenue figure is publicly disclosed in the source material, though pass-through disaster flows have reached roughly $18 million in leveraged recovery funding since Hurricane Helene.

Name

United Way of East TN Highlands

Legal name

United Way of East TN Highlands

Website

https://unitedwayetnh.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of East TN Highlands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Johnson City, Tennessee that mobilizes donations, workplace giving, and volunteers across Carter, Johnson, and Washington Counties, channeling resources to 50+ vetted nonprofit partners addressing education, health, financial stability, and disaster recovery for ALICE households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit services
• Disaster relief coordination
• Volunteer mobilization
• Workplace giving campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnson City

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. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, payroll deduction via workplace campaigns, stock donations, and qualified charitable distributions from retirement accounts.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Corporate workplace campaigns allowing employees to give through payroll deduction. Payroll deduction runs January 1-December 31 annually.
3. Corporate Sponsorships & Events: Sponsorships for events including Golf Tournament, Week of Caring, Volunteer & Donor Appreciation Luncheon, Campaign Kickoff. Event-based fundraising with various sponsorship tiers.
4. Disaster Relief Donations: 100% of disaster relief donations go directly to nonprofits working in relief and recovery. No administrative fees taken from Hurricane Helene relief donations.
5. Planned Giving & Estate Gifts: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, retained life estates, beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance policies.
6. Leadership Giving Programs: Leadership Givers ($500+), Tocqueville Society ($10,000+), with recognition in Legacy Book unless donor wishes to remain anonymous.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

United Way of East TN Highlands is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes charitable giving, volunteerism, and partner funding to address education, health, financial stability, and disaster recovery in Carter, Johnson, and Washington Counties in Northeast Tennessee. It raises funds through workplace giving campaigns, individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants; deploys that money through community investment grants to vetted local nonprofits, the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund for utility assistance, and coordinated disaster relief and Long-Term Recovery Groups; and offers volunteer coordination through the Volunteer United regional platform.

Product overview

United Way of East TN Highlands offers a portfolio of community impact programs and digital platforms rather than a unified product. Core digital offerings include the Assistance Dashboard (resource directory), Volunteer United Platform (volunteer coordination), and Online Donation System. These are complemented by community programs including Disaster Relief, Community Investment (nonprofit funding), Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund (utility assistance), ALICE awareness, Week of Caring, Celebrity Bagging, Golf Tournament, Women United, and Strength in Every Seat team-building events. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Carter, Johnson, and Washington Counties in Northeast Tennessee, mobilizing resources for education, health, financial stability, and community resilience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Investment Program Three-year strategic funding program that invests in vetted local nonprofit partners working in education, health, financial stability, and community resilience, with a focus on ALICE households across Carter, Johnson, and Washington counties.
• Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund Utility bill assistance program underwritten through partnerships with BrightRidge, Atmos Energy, and Jonesborough Water Department, with eligibility screening and payment administration provided by The Salvation Army of Johnson City and Good Samaritan Ministries. Customers can designate donations on monthly utility bills.
• Disaster Relief Program Emergency relief fund and coordinated recovery efforts supporting communities affected by disasters including Hurricane Helene, partnering with Long-Term Recovery Groups across six counties. 100% of disaster relief donations go directly to nonprofits working in relief and recovery with no administrative fees.
• Volunteer United Platform Free regional volunteer coordination platform powered by United Ways across Northeast Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia, that connects individuals with community volunteer opportunities and enables organizations to list volunteer projects.
• Online Donation System Digital donation platform enabling one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, payroll deduction for workplace campaigns, stock donations, planned giving vehicles, and disaster relief donations with automatic tax documentation.
• Workplace Campaign Resources Resources and tools provided to employers for running workplace giving campaigns, including pledge forms, campaign guides, and payroll deduction enrollment options that allow employees to give before taxes.
• Assistance Dashboard Web-based resource directory that connects individuals and families with local nonprofit services, programs, and community assistance across Carter, Johnson, and Washington Counties.
• ALICE Program Awareness and advocacy initiative for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed households who work but struggle to afford basic necessities and often do not qualify for government aid.
• Strength in Every Seat A 60-90 minute corporate team-building experience where participants build rocking chairs for Hurricane Helene survivors while practicing leadership skills, offered as a fee-based corporate event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 nonprofit partners served over 25,000 individuals and families in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 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 major.

• United Ways of Northeast Tennessee and Bristol, VAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019Collaborative regional partnership powering Volunteer United platform. Launched December 2019 as centralized, free platform for volunteers to connect with community needs across the region.
• Jonesborough Water DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2013Water utility partner for Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund since June 2013. Enables customers to designate donations for water/sewer assistance and extends Hand Up Fund reach to Jonesborough area.
• BrightRidgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Long-standing utility partner for Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund. BrightRidge customers can designate monthly amounts on electric bills to support utility assistance for families facing service loss due to insufficient means.
• Atmos EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Utility partner for Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund. Atmos Energy customers can designate monthly amounts on gas bills to support utility assistance for families in need.
• The Salvation Army of Johnson CitycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerScreens prospects for Hand Up Fund eligibility and administers utility assistance payments. Key partner in delivering direct aid to families facing utility service loss.
• Good Samaritan MinistriescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerScreens prospects for Hand Up Fund eligibility as alternative screening partner to Salvation Army. Helps deliver utility assistance to eligible households.
• First Tennessee Development DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to provide operational funding and resources for Long-Term Recovery Groups, enabling counties to hire staff and implement recovery programs.
• WJHL (Nexstar Media)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner hosting Hurricane Helene disaster relief telethon and providing ongoing coverage of recovery efforts and organization activities.
• American Red CrossmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education across 14 counties in Northeast Tennessee including United Way's service area.
• 211 TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide help line partnership connecting individuals and families to clean water, food, shelter, medical care, mental health support, and other essential services during and after disasters.
• United for ALICEmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational initiative partnership providing ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) research data. Tennessee became 21st state to publish ALICE report in 2019.
• United Ways of TennesseecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide organization of 28 United Ways working together for collective action. Leslie Dalton serves as Board Chair for two-year term.
• Volunteer TennesseemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState organization driving volunteer initiatives. United Way is member of Tennessee Serves Network and participates in Governor's Volunteer Stars Awards program.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• VolunteerMatch: A national online volunteer engagement platform. Comparable as an enabling technology in the volunteer coordination space where United Way operates Volunteer United, and represents the type of tech-enabled competitor that could pressure United Way's regional platform.
• Volunteer Tennessee: The state-level commission on volunteerism and community service. A documented partner (Tennessee Serves Network, Governor's Volunteer Stars Awards), and serves as a comparable statewide coordinator of volunteer initiatives and AmeriCorps funding flows.

Broad incumbents

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: A national youth development organization with a Johnson City/Washington County affiliate funded by United Way. Comparable as a federated nonprofit brand competing for workplace giving dollars and youth-focused community investment.
• The Salvation Army: A national faith-based social services and disaster relief organization. It is both a key implementation partner for the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Fund (screening and administering utility assistance) and a competitor for donor dollars across the same client base.
• United Way Worldwide: The national federation overseeing 1,100+ local United Ways. It is the umbrella organization whose brand, infrastructure, and donor relationships the East TN Highlands affiliate depends on, while also setting strategic direction that can expand or constrain local fundraising capacity.
• American Red Cross: A national humanitarian organization providing disaster relief, emergency assistance, and preparedness education. It is already a major strategic partner covering 14 counties in the region, and competes for the same disaster-response donor dollar during events like Hurricane Helene.

Direct peers

• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee: A regional nonprofit partner that United Way funds through its Community Investment cycle. Operates comparable donor campaigns, volunteer programs, and disaster food relief efforts across the same Northeast Tennessee service area.
• East Tennessee Foundation: A regional community foundation serving the same 25-county East Tennessee region. Already a documented collaborator on Hurricane Helene relief, it operates a comparable grantmaking-and-donor-services model and competes for the same corporate and individual philanthropists.
• United Way of Greater Knoxville: A neighboring regional United Way affiliate in East Tennessee serving Knox and surrounding counties. Directly comparable in business model, workplace campaign structure, and ALICE-focused community investment approach, making it the closest benchmark for operating scale and donor behavior.

Emerging players

• Holston Habitat for Humanity: A regional housing nonprofit partner delivering home repair and reconstruction in Carter, Unicoi, and Washington counties post-Hurricane Helene. Comparable in disaster-recovery role and volunteer mobilization model, though narrower mission scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWayETNH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-east-tn-highlands
• Instagraminstagram.com/liveunitedetnh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 East TN Highlands