United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area

What United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area does

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area (UWLCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1941 (originally as the Community Chest) and headquartered at 75 E. Lyndale Ave. in Helena, Montana. The organization operates as a community backbone agency serving a tri-county area encompassing Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties, convening a network of approximately 30 vetted nonprofit partner agencies, 1,600+ registered volunteers, and 150+ organizations via its Volunteer Helena platform. UWLCA is independently governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under Executive Director Emily McVey and is affiliated with the global United Way Worldwide network (1,800+ organizations, ~$4B raised globally), contributing 1.2% of its operating budget (~$2,500 in FY23) for membership services including training, marketing, and technical assistance; the global network does not directly fund local chapters.

UWLCA's service portfolio spans volunteer infrastructure (Volunteer Helena, launched 2014), direct service programs (Tuesday Showers at St Paul's Church, Neighborhood Pantry, Backpacks for the Homeless launched 2020, Free Tax Clinics returning approximately $10 million to Helena residents over ten years), and homelessness interventions (Helena Coordinated Entry System and Front Door Network, the FUSE national model, and the 2024 United for Housing Capital Campaign to fund Permanent Supportive Housing). The organization's technology stack consists of standard nonprofit infrastructure including a DonorPerfect donor management system for online giving, website/content management, and integration with the Montana 211 statewide information and referral service. No proprietary software, mobile application, or AI/ML capability is disclosed.

UWLCA's revenue model is diversified across individual donations (monthly or one-time gifts via the online portal, mail, or stocks/securities), corporate workplace giving campaigns with payroll deduction (including the State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign), and Community Impact Grants that function as non-state/federal matches for partner agencies. The organization retains 1-15% of collected donations as an administrative fee to cover processing costs and Community Impact programs, returning 86-99 cents of every dollar to community programs and exceeding Better Business Bureau efficiency guidelines. Engagement and marketing channels include annual community events (SeptemberFest with the Soap Box Derby, Spirit of Service spring clean-up, Community Christmas Sharing), a YouTube channel, the Tri-County COAD Facebook group, the Volunteer Helena platform, and direct outreach through 6 staff members and an 8-member Board of Directors.

Name

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area

Legal name

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area

Website

https://unitedwaylca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1941 in Helena, Montana, serving Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties. It coordinates 30 partner agencies, volunteer programs, and direct services addressing homelessness, food insecurity, and poverty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Disaster Recovery & Emergency Housing Assistance Programs (FSALAKAK)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Volunteer coordination
• Social service coordination
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Nonprofit partner network

Headquarters

HQ city

Helena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly or one-time gifts from individual donors via online portal, cash, or check. The organization retains 1-15% of collected donations as administrative fee to cover processing costs and Community Impact programs.
2. Corporate Workplace Giving: Payroll deduction campaigns through corporate partners and the State Employee Charitable Giving Campaign (SECGC). UWLCA applies on behalf of partner agencies for SECGC participation.
3. Securities and Stocks: Accepts donations of stocks, bonds, and securities through direct arrangement via phone.
4. Community Impact Grants: Grants distributed to partner agencies as non-state or federal matches for other grant opportunities when available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area is a community-impact backbone nonprofit that raises charitable funds and redistributes them to roughly 30 vetted partner agencies, while also operating direct services such as free tax preparation, the Volunteer Helena volunteer-matching platform, the Helena Coordinated Entry System for housing placement, and the Backpacks for the Homeless program. It coordinates volunteer engagement, workplace giving campaigns, and disaster response (Tri-County COAD) across Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties in Montana.

Product overview

United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area is a nonprofit social service organization operating as a community impact hub rather than a single product. The organization offers a portfolio of community programs including Volunteer Helena (a volunteer opportunity platform), Montana 211 (resource connection service), housing programs (Coordinated Entry System, FUSE, United for Housing campaign), direct services (Free Tax Clinics, Backpacks for Homeless, Tuesday Showers), and community events (Septemberfest, Kids Art Project). The organization functions as the backbone agency bringing together nonprofits, government, and businesses to address community challenges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Volunteer Helena A one-stop-shop volunteer opportunity platform connecting volunteers with over 150 organizations, featuring an average of 50 active opportunities and over 1,600 registered potential volunteers; used by Helena-area residents seeking community service engagement.
• Montana 211
• Free Tax Clinics
• Helena Coordinated Entry System and Front Door Network
• FUSE - Frequent Users of Systems Engagement
• United Way Neighborhood Pantry - Backpacks for the Homeless
• HRA: Helena Resource Advocates
• Spirit of Service
• Septemberfest
• Tuesday Showers at St Paul's Church
• Helena Food and Resource Guide
• United for Housing Capital Campaign

Quantifiable outcome

• 86-99 cents of every dollar goes to community programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Angel FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit partner agency providing financial assistance and support services within the UWLCA network of 30 partner organizations serving the tri-county area.
• YWCA HelenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing shelter, support, and advocacy services for women and families in the Helena community.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of HelenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth mentorship organization serving as a UWLCA partner, connecting adult mentors with children in need of positive role models.
• Boy Scouts of America Montana CouncilsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth development organization providing character-building programs as part of the UWLCA partner network.
• Broadwater County Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty social services agency serving Broadwater County as part of the tri-county service area, providing health and human services coordination.
• CASA of Lewis and Clark and Broadwater CountiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourt Appointed Special Advocates program providing volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system.
• Catholic Social Services for MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide Catholic social services organization providing immigration, family, and community support services as a UWLCA partner.
• ExplorationWorks!secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience and technology center providing hands-on educational experiences as a community partner organization.
• Family OutreachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily support services organization providing assistance to families in need within the UWLCA service area.
• Family Promise of Greater HelenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomelessness prevention and housing organization supporting families with children experiencing housing instability.
• Florence Crittenton Home and ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing services for women, children, and families including pregnancy support and adoption services.
• Girl Scouts of Montana and WyomingsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Girl Scouts council providing leadership development programs for girls as a community partner.
• Girls ThrivesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization supporting girls' education and empowerment initiatives.
• Good Samaritan MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShelter and support services organization providing emergency housing assistance as a key shelter referral partner.
• Helena Community GardenssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity gardening organization providing food access and community building through urban agriculture.
• Helena Food SharecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary food bank organization serving Helena with pantry hours at 1280 Boulder Ave, providing food assistance to community members in need.
• Head StartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education program providing services for children and families as an Impact Montana partner.
• The Friendship Center of HelenacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity services organization providing support and resources to Helena area residents.
• Lewis and Clark Literacy CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdult literacy organization providing reading and language education services to community members.
• Lewis and Clark Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty public health department collaborating on Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and health initiatives; co-convenes Helena Resource Advocates.
• Many Rivers Whole HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrated health services organization providing comprehensive wellness and healthcare coordination.
• Montana Joining Community Forces, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans services organization supporting military veterans and their families in Montana.
• Options ClinicsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare clinic providing reproductive health and medical services as a community partner.
• Rocky Mountain Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity action agency providing comprehensive social services and community development programs.
• RSVP (Retired Senior and Volunteer Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior volunteer program connecting retired individuals with community service opportunities.
• Youth Connections CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition addressing youth substance abuse and promoting positive youth development in the community.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal United Way network (1,800+ organizations) providing training, marketing, technical assistance, and networking capabilities. UWLCA contributes 1.2% of budget (~$2,500 in FY23) for these services. Does not provide direct funding to local chapters.
• Helena Resource Advocates (HRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly community meeting network with 120+ participants from nonprofits, businesses, and civic groups sharing updates and coordinating services.
• Lewis and Clark Suicide Prevention CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition coordinating suicide prevention efforts including QPR (Question Persuade Refer) training in the community.
• Montana 211coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide information and referral service connecting Montana residents to non-emergency community resources via 211 phone number and website.
• Tri-County COADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Organizations Active in Disasters coordinating emergency response across Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Parent network of 1,800+ United Way organizations raising ~$4B annually. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization providing training, marketing, and technical assistance to UWLCA and similar local affiliates.
• Salvation Army Helena: National faith-based nonprofit operating a Helena outpost focused on emergency assistance, shelter, and food programs. Comparable as a provider of overlapping social services (homeless services, food assistance) in the same service area.

Emerging players

• Montana Food Bank Network: Statewide food bank network that includes Helena Food Share (a UWLCA partner agency). Comparable as a coordinated network addressing food insecurity with a backbone-agency model similar to UWLCA's community coordination role.
• Habitat for Humanity of Lewis and Clark Area: Local Habitat affiliate addressing affordable housing through home construction and repair in Lewis and Clark County. Directly comparable mission overlap on housing affordability and a partner of UWLCA in addressing Helena's housing crisis.

Direct peers

• United Way of Missoula Area: Direct Montana peer operating a similar community impact model including partner agency coordination, workplace giving, and volunteer programs. Comparable in geographic scope, staff size, and program portfolio to UWLCA.
• Helena Community Foundation: Local Montana community foundation that pools charitable giving and grants to nonprofit partners. Comparable as a community foundation backbone operating in the same tri-county service area with overlapping partner agencies and donor base.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Helena: Youth mentorship nonprofit serving Helena as a UWLCA partner agency. Comparable as a small local nonprofit affiliate of a national organization, raising similar funding from workplace giving and individual donations in the same service area.
• United Way of Yellowstone County: Another Montana-based United Way affiliate serving a regional Montana community. Closely comparable in operating model, revenue streams (workplace giving), programs (volunteer coordination, partner agency grants), and geographic concentration in a single state.
• Family Promise of Greater Helena: Local Family Promise affiliate addressing family homelessness through shelter and prevention programs. A core UWLCA partner agency operating in the same housing assistance space within the tri-county service area.
• YWCA Helena: Local YWCA providing shelter, domestic violence services, and women's support. A UWLCA partner agency that addresses overlapping needs (housing, family services) for vulnerable populations in the same tri-county area.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqZ3WGkMG5eJ_ts4nPd89Tw
• Facebookfacebook.com/tricountycoad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-the-lewis-&-clark-area

Compliance1 record

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 the Lewis & Clark Area