United Way of Northwest Arkansas

What United Way of Northwest Arkansas does

United Way of Northwest Arkansas is an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, and founded in 1931. It is connected to the United Way Worldwide network of more than 1,400 local United Ways but operates with its own board of directors. The organization mobilizes community resources across Benton, Madison, and Washington counties through workplace giving campaigns with over 130 corporate partners, Community Investment Grants to roughly 30 local agencies in three focus areas (Early Learning, Quality Out-of-School Time, and Self-Sufficiency), and direct service programs including Arkansas 211 information and referral, SingleCare prescription savings, Black Hills Cares gas bill assistance, and MyFreeTaxes.

The organization runs on a 17-person operational team and uses a relatively light technology footprint centered on the Arkansas 211 helpline and website, online donation processing, and standard productivity tools. It also administers the federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program locally for Benton, Carroll, and Washington counties, and operates annual fundraising and volunteer events such as Live United Day (placing approximately 260–300 corporate volunteers at nonprofit project sites) and a benefit golf tournament at Springdale Country Club. Recent activity includes a CEO transition to Renee Craft, a new Senior Director of Community Impact and Engagement, two open staff positions, and announced additions including a 2026 newsletter and a forthcoming program. Effective May 1, 2025, Arkansas 211 call center operations were restricted to the three core counties while statewide website access was preserved.

United Way NWA is funded primarily through workplace giving payroll-deduction pledges, individual donations, corporate sponsorships of events, and pass-through federal and utility-program funds. Services to community members are free; the organization does not have a pricing model in the commercial sense. Customer segments are best described as (1) individuals and families in Northwest Arkansas seeking assistance, (2) corporate employers running workplace giving campaigns, and (3) local 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies receiving grant funding. The organization does not disclose annual financials in the available materials.

Name

United Way of Northwest Arkansas

Legal name

United Way of Northwest Arkansas

Website

https://unitedwaynwa.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Northwest Arkansas is an independently governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Springdale, Arkansas, serving Benton, Madison, and Washington counties through workplace giving campaigns with 130+ corporate partners, community investment grants to 30 local agencies, and direct service programs including Arkansas 211, prescription savings, and utility assistance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community resource mobilization
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Nonprofit community services
• Information referral services
• Grant administration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Springdale

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Annual workplace giving campaigns with over 130 corporate partners in Northwest Arkansas. Employees pledge donations through payroll deductions.
2. Community Investment Grants: Two-year grants provided to 30 agencies through December 2023, funded by workplace giving campaign proceeds distributed to local nonprofits.
3. Emergency Food and Shelter Program: Federal EFSP funds administered for Benton, Carroll, and Washington counties through local review board.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Way of Northwest Arkansas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that mobilizes community resources through workplace giving campaigns with over 130 corporate partners in Northwest Arkansas. It administers two-year Community Investment Grants to approximately 30 local nonprofit agencies focused on Early Learning, Quality Out-of-School Time, and Developing Self-Sufficiency, while also operating direct community services including the Arkansas 211 information and referral helpline, Black Hills Cares gas bill assistance, SingleCare prescription savings, and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Product overview

United Way of Northwest Arkansas is a nonprofit organization that operates as a collection of community service programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization mobilizes community resources through workplace giving campaigns, administers grant programs for local agencies, and provides direct community services including the Arkansas 211 helpline, prescription savings cards through SingleCare, utility assistance through Black Hills Cares, and annual volunteer events like Live United Day. The organization's programs focus on three impact areas: Early Learning, Quality Out-of-School Time, and Developing Self-Sufficiency, serving Benton, Madison, and Washington counties in Northwest Arkansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arkansas 211: A program administered by United Way of Northwest Arkansas that connects individuals and families to essential resources including food, shelter, utility assistance, and other community services through a 24/7 helpline and online resource database.

Products and services

• Arkansas 211

Quantifiable outcome

• 260 volunteers placed at 19 project sites in 2025 Live United Day
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

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

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SingleCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SingleCare provides access to affordable prescription medications. SingleCare negotiates drug prices with major pharmacies (CVS, Walmart, Walgreens) and passes savings on to members. United Way promotes the free prescription savings card to community members seeking health and financial stability.
• Arkansas 211coreOthersArkansas 211 is a key community service operated in partnership with United Way. Provides free, confidential helpline for community resources. Call center capabilities temporarily limited to Benton, Madison, and Washington counties as of May 1, 2025, with website resources available statewide.
• Black Hills EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlack Hills Cares program administered by United Way of NWA, funded through contributions from Black Hills Energy customers, employees, and the Black Hills Energy Foundation. Provides gas bill assistance on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last.
• Live United Day SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsors for annual Live United Day volunteer event: Firstar Bank, Paradies Lagardere, HT, KMT, and ROARK. Sponsors support the volunteer day that places nearly 300 corporate volunteers at local nonprofit project sites.
• Golf Tournament SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors for annual benefit golf tournament: Cargill, Volk, Simmons Bank, Winpak, and Specialty Plant. Tournament held at Springdale Country Club with 8AM and 1PM flight times.
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEFSP established in 1983 under Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Overseen by national board including U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, Jewish Federations of North America, National Council of Churches of Christ in USA, Salvation Army, and United Way Worldwide. United Way NWA serves as local EFSP grant administrator for Benton, Carroll, and Washington counties.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance: Statewide anti-hunger coalition addressing food insecurity - comparable mission overlap (community-level social services), overlapping corporate and foundation donor base in Arkansas, and potential partner or competitor for grant funding.

Others

• SingleCare: Pharmacy benefit/prescription discount partner of United Way NWA - operates the underlying platform United Way white-labels for community members. Adjacent as both a partner and a benchmark for non-donation service revenue models.

Direct peers

• Arkansas Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation operating in all 75 Arkansas counties - directly competes for charitable dollars in NWA and offers donor-advised funds, an alternative giving vehicle that can divert workplace giving dollars away from United Way.
• Heart of Arkansas United Way: United Way affiliate serving Central Arkansas (Little Rock area) - directly comparable mission, workplace giving model, and grant-based community impact programs. Most similar in scope and Arkansas state context.
• United Way of the Ozarks: United Way serving the Springfield, Missouri region - directly comparable regional affiliate operating workplace giving, community grants, and 211-style referral services in an adjacent geography.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater Atlanta: Large, established United Way operating a more sophisticated outcomes-based funding model - serves as the 'north star' for what a scaled-up regional United Way can become through concentrated regional fundraising.
• United Way Worldwide: National umbrella for 1,400+ United Ways - parent-like governance and brand relationship, not a direct competitor, but the network steward whose standards, branding, and donor CRM tooling United Way NWA relies on.

Regional players

• Northwest Arkansas Food Bank: Regional food bank serving the same 9-county NWA area - directly comparable geographic footprint and community-resource mission, and one of the 30 agencies United Way funds. Competes for grocery/food-assistance donor dollars.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/unitedwaynwa
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWayNWA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-northwest-arkansas
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwaynwa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Northwest Arkansas