United Way of Reno County

What United Way of Reno County does

United Way of Reno County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Hutchinson, Kansas, founded in 1943 and operating as a local affiliate of the national United Way network. It is a community impact organization serving Reno County residents, employing 6 people under CEO Lacey Mills. Its work is organized around four focus areas — Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency — and reaches approximately 25,000 residents annually.

The organization runs direct programs including Reno Connections (case management), the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, a 2-1-1 Resource Site, and access-to-care programs such as Delta Dental Savings and Single Care Prescription. It also functions as a pass-through funder and ecosystem convener: in a recent year it distributed $950,000 in grants to more than 20 local nonprofit partners (including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, Horizons Mental Health, Interfaith Housing, Hutchinson YMCA, and Kansas Legal Services) and managed more than $1 million in federal and state funding annually. It convenes the community through events such as Spark Tank Live.

Its funding model blends individual donations, workplace giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships (ProValue Insurance, Hutchinson Clinic, First National Bank of Hutchinson, Kraft Electric, O2 Box Midwest), and pass-through administration of public grants. The organization has set a public BOLD Goal of reducing ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and poverty households in the county by 5% over five years, and publishes bilingual (English/Spanish) resource guides to broaden accessibility.

Name

United Way of Reno County

Legal name

United Way of Reno County

Website

https://unitedwayofrenocounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of Reno County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Hutchinson, Kansas that mobilizes community resources across Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. It funds 20+ local nonprofit partners, manages $1M+ in federal/state grants, and serves approximately 25,000 residents annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Community impact services
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Social services funding
• Youth development programs
• Financial assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hutchinson

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization raises funds through individual donations, workplace giving campaigns, and online giving platforms like iPledge. Donors contribute to support community programs across four focus areas: Healthy Communities, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency.
2. Federal and State Grant Funding: United Way of Reno County secures and manages over $1 million in federal and state funding annually, which is channeled into local programs that strengthen health, education, and financial stability of residents.
3. Community Impact Investments: The organization distributes grants to local social service agencies ($950,000 in grants this year) and provides flexible, responsive funding through Community Impact Investments to fill urgent gaps or meet emerging community needs.
4. Event-Based Fundraising: Spark Tank Live is a pitch competition event where nonprofit organizations compete for funding, with sponsors providing financial support. The event also generates sponsorship revenue from presenting sponsors, illuminating sponsors, and spark sponsors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Way of Reno County raises charitable donations, manages federal and state funding, and distributes grants to 20+ local nonprofit partners while running direct programs such as Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Reno Connections case management, 2-1-1 resource referrals, Spark Tank Live, Delta Dental Savings, and Single Care Prescription. Services are delivered free to community members across four focus areas: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency.

Product overview

United Way of Reno County operates as a nonprofit community impact organization offering a portfolio of direct programs and partner-funded initiatives across four strategic focus areas: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. The core offerings include Dolly Parton Imagination Library (free books for children ages 0-5), Reno Connections (case management and referrals), 2-1-1 Resource Site (community resource referrals), and Spark Tank Live (nonprofit pitch competition). Direct programs include Single Care Prescription savings and Delta Dental Savings. The organization funds approximately 30+ community partner programs through strategic investments totaling over $1 million annually in federal and state funding, serving 25,000+ local residents annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dolly Parton Imagination Library Free book gifting program delivering age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth to age 5 across Reno County, supporting early literacy development; serves 2,300+ children monthly.
• Reno Connections Comprehensive case management and referral program that helps families navigate barriers and build stability by connecting them with essential community resources.
• 2-1-1 Resource Site Free, confidential resource referral service connecting individuals and families to a wide range of local and regional community resources across Kansas, powered by United Way.
• Spark Tank Live Pitch competition event showcasing innovative nonprofit programs addressing root causes of financial instability, featuring live presentations and funding awards for finalist organizations.
• Community Impact Investments Flexible, responsive funding designed to fill urgent community gaps or meet emerging needs through one-time investments supporting projects aligned with UWRC's four focus areas.
• Delta Dental Savings Dental savings program providing up to $3,000 in basic dental care coverage for $10 per year, supporting overall health through accessible dental services for community members.
• Single Care Prescription Prescription medication savings program helping community members reduce financial strain and access essential healthcare medications at lower costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25,000 local residents impacted in the last year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

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

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters Reno CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne-to-One Youth Mentoring Program serving 67 local youth ages 5-17. United Way funds this program which matches children with caring adult mentors for community-based or school-based mentoring relationships.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of HutchinsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter School and Summer Program serving 750+ youth each year. Provides safe, enriching programs focusing on academic success, character development, healthy lifestyles, and workforce readiness.
• BrightHousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple programs including Victim Advocacy and Emergency Shelter (600+ survivors served), Community Awareness Program, Jean's House transitional housing, and Parenting Time Center for supervised visitation.
• Horizons Mental Health CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild Advocacy Center (675 individuals served), Personal Safety Awareness Program (1,500+ children in 2024), and Prevention, Education & Outreach programs providing Mental Health First Aid, QPR, and CALM training.
• Interfaith Housing & Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeowner Repair & Rehabilitation Program (60+ homes), Kansas IDA Program, LightHouse Program for homeless youth, and Take Control Financial Wellness program serving 25 individuals.
• The Volunteer Center of Reno CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVITA Tax Assistance Program (3,800+ returns prepared, $1 million+ returned), RSVP/Volunteer Action Corps programs, and Friends in Action senior companionship program.
• Circles Reno CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelationship-driven program helping 113 local participants break free from poverty through weekly gatherings, financial literacy, employment readiness, and life skills with volunteer Allies.
• Kansas Legal ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral Legal Services providing critical legal assistance to 52 families in Reno County for civil challenges including domestic violence, child support, housing, and bankruptcy.
• Hospice & HomeCare of Reno CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHospice House (250+ patients and families supported) and Children's Bereavement Program serving 40 children from kindergarten through age 17.
• Hutchinson YMCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple programs including Income-Based Financial Assistance (700+ individuals), Splash drowning prevention (250+ second graders), Saturday Night at the Y (600 middle school students), and Will Power Hour for Parkinson's.
• Girl Scouts of Kansas HeartlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership Experience program engaging 125 girls in Reno County in STEM, entrepreneurship, outdoor exploration, and youth mental health training.
• Kansas Children's Service LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy Families Home Visiting program serving 110 individuals including 55 young children, using the Growing Great Kids curriculum to prevent child abuse and neglect.
• Child Care LinkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship Program helping 29 families afford quality childcare with 30-70% cost coverage for working families pursuing education or facing hardship.
• Early Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInfant & Toddler Program providing early intervention services to 300+ local children from birth to age two with developmental delays or disabilities, at no cost to families.
• Hadley Day Care CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-quality child care for 120+ local families using sliding-scale tuition, the only child care center in Reno County offering this model to serve families below the ALICE threshold.
• USD 308 Child Care CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild Care Center serving 34 children under age five with research-based, hands-on curriculum for kindergarten readiness and workforce exposure for Hutchinson High School students.
• Spark UnitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKitchen Hero Academy program engaging 12 middle school students in garden-to-table cooking skills, addressing summer food insecurity through a free 10-week summer program.
• Rise Up Reno Prevention NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuicide Prevention Coalition working to prevent youth substance use and suicide, aiming to reach 1,700+ youth and adults in 2025 across Reno County.
• Hutchinson Meals on WheelscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome meal delivery program providing nearly 21,000 meals annually to nearly 100 clients, including daily wellness checks for elderly and disabled individuals.
• Cerebral Palsy Research FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWheelchair and Equipment Fund serving 50+ local residents with customized wheelchair systems and assistive technology, one of only four Medicaid-approved seating clinics in Kansas.
• New Beginnings InccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNoel Lodge Day and Night Time Shelters serving individuals experiencing homelessness with meals, showers, laundry, case management, and connections to housing and employment services.
• The Salvation Army of Reno CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Assistance program serving 475 individuals with financial assistance for rent, utilities, and essential needs, with specialized support for veterans and unhoused residents.
• United for ALICEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational research initiative providing data and resources on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households that informs United Way's community impact strategy.
• Dolly Parton Imagination LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree books program for children birth to age 5, delivering 2,300+ age-appropriate books monthly to Reno County children. Affiliated through United Way's national network.
• ProValue InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of Spark Tank Live 2026, providing financial support for the nonprofit pitch competition event.
• Hutchinson ClinicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIlluminating Sponsor of Spark Tank Live 2026.
• First National Bank of HutchinsonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpark Sponsor of Spark Tank Live 2026.
• Kraft ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpark Sponsor of Spark Tank Live 2026.
• O2 Box MidwestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpark Sponsor of Spark Tank Live 2026.
• 2-1-1 Resource SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree, confidential service connecting community members to a wide range of local and regional community resources across Kansas, powered by United Way.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hutchinson Community Foundation: A community foundation serving the same Reno County, Kansas geography, with an overlapping grantmaking and community-development mission. It is the closest local-market peer competing for the same donors, fundable nonprofits, and civic role.
• United Way of Greater Kansas City: Another local United Way affiliate operating the same community-impact model (donor mobilization, workplace campaigns, grantmaking to nonprofit partners, direct programs like 2-1-1) within the same state of Kansas, making it the most direct structural and operational peer.
• Salina Area United Way: Another small Kansas-based United Way affiliate running the same community-impact, workplace-giving, and partner-grantmaking model in a similarly sized Midwestern county, making it a closely comparable operational peer.

Others

• 211 of Greater Kansas (2-1-1 service): The 2-1-1 resource-referral service platform that UWRC itself uses; relevant as an enabling/ecosystem partner that delivers part of UWRC's direct service offering, rather than a competitor.
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (national program): The national early-literacy book-gifting program that UWRC operates locally for 2,300+ Reno County children. It is an enabling partner/affiliated program, not a direct competitor, but its national brand is a key value driver for UWRC's youth programming.

Regional players

• Kansas Health Foundation: A statewide grantmaking foundation focused on health—an area overlapping with UWRC's Healthy Communities pillar. Comparable in that it funds community-level health initiatives in Kansas, but it operates at state scale rather than a single county.
• Wichita Community Foundation: A Kansas-based community foundation operating a similar grantmaking-and-donor-services model in a neighboring metro area (Wichita). It is comparable in mission and structure, though it serves a different geography than Reno County.

Emerging players

• Heartland Community Foundation: A smaller, regionally focused community foundation in the broader Kansas/Heartland region that performs grantmaking and donor services in a similar rural/small-metro context, overlapping partially with UWRC's donor base and community-development function.
• Points of Light (HandsOn Network): A national nonprofit focused on volunteer mobilization, civic engagement, and community service—thematically aligned with UWRC's volunteer and community-led engagement model, and a partial overlap in programming and donor audience.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The national umbrella organization of which United Way of Reno County is an affiliate. It is not a competitor but a broad incumbent that defines brand standards, national partnerships (e.g., United for ALICE, Imagination Library), and the operating playbook UWRC follows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/events/2165313680773802
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-reno-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Reno County