What United Way of Suwannee Valley , Inc. does

United Way of Suwannee Valley, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community impact and fundraising organization headquartered in Lake City, Florida, serving Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee counties in North Florida. Founded in 1968 as the Lake City–Columbia County United Fund, Inc., the organization has evolved through two name changes (1992 and 1994) into its current identity and expanded from a single-county to a four-county footprint. UWSV operates a portfolio of social service programs including the 2-1-1 24/7 information and referral hotline, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program in partnership with UF IFAS Extension, the MISSION UNITED veteran support network, the ReadingPals early literacy initiative, the Homeless Services Network of Suwannee Valley (for which it serves as lead agency and HUD CoC administrator), disaster recovery coordination, financial assistance screening, and the SingleCare prescription discount program. The organization is one of 520 of approximately 1,100 U.S. United Ways that completed the 2024 United Way Worldwide membership requirements and holds the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency.

The organization is staffed by 7 employees and coordinates a network of 16 affiliated health and human service partner agencies that collectively delivered over $8.2 million in community services in 2020–2021. UWSV maintains a 7% administrative expense ratio, ensuring the majority of contributions flow to program delivery. Its technology stack is non-proprietary and limited to standard nonprofit tools, including a WordPress website (unitedwsv.org), Tithe.ly for online donation processing, and Facebook for community engagement. There is no proprietary technology, mobile app, API, or AI/ML capability disclosed.

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. Primary revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and recurring), workplace giving campaigns conducted through payroll deduction (53% of donations), corporate champion partnerships, and tiered leadership donor giving (Bronze $500–$749 through Tocqueville $10,000+). Annual fundraising is centered on a $500,000 campaign goal and event-driven activations such as the Campaign Fundraising Kick-Off Breakfast, Pacesetters Campaign, and the United Way Worldwide network. The organization also serves as the pass-through administrator for HUD Continuum of Care funds directed to the four-county homeless coalition. No products or services carry a price; all contributions are voluntary.

Name

United Way of Suwannee Valley , Inc.

Legal name

United Way of Suwannee Valley, Inc.

Website

https://unitedwaysuwanneevalley.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of Suwannee Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community impact organization serving Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee counties in North Florida. It coordinates 16 partner agencies and runs programs including 2-1-1, VITA tax assistance, MISSION UNITED, ReadingPals, and the Homeless Services Network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Human Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Community fundraising services
• Human services coordination
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Homeless services network
• Volunteer income tax assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Lake City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through direct donations via the organization's website, payroll deductions through workplace campaigns, and event-based fundraising. The Leadership Donors program invites members at various giving levels from Bronze ($500-$749) to Tocqueville ($10,000+).
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Corporate partners and their employees contribute through workplace giving campaigns. 53% of donations come through payroll deductions. Publix Super Markets Charities contributed $40,943 plus $34,134 from associates for a combined total of $75,077 in the 2021-2022 campaign season.
3. Corporate Champion Partners: Corporate partners sponsor United Way activities in exchange for year-round local visibility, brand exposure, and association with the United Way brand. Sponsors receive benefits including guaranteed marketing exposure and corporate social responsibility alignment.
4. Community Investment Returns: United Way invests donor contributions in 16 affiliated health and human service agencies, with administrative expenses of 7% for FY 2021-2022. The organization returns community value through funded agency services.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

United Way of Suwannee Valley is a community impact nonprofit that raises charitable funds through workplace giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations, then invests those funds across a network of 16 affiliated health and human service agencies. It also directly operates community programs including the 2-1-1 referral hotline, VITA free tax preparation, MISSION UNITED veteran services, ReadingPals early literacy, Homeless Services Network coordination, Financial Assistance Screening, Disaster Recovery support, Community Health resources, and the SingleCare prescription discount program for residents of Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee counties in North Florida.

Product overview

United Way of Suwannee Valley is a community impact and fundraising organization offering a portfolio of social service programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include 2-1-1 (24/7 information and referral), VITA tax assistance, MISSION UNITED veteran support, ReadingPals early literacy, Homeless Services Network coordination, Financial Assistance Screening, Disaster Recovery, Community Health resources, SingleCare prescription discounts, Volunteer Services, Workplace Campaigns, Leadership Donors program, and Community Investment funding allocation. These programs operate as distinct service initiatives coordinated through the central United Way organization, serving Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee counties in Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Homeless Services Network of Suwannee Valley: A network serving Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, and Suwannee Counties as the lead agency for the homeless coalition.
• MISSION UNITED

Products and services

• 2-1-1 Information and Referral Hotline 24/7 phone (dial 2-1-1) information and referral service connecting people to community resources including medical and health services, mental health and substance abuse support, food/shelter/clothing, support groups, abuse and crime victim services, adult/child/family services, financial assistance information, hurricane information, and services for people with disabilities. Available in multiple languages.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program Free, confidential, IRS-certified tax preparation services for low-to-moderate-income households, helping filers claim Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Operated at UF IFAS Extension office with trained volunteers, complemented by MyFreeTaxes online self-filing partnership.
• MISSION UNITED Coordinated network of supports and services for military veterans and their families, providing case management, connections to resources, and short-term financial assistance for housing needs including housing deposits, rent/mortgage, and utility payments. Partners include ENB (Fueling Futures), First Federal Foundation, and Clay Electric Co.
• ReadingPals Early literacy initiative providing volunteer reading coaches for pre-K to 3rd grade students in one-on-one or small group settings, focusing on social-emotional development and literacy skills. Currently recruiting volunteers.
• Homeless Services Network of Suwannee Valley Lead agency for the four-county (Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Suwannee) homeless coalition, coordinating services for individuals experiencing or threatened with homelessness, including HUD Continuum of Care funding administration, coordinated entry intake, transitional housing, and permanent housing placement. Partners include the Department of Children and Families and LSF Health Systems.
• Financial Assistance Screening Online eligibility screening tool for rental assistance and other financial support programs serving Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Lafayette county residents. Helps connect residents to available financial assistance resources.
• Disaster Recovery Hurricane and disaster preparedness and recovery support including emergency resources, FEMA assistance guidance, Citizens Information Center hotline coordination, and food/clean-up service referrals for residents of the four-county service area.
• Community Health Resource hub linking community members to local health services including mental health crisis support, vision services, HIV/AIDS services, and free or discounted dental care across the four-county service area.
• SingleCare Prescription Discount Program Free prescription discount card program through partnership with SingleCare, enabling uninsured, insured, Medicare, and Medicaid individuals to save on medications at participating pharmacies nationwide. In 2019, more than 43,000 North Central Florida residents saved more than $4 million through this program.
• Volunteer Services Volunteer coordination program offering community service opportunities including ReadingPals tutoring, Citizens Information Center disaster response, committee membership, and administrative support roles.
• Workplace Campaigns Corporate workplace giving program enabling employees to contribute through payroll deductions, with campaign toolkit resources and volunteer opportunities provided for participating businesses. 53% of donations come through payroll deductions from workplace campaigns.
• Leadership Donors Program Donor recognition program with tiered giving levels (Bronze $500-$749, Silver $750-$999, Gold $1,000-$1,499, Platinum $1,500-$4,999, Diamond $5,000-$9,999, Tocqueville $10,000+) providing exclusive engagement and stewardship for major donors pledging $500 or more annually.
• Community Investment Funding allocation process evaluating and investing donor dollars across 16 partner agencies addressing community health, education, and financial stability needs in the four-county service area. Includes application, review, and reporting for funded partner agencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• In 2020-2021, United Way agencies spent over $8 million ($8,236,274) in services to the Suwannee Valley service area
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner agency providing emergency services to disaster victims and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, teaching lifesaving skills in CPR, first aid, water safety, and health courses, and providing emergency disaster shelter.
• CDS Family and Behavioral Health Services, Interface N.W.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner agency strengthening communities by building strong families through counseling, education, prevention activities, and community partnership efforts. Provides temporary shelter, time out, and counseling for youth ages 10-17.
• Catholic Charities Bureau, Lake CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner agency providing emergency assistance with utility, rent, and sustaining food pantry services. Feed-A-Family mobile outreach unit, gas vouchers for medical appointments or new employment, and SNAP access center.
• Florida Gateway Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner providing USDA food and sharable food to alleviate hunger, serving agencies, group homes, and church food pantries at 553 NW Railroad Street, Lake City, FL.
• Columbia County Senior ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner providing services that help senior adults maintain their independence: housekeeping, bathing assistance, respite care, emergency alert, and home-delivered meals for homebound senior adults.
• Early Learning Coalition of Florida's GatewaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner committed to supporting parents and quality early learning programs. Offers Child Care Resource & Referral, School Readiness Programs, Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK), and Professional Development Opportunities.
• Happy HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner providing low-cost, high-quality early childhood program for children six weeks to 5 years of age. Scholarships available for qualifying families. After-School program offers free services for children from Kindergarten to 5th grade.
• Love INC. of Suwannee CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner aiding the community with food, clothing, gas vouchers, prescriptions, utilities, budgeting and spiritual counseling. Has a DCF representative in their office.
• Suwannee County Police Athletic LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner providing safe, adult supervised after-school programs for local youth ages 7 to 17 including sports, summer camp, arts and crafts, swimming, and tutoring in math, writing and reading.
• Suwannee River Area Health Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner promoting health and wellness, preventing disease, and building capacity through professional and community level education. Services include Meeting & Association Services, CE/CME certification, and Healthy Community programs.
• Three Rivers Legal ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals with family, housing, probate, consumer, guardian advocacy and elder law issues.
• Vivid VisionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner assisting victims of domestic violence with shelter, crisis hotline, counseling, advocacy, court advocacy, support groups, information, referrals and other services as needed.
• Voices for Children of the Suwannee ValleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner directly supporting the 3rd Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem program, providing vulnerable children with an adult advocate from their community.
• Boy Scouts of America: North Florida CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated partner youth development program for young men ages seven to 18 years focusing on character development, citizenship, and fitness. Co-ed program for ages 14-20.
• ENB (Fueling Futures)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the MISSION UNITED program providing services to veterans in the Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Lafayette counties.
• First Federal FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the MISSION UNITED program providing services to veterans in the Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Lafayette counties.
• Clay Electric Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the MISSION UNITED program providing services to veterans in the Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Lafayette counties.
• Department of Children and Families (DCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for the Homeless Services Network of Suwannee Valley. Love INC has a DCF representative in their office for SNAP and other benefits access.
• LSF Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Homeless Services Network providing behavioral health services and support to individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization providing standards, best practices, and membership requirements for local United Ways. United Way of Suwannee Valley completed the 2024 United Way Worldwide membership requirements.
• SingleCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SingleCare prescription discount program has helped more than 13 million Americans save more than $1.5 billion on prescriptions. In 2019, more than 43,000 North Central Florida residents saved more than $4 million through this partnership.
• UF IFAS ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal extension office providing space for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program where trained volunteers provide free, confidential, IRS-certified tax preparation services.
• MyFreeTaxesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline tax filing partnership allowing individuals to file their own taxes for free with step-by-step guidance, complementing in-person VITA services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: The national hunger-relief organization whose Florida Gateway Food Bank is a partner agency of the subject; comparable in mission focus on food security and community-based service delivery.
• Habitat for Humanity International: A large national housing-focused nonprofit with local affiliates in Florida, comparable in addressing housing stability and community development in similar geographies.
• American Red Cross: Both a peer (one of the subject's 16 funded partner agencies) and a broader national nonprofit delivering disaster relief and emergency services—comparable in mission overlap, especially in disaster recovery.
• Catholic Charities USA: A national nonprofit network providing social services (emergency assistance, housing, food)—also a partner agency of United Way of Suwannee Valley—and a comparable entity in the broader community-services ecosystem.
• United Way Worldwide: The national parent organization of the United Way federation; sets membership requirements, brand standards, and best practices that the subject organization complies with.

Emerging players

• Community Foundation of North Central Florida: A regional community foundation operating in a partially overlapping North Florida geography, focusing on grantmaking and donor-advised funds—comparable in nonprofit civic role but different funding model.

Direct peers

• United Way of Central Florida: A larger neighboring Florida United Way affiliate operating the same federated model—workplace campaigns, partner-agency funding, 2-1-1—and serving a multi-county region, making it the most directly comparable peer in the same state.
• United Way Suncoast: A Florida-based United Way affiliate with a similar multi-county community impact focus, comparable program portfolio (2-1-1, VITA, volunteer coordination), and fundraising channels.
• United Way of Northeast Florida: Another Florida-based United Way affiliate with the same fundraising, community impact, and partner-agency funding structure, operating across multiple counties and serving as a close functional peer.
• United Way of the Big Bend: A nearby Florida Big Bend regional United Way affiliate with similar rural/mixed county footprint and analogous workplace-giving and partner-agency model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWSV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-suwannee-valley-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Suwannee Valley , Inc.