United Way of Tulare County

What United Way of Tulare County does

United Way of Tulare County is an independent local 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 1981 and incorporated in 1986, headquartered in Tulare, California, with a staff of approximately 10 employees. The organization fights for the health, education, and financial stability of residents across Tulare and Kings Counties and operates as an affiliate of United Way Worldwide. Its mission is delivered through a portfolio of programs including direct emergency financial assistance, the College Access Initiative (a text-message-based college information service for middle and high school students), emergency preparedness resources including Public Safety Power Shutoff support, volunteer coordination, workplace giving campaigns, and nonprofit capacity building.

The organization's two core technology platforms are 211 Tulare County and the Smart Referral Network (SRN). 211 Tulare County is a 24/7 helpline and integrated resource database accessible via phone (dial 211), text message (ZIP code to 898-211), mobile applications for iOS and Android, and the web. It connects residents with essential services including housing, food, utilities, healthcare, mental health, transportation, and legal aid across an ecosystem of 500+ local organizations. The Smart Referral Network is a closed-loop referral software platform that enables nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare providers (Anthem Blue Cross, Omni Family Health), workforce agencies (CSET), and school districts (Tulare Joint Union High School District) to send, receive, and track client referrals in a secure shared digital space, with an embedded Economic Mobility Continuous Report that evaluates client progress across employment, income, housing, and education domains.

Revenue is generated exclusively through charitable giving rather than fees — including individual donations, workplace giving campaigns via employer payroll deductions, and signature fundraising events such as Power of the Purse (which raised $60,000 in 2026 and $56,000 in 2025) and the 32nd annual Land O'Lakes & United Way Golf Tournament. All services to community members and partner organizations are provided free of charge. The organization reported a Charity Navigator Four Star rating in 2026 and maintains partnerships with United Way Worldwide, Land O'Lakes (presenting sponsor of the golf tournament), Kings United Way (SRN coordinator for Kings County), and numerous affiliate nonprofits including ABLE Industries, Arts Visalia, and Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias.

Name

United Way of Tulare County

Legal name

United Way of Tulare County

Website

https://unitedwaytc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of Tulare County is a local 501c3 nonprofit that connects Tulare and Kings County residents to housing, food, healthcare, and other essential services through its 211 helpline and Smart Referral Network (SRN) closed-loop referral platform, while funding 15+ affiliate nonprofits via donations and workplace giving campaigns.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services Nonprofit

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Social services referral
• Nonprofit fundraising
• Emergency assistance programs
• Workplace giving campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulare

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: Direct donations from community members supporting health, education, and financial stability programs in Tulare County.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Corporate workplace giving programs where employees contribute through payroll deductions to support local community programs.
3. Fundraising Events: Signature fundraising events including Power of the Purse (2026 raised $60,000; 2025 raised $56,000) and Annual Golf Tournament (32nd Annual Land O'Lakes & United Way Golf Tournament).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Way of Tulare County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the 211 Tulare County helpline and resource database, runs the Smart Referral Network (SRN) closed-loop referral platform for partner agencies, and delivers direct community programs including the College Access Initiative, emergency response services, and volunteer engagement. It raises funds through workplace giving campaigns, signature events, and individual donations to underwrite these free services for Tulare County residents.

Product overview

United Way of Tulare County operates a portfolio of interconnected social service programs centered on its core technology platforms: the 211 Tulare County resource helpline/database and the Smart Referral Network (SRN) closed-loop referral software. The 211 system serves as the primary entry point for residents seeking assistance, available via phone, text, mobile app, and web, connecting people to resources across housing, utilities, food, health, mental health, transportation, legal, and education categories. The SRN platform enables partner organizations (nonprofits, government agencies, healthcare providers) to make and track electronic referrals, replacing paper-based processes with digital care coordination. Supporting these platforms are complementary programs including the College Access Initiative (text-based college information for students), Emergency Response services, Direct Financial Assistance, Volunteer Programs, Workplace Giving Campaigns, and nonprofit Capacity Building services. Signature fundraising events (Power of the Purse, Golf Tournament) generate revenue for the organization and its 15+ local affiliate partners including ABLE Industries, Arts Visalia, Boys & Girls Club of the Sequoias, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 211 Tulare County: A program of United Way of Tulare County that connects residents with essential support services including housing, food, utilities, health care, mental health, transportation, legal aid, and more through the 211 phone number and database.
• Smart Referral Network (SRN)

Products and services

• 211 Tulare County

Quantifiable outcome

• Power of the Purse 2026 raised $60,000 to support local families across Tulare County
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Anthem Blue CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal serves as featured partner spotlight presenting on community outreach and education efforts. They provide Non-Emergency Medical Transportation, Telehealth through LiveHealth Online, and Care Coordination services. Anthem's participation in SRN Alliance Meetings focuses on empowering clients through education about Medi-Cal benefits.
• Community Services Employment Training (CSET)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026CSET recently signed its MOU with the Smart Referral Network and will be joining the network as a partner, expanding referral capabilities for employment and training services.
• Tulare Joint Union High School DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Tulare Joint Union High School District has completed SRN training and now has active users, primarily supporting referrals through its community schools program. This represents SRN expansion into education-based settings.
• Omni Family HealthmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Omni Family Health joined the Smart Referral Network in Kings County, expanding opportunities for healthcare-related referrals within the network.
• Tulare County Office of EducationmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 June 2025Tulare County Office of Education hosted the 2026 Power of the Purse event at their Redwood Conference Room facility, providing the venue for the signature fundraising event.
• Land O'LakescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLand O'Lakes is the presenting sponsor for the 32nd Annual Golf Tournament, with all tournament proceeds going to United Way of Tulare County. This is a long-standing partnership supporting local families and organizations in Tulare County through the annual golf event.
• Kings United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKings United Way serves as the SRN Coordinator for Kings County, coordinating the Kings-Tulare Smart Referral Network Alliance Meetings and onboarding partners in Kings County.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Tulare County is a member of United Way Worldwide, receiving annual certification and operating under the United Way brand identity while maintaining local independence as a 501c3 nonprofit.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The global umbrella organization of which United Way of Tulare County is a local member affiliate. Comparable because it sets brand standards, certification, and shared fundraising/playbook frameworks that local United Ways — including Tulare County — operate under.
• Unite Us: A national care-coordination and social-services referral platform with closed-loop referral technology very similar to SRN. Comparable as a scaled competitor pursuing the same healthcare and government contracts that drive United Way of Tulare County's SRN partner growth.
• Findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha): A national social-care closed-loop referral platform that connects people to community resources, the same core function as the Smart Referral Network. Comparable because it is the dominant private-sector platform competing for the same healthcare-payer and government-agency partners that United Way of Tulare County serves through SRN.

Regional players

• United Way of Fresno County: A larger neighboring California Central Valley United Way affiliate operating 211 service and community programs. Comparable because it runs a similar portfolio of 211, workplace giving, and community programs in an adjacent geography, but does not directly compete in Tulare County.
• United Way of Kern County: A peer United Way affiliate in the Central Valley region running 211 and similar health/education/financial stability programs. Comparable as a regional peer with a similar rural California service area and fundraising model, though operating in a different county.

Direct peers

• Kings United Way: The neighboring local United Way affiliate that co-coordinates the Kings-Tulare Smart Referral Network Alliance. Directly comparable as a peer 501c3 nonprofit running a 211 service and SRN-style referral platform in an adjacent agricultural California county.
• 211 San Diego: One of the largest regional 211 operators in California, providing 24/7 information and referral services similar to 211 Tulare County. Comparable because it operates the same 211 phone/text/web delivery model with an integrated resource database, though at much larger scale in an urban county.

Emerging players

• Health Leads: A national nonprofit that builds social needs screening and referral infrastructure for healthcare providers. Comparable because it pursues the same healthcare-social services integration mission and serves overlapping healthcare partners (e.g., community health centers, health systems) that United Way of Tulare County engages through the SRN.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-tulare-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Tulare County