United Way of Yellowstone County

What United Way of Yellowstone County does

United Way of Yellowstone County (UWYC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1961 and headquartered at 2173 Overland Ave in Billings, Montana. As a local affiliate of the United Way federated network, it serves Yellowstone County through three core program areas: Building Futures (early childhood literacy and school readiness via Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Reach Out and Read, the Lantern parent-text program, and Operation School Supply), Community Resiliency (Continuum of Care coordination, Substance Abuse Connect, United to Solve Homelessness, and Tenancy Education Classes), and Nonprofit Empowerment (Best Beginnings and Fund Distribution grants). Additional offerings include Out of School Time programming (CARE Academy, Discover Zone), the Montana 211 referral service, and recurring community events such as the CommUnity Rally.

The organization operates with a 16-person staff and a distributed technology stack consisting of a website donation portal, the Galaxy Digital volunteer platform, and the Evinto Solutions Optima volunteer management system. No proprietary technology platform, AI/ML capabilities, or custom software development is disclosed. It claims to generate more than $4 in community value for every dollar received and reports $47.5M in cumulative community investment since 1961.

UWYC's revenue model is philanthropic, with four primary streams: individual donations (one-time and recurring via the website), workplace giving campaigns across Billings employers, corporate sponsorships tied to events and programs, and grant-making intermediation (approximately $300K distributed to local nonprofits in the most recent cycle). It does not charge for services and does not disclose pricing. Marketing and distribution rely on community events, email newsletters, organic Facebook, the website, and in-person engagement, with volunteer management handled through Galaxy Digital.

Name

United Way of Yellowstone County

Legal name

United Way of Yellowstone County

Website

https://unitedwayyellowstone.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Yellowstone County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1961 in Billings, Montana, that funds and operates early childhood, housing stability, and nonprofit capacity-building programs for Yellowstone County residents through donations and workplace giving.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Philanthropy and Social Services

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

Keywords

• Community philanthropy services
• Nonprofit grant making
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Early childhood literacy programs
• Homelessness prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Billings

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through the website donation portal, offering various giving options including one-time and recurring donations.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Employees contribute through workplace giving programs, a significant channel for regular charitable giving.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support programs and events, providing funding in exchange for brand visibility at community events.
4. Grant Distribution to Nonprofits: UWYC distributes grants to local nonprofits ($300K mentioned), acting as a funding intermediary rather than direct service provider.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Way of Yellowstone County is a community 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises charitable funds from individuals, workplaces, and corporate sponsors and deploys them across three impact areas: Building Futures (early childhood literacy and school readiness programs), Community Resiliency (housing stability and substance abuse support), and Nonprofit Empowerment (grant funding and capacity building for local nonprofits). It also operates direct-service programs including the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Lantern parent texting program, Out of School Time programming (CARE Academy, Discover Zone), and the Montana 2-1-1 helpline.

Product overview

United Way of Yellowstone County operates as a community nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs organized under three impact areas: Building Futures (youth education and school preparation), Community Resiliency (housing stability and support services), and Nonprofit Empowerment (grant funding and capacity building). Additional offerings include Out of School Time programming (CARE Academy, Discover Zone), a 2-1-1 resource helpline, volunteer management via an Optima platform, and community events like the CommUnity Rally. The organization has invested $47.5M in Yellowstone County since 1961 and generates over $4 in community value for every dollar received.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library: A free book program for children
• Lantern
• CARE Academy
• Discover Zone

Products and services

• Building Futures Program
• Community Resiliency Program
• Nonprofit Empowerment Program
• Dolly Parton's Imagination Library A free book program that mails age-appropriate books directly to the homes of enrolled children in Yellowstone County from birth to age five, supporting early childhood literacy.
• Lantern Parent Text Program A direct SMS text messaging program that delivers parenting resources, reminders, and support to parents of young children in Yellowstone County.
• Out of School Time Programming After-school programming for youth including the CARE Academy and Discover Zone, providing structured learning activities and enrichment opportunities outside regular school hours.
• Operation School Supply An annual school supply and backpack distribution drive that prepared nearly 600 kids for school over a two-day distribution event, powered by supply and financial donations from community supporters.
• Montana 2-1-1 Resource Helpline A free, confidential information and referral service connecting Montanans to local health and human services resources by dialing 2-1-1 or accessing montana211.org online.
• Workplace Giving Campaign A workplace giving program enabling employees at partner companies to contribute to United Way of Yellowstone County through payroll deduction and organized campaign drives.
• Best Beginnings / Fund Distribution Grants Grant programs that distribute community investment funding (approximately $300K) to local nonprofits in Yellowstone County to support programs improving community lives.
• Volunteer Platform (Optima / Galaxy Digital) An online volunteer management platform used to track volunteer engagement, sign up for opportunities, and coordinate community service activities across Yellowstone County.
• United to Solve Homelessness Initiative A coordinated initiative addressing homelessness in Yellowstone County through community partnerships, coordinated entry, and supportive housing services.
• Best Beginnings Council Grant Program A grant-making program supporting early childhood initiatives for Yellowstone County children and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4+ in community value created per dollar donated
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dolly Parton's Imagination LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree book program for children from birth to age 5. United Way of Yellowstone County partners to deliver this early childhood literacy initiative, mailing free books to enrolled children monthly.
• Reach Out and ReadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly literacy program that partners with pediatric healthcare providers to give books to children at well-child visits, encouraging family reading and development.
• LanternminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirect text program for parents providing support, resources, and information via SMS text messaging.
• Substance Abuse ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource hub connecting community members with substance abuse treatment and support services in Yellowstone County.
• Continuum of CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network addressing homelessness in Yellowstone County through coordinated entry, housing services, and support programs.
• Montana 211coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide information and referral service connecting Montanans to local health and human services resources via phone dial 2-1-1 or online.
• Local Nonprofits (Yellowstone County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUWYC provides grant funding, capacity building, and leadership training to local nonprofit organizations serving Yellowstone County, distributing approximately $300K in community investment grants.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Sky United Way: Another Montana-based United Way affiliate serving Gallatin and Park counties. Direct peer operating under identical federated brand with similar program mix focused on early childhood, housing stability, and nonprofit support in a Montana community context.
• Montana Community Foundation: Statewide community foundation administering charitable funds and distributing grants across Montana. Comparable grantmaking and donor-stewardship role, with overlap in supporting local nonprofits and convening community resources.
• United Way of Central Ohio: Mid-sized local United Way affiliate operating under the same federated model with comparable program areas around education, housing, and community resilience. Closely analogous operating structure to UWYC.
• United Way of Greater Atlanta: Large local United Way affiliate running the same collective-impact, workplace-giving, and grantmaking model. Direct peer due to shared program structure (early childhood, housing stability, nonprofit capacity building) and reliance on the United Way Worldwide federated brand.
• Yellowstone Valley Community Foundation: Hyper-local community foundation serving Yellowstone County. Most direct geographic peer with overlapping grantmaking, donor-advised fund administration, and support for local nonprofits in the same service area.

Regional players

• Montana Food Bank Network: Statewide hunger-relief nonprofit operating with similar donor-funded, community-partnered model. Comparable regional social-services organization addressing basic-needs challenges in Montana communities.
• Habitat for Humanity of Montana: Statewide affiliate of a national housing nonprofit with similar community-development orientation and reliance on volunteer labor and donations. Comparable nonprofit-fundraising model in the Montana market.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Billings: Large established faith-based nonprofit delivering social services (housing, food, emergency assistance) in Billings. Comparable community-services and donor-supported model, with overlapping addressable population in housing instability and crisis support.
• American Red Cross (Montana Region): National humanitarian organization with a Montana regional presence delivering disaster relief and community services. Comparable donor-supported community impact model, though operating at significantly larger scale and broader scope.

Emerging players

• VolunteerMatch: National online volunteer-engagement platform that competes with UWYC's volunteer coordination function. Comparable technology-enabled role connecting community volunteers to nonprofit opportunities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-yellowstone-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Yellowstone County