United Way of the Blue Mountains

What United Way of the Blue Mountains does

United Way of the Blue Mountains is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization established around 2011, headquartered in Walla Walla, Washington, with a second regional office in Pendleton, Oregon. It operates as a collective impact backbone organization serving seven counties across Washington and Oregon (Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Umatilla, Morrow, Baker, and Union & Wallowa counties), with a small team of approximately 6 employees plus named contractor/grant-funded staff such as seven College & Career Readiness Advisors.

The organization's portfolio spans four impact areas: Healthy Community (Emergency Food & Shelter Program), Youth Opportunity (Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Adopt-A-Student, AAUW-WW SUN Awards scholarship program), Financial Security (Tabitha's Closet), and Community Resiliency (Blue Mountain Region Long-Term Recovery Group). Its flagship initiative is ELEVATE: Building Strong Communities Through Education, a StriveTogether-affiliated collective impact partnership focused on kindergarten readiness, middle school engagement (including STEM programming), and postsecondary access and success, with a stated 2030 goal of 70% postsecondary credential attainment among adults 25–44 in the region. Supporting products include the Early Learning Facilities Toolkit, grants programs (Spring Community Impact Grants, Live United Mini Grants), corporate sponsorships, and volunteer engagement through the Blue Mountain Volunteer Corps.

Revenue is generated entirely through donations across six streams: individual giving (one-time and recurring), workplace giving/payroll deduction campaigns, grants (notably the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Horizons Grant and Ballmer Group), donor-advised funds and appreciated securities, planned giving/estate bequests, and event sponsorships. The organization employs a tiered Leadership Giving Circle ($500–$10,000+ annually) for high-capacity donors and acts as fiscal agent for partner-administered programs. Technology is light: the core platform is the uwbluemt.org donation portal and a public regional data dashboard tracking kindergarten readiness data since 2019; no mobile app or public API is offered.

Name

United Way of the Blue Mountains

Legal name

United Way of the Blue Mountains

Website

https://uwbluemt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of the Blue Mountains is a 501(c)(3) collective impact nonprofit serving 7 counties in Washington and Oregon, running health, education, financial stability, and disaster recovery programs with its flagship Elevate education partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

Keywords

• Community impact nonprofit
• Collective impact education
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Community grantmaking
• Nonprofit fundraising services

Headquarters

HQ city

Walla Walla

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the United Way Community Fund or designated agencies. Accepts one-time and monthly recurring donations via credit/debit card, check, or cash.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Payroll deduction campaigns enabling employees to support causes through workplace campaigns with employer-matching programs and special events.
3. Grants: Spring Community Impact Grants and Fall Mini Grants awarded to local nonprofits. Fall 2025: 11 organizations received grants across Walla Walla, Columbia, Umatilla, and Morrow counties. $95,000+ granted to local agencies in 2024.
4. Donor-Advised Funds & Securities: Accepts donations of appreciated securities directly, allowing donors to avoid capital gains tax while receiving charitable income tax deduction.
5. Planned Giving & Wills: Legacy giving through bequests and estate plans, providing long-term support for causes while offering financial and tax benefits to donors.
6. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships for events and programs providing brand visibility and community engagement opportunities. Current sponsors include Columbia Bank, Baker Boyer Bank, TitleOne, and UEC.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

United Way of the Blue Mountains is a 501(c)(3) collective impact nonprofit that mobilizes community resources through workplace giving, individual donations, and corporate sponsorships, then redistributes funds via grants to local nonprofits and direct programs addressing healthy community, youth opportunity/education, financial security, and community resiliency across the Blue Mountain region. Its flagship ELEVATE initiative drives cradle-to-career educational outcomes through cross-sector partnerships, data dashboards, and programs such as kindergarten readiness, middle school engagement, and postsecondary access advising.

Product overview

United Way of the Blue Mountains is a nonprofit organization operating as a collective impact backbone organization serving the Blue Mountain region (Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Umatilla, Morrow, Baker, Union & Wallowa counties in Washington and Oregon). The organization offers a portfolio of programs organized around four impact areas: Health (including Emergency Food & Shelter), Education (Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Adopt-A-Student, Scholarships), Financial Mobility (Tabitha's Closet, disaster recovery), and Community Resiliency. The flagship initiative is ELEVATE, a community partnership strengthening the educational pipeline from cradle through career, encompassing kindergarten readiness, middle school engagement, and postsecondary access. Additional offerings include grant programs (Live United Mini Grants, Spring Community Impact Grants), various giving options (workplace giving, planned giving, donor-advised funds, leadership giving), volunteer programs, and the AAUW-WW SUN Awards scholarship program. The organization also provides the Early Learning Facilities Toolkit as a resource for childcare development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Elevate: A community partnership of diverse, cross-sector members working collaboratively and leveraging resources to strengthen the educational pipeline from cradle through career. Focus areas include kindergarten readiness, middle school engagement, and postsecondary access and success.

Products and services

• ELEVATE Initiative A community partnership initiative uniting diverse cross-sector members to strengthen the educational pipeline from cradle to career, encompassing kindergarten readiness, middle school engagement, postsecondary access and success, and data-driven research for the Blue Mountain region.
• Health Programs (including Emergency Food & Shelter Program) Programs supporting health and well-being for all community members through access to quality healthcare, nutritious food, emergency food and shelter, mental health resources, and crisis assistance for the Blue Mountain region.
• Education Programs (Adopt-A-Student, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, Scholarship Info) Youth education and opportunity programs including Adopt-A-Student, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (free monthly books to children), and Scholarship Information for youth across the Blue Mountain region.
• Financial Mobility Programs (Tabitha's Closet, Long-Term Recovery Group) Programs building financial stability and strength for individuals and families, including Tabitha's Closet and the Blue Mountain Region Long-Term Recovery Group for disaster recovery support.
• Nonprofit Support and Grant Opportunities Grant programs supporting local nonprofit organizations, including Grant Opportunities, Live United Mini Grants, and Spring Community Impact Grants.
• Blue Mountain Volunteer Corps Volunteer engagement program enabling individuals and groups to directly support United Way programs, events, and community initiatives across the Blue Mountain region.
• Workplace Giving Campaigns Corporate giving program allowing employees to participate in workplace campaigns through payroll deductions, special events, and employer-matching programs.
• Corporate Giving and Sponsorships Business partnership programs enabling corporate gifts, matching donations, employee engagement programs, and event and program sponsorships.
• Donor-Advised Funds and Securities Donations Flexible giving option allowing donors to contribute cash or appreciated securities, receive an immediate tax benefit, and recommend grants to United Way and other nonprofits over time.
• Leadership Giving Circle Donor recognition program for donors committing $500 or more annually, with tiers Champion ($10,000+), Partner ($5,000-$9,999), Advocate ($2,500-$4,999), Investor ($1,000-$2,499), and Supporter ($500-$999).
• Live United Mini Grants Annual fall grant program awarding small grants to local nonprofits demonstrating compassion, creativity, and measurable impact in health, education, financial stability, and community resiliency.
• Spring Community Impact Grants Major grants awarded at the end of campaign season providing deeper, long-term investments to help local nonprofits continue their critical work.
• AAUW-WW SUN Awards Scholarship Program Scholarship program created by American Association of University Women - Walla Walla to help high school senior girls overcome financial barriers to post-secondary education; administered in partnership with United Way as fiscal agent, with maximum awards of $300 per student.
• College and Career Readiness Advisors (CCRA) Advisors providing high-quality college and career advising services to high school students, including college applications, financial aid (FAFSA/WASFA), scholarship searches, and postsecondary transitions; supported by the Horizons Grant.
• STEM Like ME! Program STEM career exploration program launched in April 2024 through collaboration with The STEM Foundation and Dayton School District, introducing middle school students to diverse STEM career opportunities.
• Early Learning Facilities Development and Expansion Toolkit Comprehensive resource toolkit developed through the Elevate Early Learning Facilities Work Group to help childcare providers expand or improve facilities, with step-by-step guides, design guides, grant resources, case studies, and resource directories in English and Spanish.
• Blue Mountain Region Long-Term Recovery Group Disaster recovery coordination group helping communities address urgent needs and advance long-term recovery efforts following disasters in the Blue Mountain region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,600+ children receive free age-appropriate books monthly through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StriveTogethercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network partner providing framework for community partnerships working toward youth thriving outcomes. Elevate is a StriveTogether partner.
• Partners for Rural ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting education initiatives in rural communities.
• Washington Cradle to Career CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level advocacy coalition supporting cradle-to-career educational outcomes.
• Washington Student Achievement CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner focused on postsecondary attainment goals.
• College Place Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary partner through Elevate initiative, collaborating on college and career readiness advising.
• Columbia School District #400coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary partner through Elevate initiative for student advising.
• Walla Walla Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary partner through Elevate for student advising and career readiness.
• Walla Walla Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner supporting postsecondary pathways and student transitions.
• Whitman CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigher education partner in postsecondary access and success initiatives.
• Communities in SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPostsecondary partner providing dropout prevention and student support services.
• ESD 123coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational Service District partner supporting early learning expansion and regional data systems.
• Port of Columbia CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner supporting economic development and educational initiatives.
• Arrowleaf ConsultingcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner for early learning facilities assessment and childcare expansion planning, engaged with 17 providers and 10 businesses.
• Small Business Development CenterminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSBDC provides funding information and loan readiness support for childcare facilities.
• Blue Room Architecture & DesignminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign and planning support for early learning facilities.
• Walla Walla Valley Early Learning CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner leading early learning initiatives with United Way as backbone organization.
• Columbia BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent Sponsor for United Way events and programs.
• Baker Boyer BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent Sponsor and partner for Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) program, helping clients support United Way through IRA donations.
• TitleOneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent Sponsor for United Way events.
• UECcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMission Sponsor providing foundational support for United Way operations and community impact.
• AAUW-WW (American Association of University Women - Walla Walla)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSUN Awards Program administered in partnership with United Way serving as fiscal agent. United Way distributes funds directly to qualified vendors on behalf of award recipients.
• The STEM FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in STEM Like ME! and STEAM Club pilot program for middle school career exploration.
• Dayton School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool district partner for STEM programming and middle school initiatives.
• SEATechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical college partner in Scrubs Camp healthcare career exploration program.
• ProvidenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing job shadow opportunities in Scrubs Camp program.
• Eastern Washington University Area Health Education Center (AHEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHEC partner in healthcare career exploration programming.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The national umbrella organization for the United Way network, of which UWBM is a local affiliate. Relevant because UWBM operates under the United Way brand, follows UW Worldwide campaign frameworks, and is part of the broader national donor infrastructure that the parent organization coordinates.

Regional players

• Inland Empire Community Foundation: A community foundation serving Spokane and the Inland Empire region of eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Comparable to UWBM as an Eastern Washington regional grantmaker with similar donor base characteristics, grant programs, and collective impact orientation.
• Yakima Valley Community Foundation: A community foundation serving the Yakima Valley in central Washington. Comparable to UWBM as a Washington state regional philanthropic organization running grant cycles, donor-advised funds, and community partnerships — though focused more narrowly on Yakima County.

Direct peers

• United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley: An Oregon-based regional United Way serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. Comparable to UWBM as a state-level peer running community impact grant cycles, donor-advised fund programs, and partner convening across education, health, and financial stability focus areas.
• United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties: A Tri-Cities, Washington regional United Way chapter serving a similar rural/semi-rural Pacific Northwest footprint. Comparable to UWBM in mission scope (workplace giving, community grants, collective impact coordination) and target donor base (regional employers and individuals).
• United Way of Central Washington: A regional United Way chapter serving Yakima, Kittitas, and Klickitat counties in Washington. Closely comparable in scope and mission to UWBM as a similarly-sized Pacific Northwest rural United Way affiliate running workplace giving, grantmaking, and collective impact programs across a multi-county service area.
• United Way of Pierce County: A larger Washington-based United Way chapter serving the Tacoma/Pierce County area. Comparable to UWBM as a fellow Washington state United Way running cradle-to-career education initiatives, leadership giving tiers, and collective impact partnerships, though operating at a meaningfully larger scale.
• Blue Mountain Community Foundation: A community foundation serving Walla Walla and Columbia counties — the same core counties as UWBM. Comparable as a regional grantmaker and donor-advised fund administrator in the Blue Mountain area, potentially overlapping in donor base and grantmaking relationships.
• United Way of Southwest Washington: A Washington state United Way chapter serving Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties. Comparable to UWBM as a regional affiliate running workplace campaigns, grantmaking to local nonprofits, and cross-sector convening around education, financial stability, and health outcomes.

Others

• StriveTogether: A national collective impact network focused on cradle-to-career education outcomes. Directly comparable to UWBM's Elevate initiative because UWBM's Elevate is a StriveTogether partner using their shared measurement framework and outcome targets. StriveTogether provides the methodology backbone for UWBM's postsecondary credential goal.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-the-blue-mountains

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 the Blue Mountains