United Way Of Central Iowa Inc

What United Way Of Central Iowa Inc does

United Way of Central Iowa, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1917 as the Public Welfare Bureau under the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and now headquartered at 1111 9th Street, Suite 100, Des Moines, Iowa. The organization operates as a community convener and mobilizer across central Iowa's Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties, coordinating programs and funded partners around five interconnected focus areas: Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being. Its work spans flagship initiatives including OpportUNITY (a collective impact poverty-reduction effort engaging 1,000+ individuals and 200+ organizations to elevate 20,000 central Iowans out of poverty), READ to SUCCEED (a literacy campaign targeting 90% third-grade reading proficiency), Summer in the City (a 21-site summer learning-loss prevention program serving more than 1,000 children), 5-2-1-0 (a childhood obesity prevention program), VITA (free tax preparation), Power Read and Power Lunch (mentoring literacy programs), and CAMHI4Kids (children's mental health advocacy).

The organization's core technology is a community impact and collective impact facilitation platform rather than a software product; it operates no public API, no proprietary AI/ML systems, and no commercial software offerings. Its service distribution runs through workplace giving campaigns at major employers (including Bankers Trust and The Principal Financial Group, both partners since 1917), a 211 referral helpline for childcare and community resources, the Good Beginnings Café operated jointly with Goodwill of Central Iowa at the Human Services Campus, and an extensive funded-partner network that includes visiting nurse services, refugee resettlement agencies, and culturally responsive youth programs.

United Way generates revenue entirely through charitable contributions: workplace payroll-deduction campaigns, individual major gifts (Tocqueville Society contributing $10,000+ annually, with members investing nearly $7.3 million to the 2024 campaign; Women United contributing more than $21 million since 2002), affinity-group giving circles (Leadership Circle, ELI, Lead United, LINC, United LEAGUE), and corporate grants (Athene, Wells Fargo, Prairie Meadows, Wellmark Foundation). The organization holds no patents, has no subsidiaries, and is governed by a board of directors under president Mary Sellers. It has maintained a four-star Charity Navigator rating every year since 2004 and a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar/Candid.

Name

United Way Of Central Iowa Inc

Legal name

United Way of Central Iowa Inc

Website

https://unitedwaydm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Short description

United Way of Central Iowa is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1917 that convenes community resources and funds partners across Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties to address essential needs, early childhood, education, economic opportunity, and health for central Iowans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Community fundraising services
• Nonprofit social programs
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Collective impact coordination
• Human services funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

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, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: United Way of Central Iowa generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, corporations, and organizations via workplace campaigns, annual fundraising drives, and major gift programs including Tocqueville Society ($10,000+), Leadership Circle ($1,000+), and other affinity group contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Way of Central Iowa mobilizes central Iowa donors, volunteers, and partner agencies to address community needs across five focus areas: Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being. The organization channels charitable contributions from individuals, workplaces, and affinity groups (Tocqueville Society, Women United, ELI, Leadership Circle, Lead United, LINC, United LEAGUE) into roughly 200 funded partners and a portfolio of named initiatives. Direct service offerings to the public include the 211 referral helpline, free VITA tax preparation, volunteer literacy mentoring programs (Power Read, Book Buddy, Power Lunch), and signature community programs such as READ to SUCCEED, Summer in the City, and 5-2-1-0.

Product overview

United Way of Central Iowa is a nonprofit community organization operating as a platform of interconnected programs and initiatives under the United To Thrive strategic framework. The organization mobilizes the community through five focus areas: Essential Needs, Early Childhood Success, Education Success, Economic Opportunity, and Health & Well-Being. Key initiatives include OpportUNITY (poverty reduction), READ to SUCCEED (literacy), Summer in the City (youth programs), 5-2-1-0 (health), VITA (tax assistance), and various donor affinity groups. The organization is not a technology company and does not offer software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNITED to THRIVE: Strategic focus framework that guides the organization's approach to fostering a thriving, equitable, engaged, and empowered community
• OpportUNITY
• READ to SUCCEED
• 5-2-1-0
• CAMHI4Kids
• Summer in the City

Products and services

• 211 Referral Service Resource helpline and online directory connecting Iowans to affordable childcare, support programs, and community services across the state.
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Free tax preparation service for taxpayers with income around $58,000 or less, helping central Iowans file returns and claim credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Workplace Campaigns Corporate workplace giving campaigns that allow employers to support United Way initiatives through employee donations, often via payroll deduction, with toolkits to run annual campaigns.
• READ to SUCCEED Ground-breaking community-wide awareness and action campaign launched for United Way's 100th year to ensure students read proficiently by the end of third grade, with a stated goal of 90% reading proficiency by 2020.
• Summer in the City Summer program engaging low-income children in meaningful activities at 21 locations throughout central Iowa, serving more than 1,000 school-age children to curb summer learning loss.
• 5-2-1-0 Program Childhood obesity prevention program implemented in eight childcare/after-school programs and four elementary schools, focusing on healthy eating and physical activity guidelines.
• Power Read Literacy and mentoring program partnering with Everybody Wins! Iowa to pair volunteer reading mentors with elementary school students for weekly one-on-one reading sessions.
• Book Buddy Program Volunteer reading program where volunteers spend time one-on-one with young children at early learning centers to develop reading and literacy skills.
• Power Lunch Literacy and mentoring program pairing volunteers with elementary school students to read together weekly, focused on struggling readers and English Language Learners.
• OpportUNITY Collective impact initiative working to elevate 20,000 central Iowans out of poverty through workgroups focused on food insecurity, housing, re-entry, and transportation, engaging 1,000+ individuals and 200+ organizations.
• CAMHI4Kids (Coalition to Advance Mental Health in Iowa for Kids) Coalition to Advance Mental Health in Iowa for Kids—an advocacy initiative advocating for stable, long-term funding to create a unified mental health system for children in Iowa.
• Graduation Walk Annual volunteer event where volunteers visit the homes of students at risk of dropping out to encourage them to stay in school and graduate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ central Iowans volunteer annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and funded.

• Goodwill of Central IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwill of Central Iowa opened Good Beginnings Café at United Way's Human Services Campus at 1111 9th Street, providing transitional work experience for clients in Goodwill's Food Service program. The café expands job training opportunities in the community.
• U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSCRI in Iowa resettles between 650-700 refugees each year. USCRI is a funded partner of United Way of Central Iowa, providing refugee resettlement services including meeting families at airport, furnishing apartments, making doctor's appointments, enrolling kids in school, and teaching English.
• Everybody Wins! IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Power Read program providing reading and mentoring experiences to children through caring volunteer reading mentors. The program pairs volunteers and elementary school students to read together weekly.
• Visiting Nurse Services of IowacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Medicaid Modernization stakeholder group and co-implementer of 5-2-1-0 childhood obesity prevention program in eight childcare/after-school programs and four elementary schools.
• Forest Avenue OutreachfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner promoting safety, connection, and positive alternatives for youth. Part of youth violence prevention initiatives.
• Mothers Against ViolencefundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner promoting safety, connection, and positive alternatives for youth across the community.
• Sarge's WestSide Boxing ClubfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing safe spaces and trusted adults for youth engagement and violence prevention.
• Al ÉxitofundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner helping students explore career pathways, post-secondary options, and real-world applications of learning.
• PI515fundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner helping students explore career pathways and post-secondary options.
• Project IowafundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing career connected learning and future opportunity awareness for students.
• Association of Youth Development and Enrichment (AYDE)fundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing culturally responsive environments that support belonging and persistence for students.
• Jewels AcademyfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing culturally responsive programming that creates spaces where students can explore identity, build confidence, and strengthen engagement.
• Isiserettes Drill and Drum CorpsfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing culturally responsive environments supporting belonging and persistence, led by Lead Drum Instructor Cory Williams.
• Children & Family Urban MovementfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner working with families to address essential needs challenges and reduce disruptions that can pull students away from learning.
• Oakridge NeighborhoodfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner addressing stability barriers and supporting families with essential needs.
• Willkie HousefundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner working with families to address challenges and reduce disruptions to student learning.
• Youth Law CenterfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing essential needs support to families so students can focus on learning.
• Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG)fundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing catch up and re-engagement supports to help students recover credits, rebuild confidence, and stay connected to school.
• By DegreesfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing flexible pathways to help students recover and continue moving forward academically.
• DMPS Options AcademyfundedStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded partner providing credit recovery, mentoring, and personalized support designed to meet students where they are.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Goodwill of Central Iowa: Regional nonprofit partner and tenant in UWCI's Human Services Campus; comparable workforce-development, poverty-reduction, and community-services mission across central Iowa.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa: Regional youth-services nonprofit competing for the same donor dollars, volunteers, and corporate partnerships in central Iowa, with overlapping youth-education and out-of-school-time programming.

Direct peers

• United Way of King County: Large, established Pacific Northwest United Way chapter with a comparable collective-impact backbone, donor affinity programs, and policy advocacy function — a relevant scaled-up peer.
• United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County: Regional United Way chapter operating a similar federated giving model with workplace campaigns, donor societies, and community-impact focus areas in a comparable Midwest urban market.
• Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines: Local charitable foundation stewarding donor funds for central Iowa community benefit; competes for the same donor base and partners with many of the same nonprofits as UWCI.
• United Way of Dane County: Mid-size Midwestern United Way chapter with similar collective-impact backbone function, multi-affinity-group structure, and education/family focus areas.
• Greater Des Moines Community Foundation: Local grantmaking and civic foundation serving central Iowa donors and nonprofits; overlaps directly with UWCI on grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and community-impact coordination.
• Heart of America United Way (Kansas City): Regional United Way chapter serving the Kansas City metro with a comparable workplace-campaign and community-impact model across education, income, and health focus areas.
• United Way of the Midlands (Omaha): Neighboring regional United Way chapter covering the Omaha metro area with a comparable five-pillar community-impact model, workplace campaigns, and donor affinity groups.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: The national federation that supports and sets standards for local United Way chapters including United Way of Central Iowa. Direct operational and brand peer at the macro level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@UWofCI
• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedWayofCentralIowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unitedwaydsm
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwayci
• Xx.com/unitedwayci

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Way Of Central Iowa Inc