UNITED WAY OF MAT-SU BOROUGH

What UNITED WAY OF MAT-SU BOROUGH does

United Way of Mat-Su is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated on December 28, 1987, serving residents of the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Borough in Alaska. It operates as an autonomous local affiliate of United Way Worldwide, with its headquarters at 550 S. Alaska St., Ste. 205, Palmer, Alaska, and a small staff of approximately nine employees supported by a nine-member Board of Directors. The organization is led by Executive Director Stephanie Allen, who has held the role since 2007. Its stated mission is to advance education, financial stability, health, and community resilience across the Mat-Su Valley, with the explicit value proposition that every dollar raised remains local.

The organization delivers its mission through an interconnected portfolio of approximately twelve named programs organized around four pillars: Healthy Community (Week of Caring, Parks and Playgrounds, UWMS Tool Library), Youth Opportunity (Youth 360, Thrive Mat-Su, Play 60 with the Seattle Seahawks, Early Childhood Partnership), Financial Security (Resource Guide, Stuff the Bus, Project Homeless Connect), and Community Resiliency (Mat-Su VOAD). Service delivery is primarily in-person at community events, partner locations, and public spaces, supported by a website (unitedwaymatsu.org), Facebook, YouTube, monthly email newsletter, and a physical Resource Guide distributed at 26+ community sites. The organization coordinates 50+ local partner organizations across business, nonprofit, faith-based, government, and tribal sectors.

United Way of Mat-Su generates revenue entirely through charitable donations from individuals, businesses, foundations (Rasmuson Foundation, Mat-Su Health Foundation), and institutional partners. Donations are processed via DonorPerfect and the Alaska Pick.Click.Give. program. All programs and services are provided free to participants. There are no proprietary technology platforms, no AI/ML capabilities, and no disclosed revenue figures. The organization's competitive positioning rests on 35+ years of local autonomy, deep community relationships, and the donor promise that all funds remain in the Mat-Su Valley.

Name

UNITED WAY OF MAT-SU BOROUGH

Legal name

United Way of Mat-Su

Website

https://unitedwaymatsu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of Mat-Su is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, delivering free programs in youth development, financial stability, healthy community, and disaster resilience through events, direct services, and a 50+ partner local network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wasilla

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: United Way of Mat-Su generates revenue through charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and organizations in the Mat-Su Valley. The organization runs fundraising campaigns and accepts donations through its website and events. All funds raised stay local to support community programs and initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

United Way of Mat-Su is a nonprofit community service organization that raises funds locally and coordinates a portfolio of direct-service programs and events supporting youth development, financial stability, community health, and disaster preparedness across the Mat-Su Valley. The organization recruits and deploys volunteers, runs signature community events, distributes school supplies, supports homeless residents, and manages a disaster response network in partnership with local businesses, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and government agencies.

Product overview

United Way of Mat-Su is a nonprofit community service organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on education, financial stability, health, and community resilience. The core programs include Youth 360 (youth development), Thrive Mat-Su (substance use prevention), Early Childhood Partnership, and Mat-Su VOAD (disaster response), complemented by direct service initiatives such as Stuff the Bus (school supplies), Week of Caring (volunteer coordination), Project Homeless Connect (housing support), UWMS Tool Library (community resources), Resource Guide (information distribution), and Parks and Playgrounds (community infrastructure). Together these programs address the holistic needs of Mat-Su Valley residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thrive Mat-Su: A data-driven coordinated community response to prevent and reduce underage substance use.
• Early Childhood Partnership of Mat-Su
• Mat-Su VOAD

Products and services

• Youth 360 A youth development program providing out-of-school programming, safe spaces, and mentorship to help young people in the Mat-Su Valley build healthy relationships, develop life skills, and make positive choices. Operates club locations in Houston, Wasilla, and Northgate.
• Thrive Mat-Su A data-driven coordinated community response initiative focused on preventing and reducing underage substance use in the Mat-Su Valley.
• Early Childhood Partnership of Mat-Su A program supporting local childcare providers, educators, parents, and caregivers through learning facilitation, social connections, resource-sharing, and play opportunities for young children.
• UWMS Tool Library A community tool lending program allowing Mat-Su Valley residents to check out tools and supplies including ladders, shovels, paintbrushes, work gloves, rakes, leaf blowers, and power drills for home improvement and community projects.
• Week of Caring An annual valley-wide volunteer effort spanning five days each May, recruiting and deploying volunteers to assist local nonprofits with community improvement projects, generating over 400 volunteer hours annually.
• Stuff the Bus An annual back-to-school fair held in July providing free school supplies and backpacks to K-12 students from Matanuska-Susitna Borough public and charter schools experiencing financial hardship.
• Project Homeless Connect An annual one-day, one-stop resource event held each January providing essential services, housing assistance, public health resources, hygiene items, clothing, and hot meals to residents experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• Mat-Su VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) A disaster preparedness and response network coordinating local businesses, nonprofits, faith-based groups, and government agencies to prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters in the Mat-Su Valley.
• Resource Guide A comprehensive Mat-Su Valley community resource guide and Pocket Guide distributed to 26+ locations including hospitals, libraries, senior centers, police stations, and community organizations, helping residents locate local services and support resources.
• Parks and Playgrounds A community improvement initiative supporting safe, accessible parks and public spaces through equipment installation, maintenance, and development projects across the Mat-Su Valley.
• Community Impact Grants A local grant-making program supporting Mat-Su nonprofits through funding awards, reviewed by a volunteer grants committee to direct donated funds to community programs.
• Play 60 with the Seattle Seahawks A youth health and fitness initiative featuring flag football skills camps and activities promoting active lifestyles for Mat-Su Valley youth, in partnership with the Seattle Seahawks and Nike.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 snack sacks delivered to 500+ children through Meals for Mat-Su Littles program
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mat-Su Health FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor foundation partner supporting community health initiatives including Meals for Mat-Su Littles program and Early Childhood Partnership programming. Provides funding and resources for community benefit programs.
• Mat-Su Trails and Parks FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting parks and playgrounds initiatives including Tool Library funding and collaboration on trail projects. Supports permanent public art in Palmer core area.
• Rasmuson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska-based foundation partner supporting nonprofit capacity and community programs in Mat-Su Valley.
• Pick Click GiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska permanent fund dividend charitable giving program allowing residents to donate to local nonprofits including United Way of Mat-Su.
• Alaska State FairminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided Hoskins Exhibit Hall space for Meals for Mat-Su Littles program operations.
• Mat-Su Regional Medical CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner and location where Resource Guide is distributed to community members.
• Salvation Army Mat-SuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Meals for Mat-Su Littles program and disaster relief efforts through Mat-Su VOAD.
• Mat-Su Coalition on Housing and HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary partner in Project Homeless Connect annual event providing services to housing-insecure residents.
• Seattle SeahawksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNFL team partnership for Play 60 program promoting youth fitness and healthy lifestyles through flag football camps and activities.
• NikeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner for Girls Flag Football 2025 program with Seattle Seahawks.
• Mat-Su Sea HawkersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal fan group supporting Play 60 youth activities and Seahawks-related community events.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing membership standards, financial reporting guidelines, and support for local United Way branches. Requires annual certification of compliance with standards.
• WalmartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail partner supporting community programs through corporate giving and sponsorship.
• TargetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRetail partner supporting community programs through corporate giving and sponsorship.
• Subway of Mat-SuminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal restaurant providing lunch sponsorship for Play 60 youth events.
• Rotary Club of Mat-Su (Palmer Rotary)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerService organization partner participating in Week of Caring volunteer projects.
• Mat-Su BoroughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government partner for disaster response (Mat-Su VOAD), community facilities, and coordination on emergency preparedness and recovery programs.
• City of Houston (Alaska)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner supporting community programs and events in the Houston area.
• Chickaloon Tribal CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTribal partner; United Way acknowledges Ahtna and Dena'ina Athabascan peoples and commits to expanding partnerships with tribal elders, affiliates and councils.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Mat-Su: Local youth-development nonprofit serving the same Mat-Su Valley geography. Directly comparable because both organizations deliver out-of-school programming and safe supportive spaces for youth, often competing for the same donor dollars and foundation grants in the region.
• United Way of Pierce County: Mid-sized United Way affiliate operating with a comparable small-staff, multi-program community model in Pierce County, Washington. Similar in scale, programmatic scope (youth, housing, financial stability), and reliance on local fundraising campaigns, making it a strong size-tier comparable.
• United Way of Fairbanks: Another Alaska-based United Way affiliate serving the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Operates under the same United Way Worldwide framework with local autonomy, comparable community programs in youth, financial stability, and health, and similar fundraising via donations and corporate partnerships.
• United Way of Anchorage: Direct peer and fellow Alaska-based United Way affiliate serving the Anchorage municipality. Operates with a similar community-development, fundraising, and grantmaking model, but serves a larger urban population. Most directly comparable organization given shared state geography, organizational structure, and program portfolio.
• Salvation Army Mat-Su: Named partner delivering meals and disaster relief in the same Mat-Su Valley geography. Comparable as both organizations provide direct community services, food assistance, and disaster response, often through joint programs like Meals for Mat-Su Littles.
• American Red Cross of Alaska: Disaster response organization operating in Alaska through coordinated volunteer networks and emergency preparedness programs. Directly comparable on the Mat-Su VOAD disaster response work, and both organizations operate under the umbrella of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD).

Others

• Mat-Su Health Foundation: Major regional foundation funder supporting community health initiatives in the Mat-Su Valley. Listed as a core strategic partner funding programs like Meals for Mat-Su Littles and Early Childhood Partnership; functions more as a funding ecosystem participant than direct peer, but a critical comparable for foundation-backed community impact work.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Parent organization of the United Way network that sets membership standards, financial reporting guidelines, and provides support infrastructure to local affiliates. Functions as a broad incumbent governing body for the entire United Way system rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UNITEDWAYOFMATSU/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedwaymatsu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-matanuska-susitna-borough

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UNITED WAY OF MAT-SU BOROUGH