United Way Of Lake County

What United Way Of Lake County does

United Way of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in the 1920s (as Community Chest of Waukegan and North Chicago) and headquartered in Gurnee, Illinois. It operates as an independent affiliate of United Way Worldwide's global network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways across 40+ countries. The organization runs four core programs: Success By 6 (early childhood education and kindergarten readiness), Youth Success (mentorship and academic support for middle and high school students including the Breakfast Club and Parent Mentor Program), the 211 helpline (a free, confidential, 24/7 social services referral service with 407,000+ connections to date), and Stuff the Bus (school supply distribution serving 3,388 students in 2025). It also runs two affinity groups for donor engagement: Women United (115+ members, $1.8M granted since 2014) and Leaders United.

The organization's primary technology is the 211 helpline system, which connects Lake County residents to 1,500+ health and human service providers, and the Lantern text messaging platform that delivers child development tips in English, Spanish, and Arabic. Service delivery is distributed through partnerships with school districts (Waukegan, Antioch, Beach Park, Round Lake, Fox Lake, North Chicago), libraries (Waukegan Public Library), community organizations, and corporate partners. Quinton Snodgrass became President and CEO in April 2025, succeeding Kristi Long who led the organization for 23 years.

The revenue model is mission-driven and donation-based, drawing from individual donations (credit card, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, ACH, stock, IRA rollovers, donor-advised funds, planned giving), workplace giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships of signature events (Premier Leaders Event raised $255K+ in 2025), affinity group memberships ($1,000/year Women United; $250/year Leaders United), and foundation grants. Women United distributes grants through the Little Kids, Big Futures fund ($195K in 2026). The organization is rated 4-Star by Charity Navigator, holds a GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal, and is BBB Accredited.

Name

United Way Of Lake County

Legal name

United Way of Lake County, Inc.

Website

https://uwlakeco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Gurnee, Illinois that runs early childhood education, youth mentorship, school supply, and 211 helpline programs for Lake County families, supported by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and affinity groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO)

Keywords

• Community nonprofit services
• Early childhood education
• Youth mentorship programs
• Social services helpline
• Workplace giving campaigns

Headquarters

HQ city

Gurnee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute through credit card, mobile pay (PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, ACH), checks, stock/securities donations, IRA charitable rollovers, donor-advised funds, and planned giving through wills and living trusts.
2. Workplace Giving Campaigns: Corporate workplace campaigns allow employees to support causes through payroll deductions, with matching gift programs that can double or triple impact.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Companies sponsor signature events (Premier Leaders Event, Big Futures Bash, Power of the Purse) and programs (Women United, Leaders United) to gain visibility while supporting community impact.
4. Foundation and Grant Funding: Women United distributes grants through the Little Kids, Big Futures fund ($195,390 in 2026, $188,000 in 2025, $181,000 in 2024) to early education programs.
5. COVID-19 Response Fund: Emergency response fundraising during the pandemic raised over $1.2 million and was granted back to the community to address urgent needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United Way of Lake County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that mobilizes community resources to deliver early childhood education programs (Success By 6, Kindergarten Countdown Camp, Early Learning Clubs, Better Together), youth mentorship (Breakfast Club, Parent Mentors), a 24/7 211 information and referral helpline, and a school supply initiative (Stuff the Bus) for residents of Lake County, Illinois.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Success By 6 Early childhood education initiative launched in 2006 to ensure children enter school ready to succeed, including Kindergarten Countdown Camp, Early Learning Clubs, and Better Together for families with children ages 0-3 across Lake County.
• 211 Helpline Free, confidential 24/7 information and referral helpline connecting Lake County residents with health and human service providers across more than 1,500 partner agencies.
• Parent Mentor Program Program serving K-5 students at six elementary schools through parent volunteer mentors, with reported 28% improvement in reading and math scores from school principals.
• Breakfast Club Mentorship program serving 8th graders in Waukegan with peer mentors from Waukegan High School National Honor Society; 96% of students would recommend and 92% feel better prepared for high school.
• Stuff the Bus Annual school supply drive distributing backpacks filled with supplies to local students; $40 donation provides one local student with a backpack full of supplies.
• Women United Affinity group of women leaders committed to early childhood education; 115+ members, $1,000 annual standard membership or $42/month reduced rate (age 36 and under).
• Leaders United Network of young professionals providing mentorship to middle school students, volunteering for community projects, and developing leadership skills; $250 annual membership.
• Lantern Text Messaging Program National texting program providing expert tips, games, and child development information directly to parents and caregivers, available in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
• COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund Emergency response fundraising program launched in March 2020 that raised over $1.2 million and granted funds back to the community to address urgent needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Kindergarten readiness scores increased from 6% (2006) to 57% (2018) through Success By 6 program
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HPcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and funder supporting United Way of Lake County's community initiatives and early childhood education programs.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner supporting health and human services initiatives, including 211 expansion across Illinois.
• Northwestern MedicinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare partner supporting community health initiatives and 211 referral services.
• AbbottcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and funder supporting early childhood education programs and community initiatives.
• AbbViecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and funder supporting community programs.
• BMOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution partner and funder supporting early childhood education.
• ITWcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community initiatives.
• TrustmarkcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and funder.
• Old National BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial institution partner supporting community initiatives.
• North Shore GascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility company partner supporting community programs.
• Lake County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for 211 launch and community resilience initiatives.
• Snap-oncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community initiatives.
• Six Flags Great AmericacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and sponsor of community events.
• ComcastcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community initiatives.
• AllstatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community programs.
• GraingercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and funder supporting community initiatives.
• ComEdcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUtility company partner supporting community programs.
• MedlinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community health initiatives.
• CaterpillarcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community initiatives.
• AmcorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community programs.
• AoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting community initiatives, including Calm Down Kits program.
• P&GcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and funder.
• HACES (Hispanic American Community Education and Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit partner for Parent Mentor Program serving Waukegan school communities.
• College of Lake CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner providing workforce development and community engagement.
• 211 Lake County NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 1,500+ health and human service providers partnering with 211 helpline to connect residents with resources.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Lake County: Local YWCA chapter providing family services, early childhood education, and youth programs in Lake County. Overlapping program portfolio and shared school-district and corporate partners.
• Lake County Community Foundation: Community foundation serving Lake County with grantmaking, donor-advised funds, and local impact programs. Competes for the same donor and corporate partner dollars in the same geography.
• Boys & Girls Club of Lake County: Lake County-based youth development nonprofit serving similar low-income children and families with after-school, mentorship, and teen programs. Direct peer in geography and youth/family mission.
• United Way of Metro Chicago: Regional United Way serving the Chicago metropolitan area with the same community-impact, donor-advised, and 211/helpline model. Highly comparable operating model, donor base, and program structure as UWLC.
• United Way of DuPage & Western Cook County: Adjacent Illinois United Way chapter with the same model of workplace giving, 211/community-resiliency, and youth programs. Directly comparable operational and fundraising structure.

Broad incumbents

• Start Early (formerly Ounce of Prevention Fund): Illinois-based nonprofit focused exclusively on early childhood education for at-risk children birth to age 5. Comparable mission to UWLC's Success By 6 and Kindergarten Countdown Camp programs, but operating at state/national scale.
• United Way of Illinois: State-level United Way association providing advocacy, training, and 211 coordination across Illinois. UWLC's CEO chairs the 211 Illinois effort, making this both a peer and a coordination counterpart.
• United Way Worldwide: Global umbrella organization for nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways across 40+ countries. Provides the 211 and Lantern platforms UWLC uses; sets brand and reporting standards for all local United Ways.

Others

• Mothers Trust Foundation: Lake County nonprofit providing scholarships for early education, enrichment, and extracurricular programs for children in need. UWLC has funded Mothers Trust via Women United grants; both serve overlapping populations and compete for similar donor dollars.

Emerging players

• Reading Power: Lake County-area nonprofit providing early literacy tutoring, a current UWLC Women United grantee. Comparable early-childhood literacy focus but smaller scale; potential direct competitor for literacy funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/unitedwaylakeco
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UWLakeCounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedwaylakeco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-lake-county
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwaylakeco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Lake County