Skip to content
United Way of Northwest Illinois Inc at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

United Way of Northwest Illinois Inc

To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.

$226k
Granted FY2025still arriving
9
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$45k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Human Services$870kYouth Development$365kArts & Culture$301kCrime & Legal$291kHealth$236kEmployment$80kCommunity Improvement$78kEducation$32kOther$0
02FY2025 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 9 grants below total $209,928, the rows itemized in this filing. The $225,501 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $15,573 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k2 grants · $13k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $197k
$18,600
Median grant
2
States reached
$1.2M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
RAMP$45,000
AMITY SOCIETY$40,000
DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION$35,928
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB$30,000
VOICES$18,600
FACC$16,000
TYLER'S JUSTICE CENTER FOR CHILDREN$11,400
YMCA OF NORTHWEST ILLINOIS$7,000
NICAA$6,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $684k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 92% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%RAMP: $21k → 9%RAMP: $21k → 9%CHILDREN'S HOME & AID SOCIETY: $5k → 14%RAMP: $10k → 9%AMITY SOCIETY: $60k → 14%AMITY SOCIETY: $55k → 14%Amity Society: $52k → 14%AMITY SOCIETY: $50k → 14%THE LIAM FOUNDATION: $5k → 15%CARPENTER'S PLACE: $5k → 15%AMITY SOCIETY: $40k → 14%AMITY SOCIETY: $40k → 14%AMITY SOCIETY: $40k → 14%AMITY SOCIETY: $40k → 14%FACC: $23k → 14%FACC: $23k → 14%Senior Center: $20k → 14%FREEPORT AREA CHURCH COOPERATION: $17k → 14%FACC: $16k → 14%FACC: $15k → 14%FACC: $14k → 14%FACC: $13k → 14%SENIOR CENTER: $13k → 14%SENIOR CENTER: $10k → 14%FACC: $10k → 14%FACC: $10k → 14%SENIOR CENTER: $9k → 14%American Red Cross: $8k → 14%Malcolm Eaton Enterprises: $7k → 14%MOTHER HUBBARD'S KIDDIE CUPBOARD: $6k → 14%NICAA: $6k → 14%Mother Hubbard's Cupboard: $6k → 14%NICAA: $6k → 14%AMITY SOCIETY: $5k → 14%FREEPORT AREA CHURCH COOPERATION: $5k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.2M · 22 repeat orgs$178k to everyone else

22 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 13 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
16

Total granted

$2.2M
$178k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+16%
+20%

Still filing today

86%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesHealthYouth DevelopmentCrime & LegalCommunity ImprovementPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • AS
    AMITY SOCIETY OF FREEPORT INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $382k · revenue +99%
  • TB
    THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF FREEPORT AND STEPHENSON COUNTY
    9× · 2017–2025 · $320k · revenue +41%
  • THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION
    5× · 2021–2025 · $284k · revenue +91%

Funded once

  • NI
    Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence
    one grant, 2021 · $55k · revenue +15%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2020 · $30k
  • AM
    ART MUSEUM
    one grant, 2020 · $17k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Illinois Institute for Children

Providing Social Services to Families including Child Care

Human Services
2
Freeport Memorial Hospital

Our mission is to improve the health of our communities, working together with those we serve.

Health
3
Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation
Human Services
4
Family Counseling Services of No Il

To foster stronger communities by providing individuals with accessible, professional counseling and mental health care that empowers them to thrive

Human Services
5
Lake County Crisis Center

A safe place is the leading advocate for eliminating domestic violence & human trafficking in northern illinois.

—
6
Northwest Community Center

To enrich the quality of life within the diverse population of northwest rockford.

—
7
Childrens Advocacy Center of East Central Illinois

To assist children who have been victims of abuse

Crime & Legal
8
United Way of Illinois

Strengthen United Way movement in Illinois

Philanthropy
9
Central Illinois Services

To foster low income housing, develop and promote affordable homeownership and rental opportunities, support community develpment, social services, and educational opportunities for individuals and families throughout menard county and the…

—
10
Illinois Fiscal Policy Council
Public Benefit
11
West Central Illinois Case Coordination Unit

To promptly and efficiently promote and provide a wide array of programs to meet the needs of the elderly, their families and those who care for them in a confidential and professional manner.

Unclassified
12
Mental Health Centers of Western Il

Provide mental health services.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Children's Home & Aid Society of Ill; the most unlike its peers is Rockin Appalachian Mom Project Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

28 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 28 of the 38 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/28
Grantees still filing
21/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION: $284,227 · OtherTHE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATIONVOICES OF STEPHENSON COUNTY: $228,535 · OtherVOICES OF STEPHENSON COUNTYREGIONAL ACCESS & MOBILIZATION PROJECT INC: $136,950 · OtherREGIONAL ACCESS & MOBILIZATION PROJECT INCCONTACT OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS: $115,634 · OtherCONTACT OF NORTHERN ILLINOISCAREER TEC - UNITE: $80,000 · OtherCAREER TEC - UNITEYOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF FREEPORT ILLINOIS: $72,752 · OtherYOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF FREEPORT ILLINOI…+12 more: $176,744 · Other+12 moreAMITY SOCIETY OF FREEPORT INC: $381,881 · Human ServicesAMITY SOCIETY OF FREEPORT INCFREEPORT AREA CHURCH COOPERATIVE: $145,575 · Human ServicesFREEPORT AREA CHURCH COOPERATIVEStephenson County Senior Center DBA Senior Resource Center: $51,609 · Human ServicesStephenson County Senior Center …ROCKIN APPALACHIAN MOM PROJECT INC: $51,311 · Human ServicesROCKIN APPALACHIAN MOM PROJECT I…+7 more: $53,626 · Human Services+7 moreTHE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF FREEPORT AND STEPHENSON COUNTY: $320,469 · Youth DevelopmentTHE BOYS AND GI…GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS: $11,052 · Youth DevelopmentJANE ADDAMS INC: $62,539 · HealthFREEPORT REGIONAL HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION: $17,738 · HealthPUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION OF NORTHWEST IL: $7,494 · HealthTyler's Justice Center for Children: $62,155 · Crime & LegalNorthern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence: $55,000 · Community ImprovementRiverview Center Inc: $32,038 · EducationUNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY: $5,000 · Philanthropy
Other$1,094,842Human Services$684,002Youth Development$331,521Health$87,771Crime & Legal$62,155Community Improvement$55,000Education$32,038Philanthropy$5,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetAMITY SOCIETY OF FREEPORT INC: $381,881 over 9y, 5.0% of budgetTHE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF FREEPORT AND STEPHENSON COUNTY: $320,469 over 9y, 14% of budgetTHE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION: $284,227 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetVOICES OF STEPHENSON COUNTY: $228,535 over 9y, 8.3% of budgetFREEPORT AREA CHURCH COOPERATIVE: $145,575 over 9y, 3.8% of budgetREGIONAL ACCESS & MOBILIZATION PROJECT INC: $136,950 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetCONTACT OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS: $115,634 over 7y, 32% of budgetYOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF FREEPORT ILLINOIS: $72,752 over 9y, 0.9% of budgetJANE ADDAMS INC: $62,539 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetTyler's Justice Center for Children: $62,155 over 7y, 6.7% of budgetNorthern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence: $55,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetStephenson County Senior Center DBA Senior Resource Center: $51,609 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetROCKIN APPALACHIAN MOM PROJECT INC: $51,311 over 3y, 28% of budgetNORMAN C SLEEZER YOUTH HOME: $33,449 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetRiverview Center Inc: $32,038 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetFREEPORT REGIONAL HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION: $17,738 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY: $12,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMOTHER HUBBARD'S KIDDIE CUPBOARD: $12,000 over 2y, 37% of budgetKING'S DAUGHTER'S CHILDRENS HOME: $11,096 over 4y, 1.9% of budgetGIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS: $11,052 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $8,026 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPUBLIC HEALTH FOUNDATION OF NORTHWEST IL: $7,494 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetMALCOLM EATON ENTERPRISES: $6,600 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCARPENTER'S PLACE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSN OF ILLINOIS: $5,000 over 1y, 6.5% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOME & AID SOCIETY OF ILL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE LIAM FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 6.6% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Community Foundation …Northern Illinois Foo…United Way of Rock Ri…Bergstrom Inc Charita…Enterprise Holdings F…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Community Foundation of Northern ILIL36.5× affinity15 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation of Northern IL · Northern Illinois Food Bank · United Way of Rock River Valley · Bergstrom Inc Charitable Foundation Xxxxx2008 · Enterprise Holdings Foundation · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization United Way of Northwest Illinois Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from United Way of Northwest Illinois Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2023
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 38 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on United Way of Northwest Illinois’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home