Skip to content

· Public charity

United Way of Northwest Michigan

To improve lives by connecting and mobilizing the caring power of communities in our region to advance the common good.

$61k
Granted FY2025still arriving
2
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$11k
Largest
01What it funds
01100% 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$155kEducation$88kHousing & Shelter$67kPhilanthropy$64kYouth Development$49kHealth$45kCommunity Improvement$43kArts & Culture$30kOther$0
02FY2025 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 2 grants below total $19,500, the rows itemized in this filing. The $60,691 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $41,191 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 $10k1 grant · $8k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $11k
$11,250
Median grant
1
States reached
$6.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SALVATION ARMY$11,250
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY$8,250
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 (FY17–22, $97k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 41% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 9%WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN: $10k → 9%GENERATIONS AHEAD: $15k → 10%FATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $10k → 10%WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER GRAND TRAVERSE: $15k → 7%FATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $10k → 10%FATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $5k → 10%WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER GRAND TRAVERSE: $10k → 7%NW MI SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: $10k → 7%WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER: $8k → 7%NORTHWEST MICHIGAN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: $5k → 7%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.

51%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$291k · 13 repeat orgs$282k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +95% since the first grant, against +77% for those funded once.

13 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

13
23

Total granted

$291k
$282k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+95%
+77%

Still filing today

62%
61%

New vs renewed · share of each year

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

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

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

’17’18’19’21’22’24’25
Human ServicesReligionEducationHousing & ShelterArts & CultureYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • WR
    WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER GRAND TRAVERSE AREA
    3× · 2017–2019 · $33k · revenue +123%
  • TG
    The Great Lakes Childrens Museum
    2× · 2018–2021 · $30k · revenue +43%
  • JA
    JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA
    2× · 2019–2022 · $25k · revenue +125%

Funded once

  • VN
    VARIOUS NON-PROFIT AGENCIES
    one grant, 2017 · $28k
  • MF
    MUNSON FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2018 · $22k
  • TS
    THE SALVATION ARMY
    one grant, 2019 · $20k
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
Gw Homeless Services of Northern Michigan Inc

The mission of gw homeless services of northern michigan, inc is to provide safe, supportive shelter to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Human Services
2
Goodwill Industries of Northern Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Inc

To provide opportunities for vocational training, job placement assistance, and the developement of independent living skills for people with disabilities or other barriers to employment.

Employment
3
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Michigan Inc

Goodwill provides exceptional opportunities for people facing employment barriers.

—
4
Goodwill Industries of West Michigan Inc

Goodwill believes that work has the power to transform lives and plays a critical role in achieving security, independence, self-worth, pride, and respect. goodwill's vision is that every person has a pathway to meaningful and sustaining…

—
5
Goodwill Industries of Central Michigan's Heartland Inc

Changing lives through the power of work.

Employment
6
Northwest Michigan Community Action

The organization's mission is to foster positive change by providing opportunities that promote self-sufficiency, improving the quality of life and building stronger, more connected communitites. northwest michigan community action agency,…

Human Services
7
Greater Lansing Food Bank

Partner to alleviate hunger one meal at a time, to create a future where everyone has access to nourishing food.

Food & Nutrition
8
Good Samaritan Ministries

Good samaritan is committed to ending poverty and homelessness, in partnership with our community, by leading the way in providing affordable housing solutions and supportive services.

Human Services
9
Feeding America West Michigan

We gather and distribute food to relieve hunger and increase food security in west michigan and the upper peninsula. contributions and net assets consist primarily of donated food for distribution.

—
10
Habitat for Humanity of Michigan Inc

Our mission is to assist our affiliates to increase capacity to build simple decent homes in partnership with people in need in the State of Michigan.

Housing & Shelter
11
Outreach East

At Outreach East, our mission is simple yet powerful: to ensure no neighbor in our community has to go without life's essentials. We are a non-denominational, community-based nonprofit serving families in Davison, Burton, Goodrich,…

Human Services
12
Northwest Michigan Rural Housing Partnership

To help provide safe, accessible, and affordable housing in Northwest Michigan.

Housing & Shelter
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan Inc; the most unlike its peers is Newtons Road Northwest. 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

23 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

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 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 23 of the 37 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
21/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

VARIOUS NON-PROFIT AGENCIES: $27,520 · OtherVARIOUS NON-PROFIT AGENCIESTRAVERSE BAY AREA ISD: $25,000 · OtherTRAVERSE BAY AREA ISDJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN: $23,500 · OtherJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NORTHWEST MICHIGANSALVATION ARMY: $23,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMYMUNSON FOUNDATION: $22,000 · OtherMUNSON FOUNDATIONTHE SALVATION ARMY: $20,000 · OtherTHE SALVATION ARMYTRAVERSE BAY CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER: $20,000 · OtherTRAVERSE BAY CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTERHABITAT FOR HUMANITY - GRAND TRAVERSE REGION: $20,000 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY - GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONTRAVERSE CITY AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS: $19,000 · OtherTRAVERSE CITY AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLSMUNSON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATIONS: $18,300 · OtherROTARY CLUB TWILIGHT FOUNDATION: $17,500 · OtherCADILLAC AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: $17,000 · OtherADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES INC: $12,000 · OtherGOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN INC: $15,000 · OtherGROW BENZIE INC: $15,000 · Other+10 more: $58,500 · Other+10 moreWOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER GRAND TRAVERSE AREA: $32,500 · Human ServicesWOMEN'S RESOURCE C…FATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $25,000 · Human ServicesFATHER FRED FOUNDA…NORTHWEST MICHIGAN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: $15,000 · Human ServicesNORTHWEST MICHIGAN…GENERATIONS AHEAD: $14,800 · Human ServicesGENERATIONS AHEADWomens Resource Center of Northern Michigan Inc: $10,000 · Human ServicesWomens Resource Ce…GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $24,365 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN: $15,000 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOOLS OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN INC: $23,850 · EducationNewtons Road Northwest: $13,475 · EducationThe Great Lakes Childrens Museum: $30,000 · Arts & CultureJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA: $25,000 · Youth DevelopmentSEEDS: $15,500 · Environment
Other$353,320Human Services$97,300Philanthropy$39,365Education$37,325Arts & Culture$30,000Youth Development$25,000Environment$15,500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetWOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER GRAND TRAVERSE AREA: $32,500 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetThe Great Lakes Childrens Museum: $30,000 over 2y, 2.7% of budgetJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT USA: $25,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetGRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $24,365 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOOLS OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN INC: $23,850 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetTRAVERSE BAY CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER: $20,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY - GRAND TRAVERSE REGION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetMUNSON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATIONS: $18,300 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCADILLAC AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: $17,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetSEEDS: $15,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetGOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN: $15,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetGROW BENZIE INC: $15,000 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetNORTHWEST MICHIGAN SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: $15,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetGENERATIONS AHEAD: $14,800 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetNewtons Road Northwest: $13,475 over 1y, 9.9% of budgetADDICTION TREATMENT SERVICES INC: $12,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWomens Resource Center of Northern Michigan Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetDANNS HOUSE: $10,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetACME CHRISTIAN THRIFT STORE &FOOD PANTRY: $10,000 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetBENZIE AREA CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Grand Traverse Regional Community FoundationMI45.1× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation · Oleson Foundation · The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation · Rotary Charities of Traverse City · Consumers Energy Foundation · The Broad Family Foundation · The Carls Foundation · DTE Energy Foundation · Les & Ann Biederman Foundation Inc · Impact 100 of Traverse City Inc · The Herrington-Fitch Family Foundation Inc C/O Leslie Lee · Jim and Diana Huckle Family 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 Michigan funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from United Way of Northwest Michigan. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    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 37 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 Michigan’s filings →

    More from the funding graph