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United Ways of Tennessee at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

United Ways of Tennessee

UNITED WAYS OF TENNESSEE is a statewide organization providing member support services to 31 united ways across the state.

$157k
Granted FY2023
6
Grants FY2023
1
States reached
$43k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2023.

Education$445kPhilanthropy$91k
02FY2023 · 6 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 6 grants below total $136,270, the rows itemized in this filing. The $157,270 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $21,000 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 · FY2023

  • Under $10k1 grant · $7k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $129k
$22,490
Median grant
1
States reached
$480k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNITED WAY OF WEST TN$42,860
UNITED WAY OF MID SOUTH$27,640
UNITED WAY OF CLINCH-POWELL VALLEY$22,490
UNITED WAY OF BRISTOL TN-VA$20,930
UNITED WAY OF GREATER KINGSPORT INC$14,930
UNITED WAY OF HAWKINS COUNTY$7,420
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 (FY20–20, $3k) land where the poverty rate runs at 7%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%UNITED WAY OF WILSON COUNTY: $3k → 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.

95%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$509k · 12 repeat orgs$26k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue -3% since the first grant, against -8% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2023, 6 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
7

Total granted

$509k
$26k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

-3%
-8%

Still filing today

92%
86%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23
PhilanthropyHuman ServicesEducationOther
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

  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF WEST TENNESSEINC STARKS
    3× · 2020–2023 · $100k · revenue +200%
  • UW
    UNITED WAY CLINCH-POWELL VALLEY INC
    5× · 2018–2023 · $59k · revenue +315%
  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF EAST TENNESSEE HIGHLANDS INC
    3× · 2018–2020 · $25k · revenue +132%

Funded once

  • WV
    WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2021 · $8k · revenue -17%
  • MC
    MONROE COUNTY UNITED WAY FUND INC
    one grant, 2018 · $6k · revenue -8%
  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF BLOUNT COUNTY
    one grant, 2020 · $3k · revenue +1%
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
United Way of Etowah County Inc

United way brings together people and resources and collaborates with over 27 local non-profit agencies to advance the common good in etowah county.

—
2
United Way of Central Kentucky Inc

To improve lives by providing support through funding local agenies and performing community growth activities.

Human Services
3
United Way of Calhoun County

The mission of the united way of calhoun county is to help increase the organized capacity of people in calhoun county to care for one another.

Philanthropy
4
United Way of Williams County

The united way of williams county improves the quality of life within its community by connecting volunteers, organizations and resources to advance health, education, and financial stability.

Philanthropy
5
United Way of Wilkes County Inc

United way of wilkes county is dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens by underwriting identified programs that enhance their well-being through our 21 partner agencies. the united way of wilkes county annually impacts over 32,000…

Philanthropy
6
Greene County United Way Inc

To be clearly recognized as the most effective way to serve the most people through organizing voluntary efforts aimed at strengthening the Greene County community.

Philanthropy
7
United Way of Whiteside County

Providing dynamic leadership in uniting people and resources to create lasting change that improves lives and strengthens our communities.

Philanthropy
8
United Way of Waco-Mclennan County

United way of waco-mclennan county strengthens the community by mobilizing resources to measurably improve lives.

Philanthropy
9
United Way of West Alabama Inc

The mission of united way of west alabama is to promote the general welfare of the citizens of west alabama by: raising funds, on an annual basis, to assist the effective delivery of health and human care programs and services, allocating…

Philanthropy
10
United Way of the Blue Mountains

Uwbm empowers donors, volunteers, advocates, and agencies to improve the health, education and financial stability of every person in columbia, garfield and walla walla counties in wa and baker, morrow, umatilla, union and wallowa counties…

Philanthropy
11
United Way of Umatilla & Morrow Counties

United way of umatilla and morrow counties empowers individual givers to support their communities in caring for those in need.

—
12
United Ways of Tennessee

United ways of tennessee is a statewide organization providing member support services to 31 united ways across the state. we accomplish our mission through advocacy, collaboration and collective action that provides solutions to our…

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is United Way of South Central Tennessee; the most unlike its peers is United Way of ElizabethtonCarter County. 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

19 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.

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

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
17/19
Grantees still filing
8/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNITED WAY OF WEST TENNESSEINC STARKS: $99,793 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF WEST TENNESSEINC STARKSUNITED WAY OF THE MID SOUTH: $82,743 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF THE MID SOUTHUNITED WAY OF GREATER KINGSPORT INC: $65,718 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF GREATER KINGSPORT INCUNITED WAY OF EAST TENNESSEE HIGHLANDS INC: $25,393 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF EAST TENNESSEE HIGHLANDS INCUnited Way of Hawkins County Inc: $24,800 · PhilanthropyUnited Way of Hawkins County IncUNITED WAY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE INC: $21,143 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE INCUNITED WAY OF THE OCOEE REGION: $16,250 · Philanthropy+3 more: $7,500 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY CLINCH-POWELL VALLEY INC: $59,475 · OtherUNITED WAY CLINCH-POWELL VALLEY INCUNITED WAY OF BRISTOL TN-VA INC: $41,825 · OtherUNITED WAY OF BRISTOL TN-VA INCUNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLEINC: $39,893 · OtherUNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLEINCUNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TENNESSEE: $17,143 · OtherUNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TENNESSEEUNITED WAY OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY: $15,250 · OtherUNITED WAY OF WILLIAMSON COUNTYMONROE COUNTY UNITED WAY FUND INC: $6,250 · Other+1 more: $2,000 · OtherWEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 · EducationUnited Way of Wilson County & the Upper Cumberland: $3,000 · Human Services
Philanthropy$343,340Other$181,836Education$7,500Human Services$3,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNITED WAY OF WEST TENNESSEINC STARKS: $99,793 over 3y, 2.6% of budgetUNITED WAY OF THE MID SOUTH: $82,743 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER KINGSPORT INC: $65,718 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetUNITED WAY CLINCH-POWELL VALLEY INC: $59,475 over 5y, 2.2% of budgetUNITED WAY OF BRISTOL TN-VA INC: $41,825 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLEINC: $39,893 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF EAST TENNESSEE HIGHLANDS INC: $25,393 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetUnited Way of Hawkins County Inc: $24,800 over 3y, 8.6% of budgetUNITED WAY OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE INC: $21,143 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF SOUTH CENTRAL TENNESSEE: $17,143 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetUNITED WAY OF THE OCOEE REGION: $16,250 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetUNITED WAY OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY: $15,250 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetWEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMONROE COUNTY UNITED WAY FUND INC: $6,250 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetUNITED WAY OF BLOUNT COUNTY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUnited Way of Wilson County & the Upper Cumberland: $3,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY: $1,500 over 1y, 0.8% 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.

Truist Foundation IncUnited Way WorldwideAT&T FoundationLumen Clarke M Willia…United Way of Middle …Publix Super Markets …Haslam Family Foundat…Tennessee Health Foun…The Blackbaud Giving …Citizens Bank Tri-Cit…United Way of William…Eastman Credit Union
Truist Foundation IncFL26.6× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Truist Foundation Inc · United Way Worldwide · AT&T Foundation · Lumen Clarke M Williams Foundation · United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc · Publix Super Markets Charities Inc · Haslam Family Foundation Inc · Tennessee Health Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Citizens Bank Tri-Cities Foundation Ltd · United Way of Williamson County · Eastman Credit Union

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 Ways of Tennessee funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from United Ways of Tennessee. 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%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
    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 19 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 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports $13k of grant expense, but none of it to a named recipient. On a Form 990 that can mean grants abroad, filed by region only (Schedule F), grants under $5,000, which are not itemized, or a schedule referenced as an attachment the e-file does not carry. The figures above are therefore from FY2023, the most recent year this funder named its grantees.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on United Ways of Tennessee’s 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