Black River United Way Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

The waccamaw region for childhood success is our tri-county response to early childhood needs in georgetown, horry, and williamsburg counties. Black river united way focuses on georgetown and williamsburg counties (united way of horry county focuses on horry county). This initiative focuses on kindergarten readiness and early grade reading, birth 3rd grade, and promotes working collaboratively between schools and communities that are committed to the success of every child. Through our waccamaw region for childhood success initiative we work in partnership with local school districts, child development facilities, and early education partners to support students struggling in reading, prepare rising learners for kindergarten, and empower families, caregivers, and teachers to help children read, learn, and thrive. Waccamaw region for childhood success implementing the five basics principles in local child development centers the basics waccamaw continues to grow across our region, bringing early learning principles to life through creative, hands-on experiences for young children. Grounded in early childhood brain science, the basics empowers families, caregivers, and educators to make everyday interactions powerful moments for learning. The five basics principles 1.maximize love, minimize stress 2.talk, sing, & point 3.count, group, & compare 4.explore through movement & play 5.read & discuss stories in partnership with black river united way, united way of horry county, and the waccamaw region for childhood success, local child development centers are incorporating these principles into daily routineshelping children build language, motor, social, and cognitive skills from the start. We are proud to have collaborated with the following child development centers in 2025 to implement the basics: 1. Little lamb child care 2. Little smurfs child development center 3. Pawleys island child development center 4. Sampit community child care center 5. The bibleway community learning center 6. The sunshine place all six child development centers enthusiastically participated in monthly madness, an engaging and interactive initiative created specifically for 3 and 4-year-olds. This thoughtfully designed activity packet offered a wide range of fun, hands-on experiences that encouraged children to explore, imagine, and learn through play. Each activity was carefully aligned with early childhood development goals, focusing on building foundational skills in language, motor development, social interaction, and cognitive growth. The goal of monthly madness was not only to provide variety in the classroom, but also to promote meaningful brain development during these critical early years. Teachers and caregivers reported that the children looked forward to each new activity, and the program added an exciting layer to their daily routines. By fostering creativity and curiosity in such an intentional way, monthly madness proved to be a valuable resource for both educators and young learners across all participating centers. Thriving families with triple p triple p (positive parenting program) continues to equip parents and caregivers with the tools, strategies, and confidence to navigate the everyday ups and downs of raising childrenespecially when it comes to behavior and emotions. Offered in partnership with the childrens trust of South Carolina, triple p is an evidence-based program that helps strengthen parentchild relationships, build resilience, and encourage positive behavior through practical, proven strategies. In 2025, bruw was proud to bring triple p to families across georgetown and williamsburg countieshosting sessions in collaboration with a fathers place, local elementary schools, and community organizations. These partnerships ensure parents and caregivers can access support where families already learn and grow together. Whether your child is facing a challenging phase or you simply want to build stronger connections at home, t

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73.9%; rating input score 74
• Program expense ratio: 52.5%; rating input score 53
• Fundraising efficiency: $12.04 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 27th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Limited
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -39.5%; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.63; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 26; 26th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 17.5%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -3.1% per year; rating input score 0; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -0.1% per year; rating input score 0; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.1% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings