United Way of Berks County Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

More than 190,000 children, families and seniors benefitted from vital health and human services programs funded by united way of berks county (uwbc) throughout 2025. Uwbc's work and investments focus on four areas: education, financial stability, health and safety net services.see additional information on sch o.during 2025, uwbc invested funding in 51 programs delivered by 33 agencies and 5 contracted partners, as well as supported community initiatives and provided various one-time grants. All programs uwbc invests in annually are evaluated by our community impact cabinet, focus area panels (fap) and compliance reviewers, representing 50 volunteer community members from various sectors. These volunteers dedicate invaluable time to ensure uwbc dollars are invested in high-priority programs that address critical current community needs, as well as programs that are high-performing - consistently and effectively delivering a high-quality program producing meaningful results for participants. Annually, programs receiving uwbc investments are required to submit a report that details how uwbc dollars are spent to support programming and the outcomes achieved by clients. These outcomes play a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of uwbc investments in programs. In addition to the programs outlined below, you can read more about uwbc's various 2025 grant recipients as reported on schedule i. Uwbc invested in the following programs in 2025: empower youth: helping young people reach their full potentialunited way believes that everyone can play a role in ensuring that children grow up to be productive citizens and members of our community. This begins with a good education that is the foundation for a child's success in work and life, along with providing supportive programming that helps youth develop necessary skills for their futures. To meet this goal, key issues addressed by uwbc and its supported programs in this focus area include early childhood care, school readiness, school success, and positive youth development since these issues are all intertwined in helping children achieve their potential. These programs impacted over 47,005 children and youth in berks county in 2025. Early care and school readiness - community-level outcome: families have access to affordable and quality early learning experiences that result in kindergarten readiness. -- community services for children, inc. Is a leader in providing the highest quality early childhood education and family services for economically disadvantaged families. Supporting families in choosing and affording quality childcare is one of the main functions of the early learning resource center. While support around childcare continues to be a great need in the community, the availability of dollars supported by united way helps alleviate demands on the child care works subsidy program has meant that the waiting times to access care is reduced. The focus has been on supporting families in need who do not qualify for other funding sources to be able to have access to childcare. -- opportunity house, childcare: the second street learning center is a comprehensive community childcare program for children ages 6 weeks to 13 years focusing on creativity, socialization, and the development of high self-esteem. Activities are designed to meet the needs of each individual child. Multi-cultural and developmentally appropriate materials and equipment are offered. In 2025, opportunity house opened patton avenue learning center as another comprehensive childcare program. --ymca of reading & berks county, childcare: offers a scientifically-based, implemented early childhood curriculum that aligns with the Pennsylvania learning standards for early childhood. Since play is the foundation for young children's learning and development, the ymca provides well-equipped and carefully arranged classrooms.- community-level outcome: individuals gain knowledge and develop skills to establish

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 66.7%; rating input score 67
• Program expense ratio: 79%; rating input score 79
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.06 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 30; 30th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.3%; rating input score 99; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 20.9%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.21; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.09; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.2%; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.4% per year; rating input score 100; 28th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 3.8% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.1% per year; rating input score 100; 43rd percentile among comparable filings