United Way of Central Illinois Inc

What it reported doing in 2025

Healthy communities - access to affordable, timely mental and behavioral health support remains out of reach for many in our community- especially for alice households, seniors, and underserved populations. Barriers such as cost, transportation, and stigma often prevent individuals from getting the help they need.united way of central Illinois is working to ensure individuals and families can access the support and guidance needed to navigate mental and behavioral health challenges.red feather grants provide specialized funding for unique community opportunities that fall outside the united way's standard funding norms.the program had two grants totaling $20,000 for the first six months of 2025: $10,000 for the american red cross of south-central il (funded via the emergency fund). $10,000 for a homeless management information system staff position, which manages data for 9+ organizations.directed designations - united way administers the distribution of designated donor contributions to qualifying nonprofit organizations.dolly parton imagination library (dpil) is designed to provide one, free, age-appropriate book per month for children from birth to age 5. The goal of the program is to instill the love of reading, provide books for those who may not be able to afford them and better prepare children to enter kindergarten ready to learn. Total expenses for dpil were $40,466.82.211 is a toll-free information and referral service provided to citizens in sangamon and menard counties. Total expenses for 211 were $8,453.33.day of action volunteers spend their afternoon completing community service projects at various health and human service agencies in springfield and surrounding areas. Total expenses for day of action were $3,360.get connected is united way's volunteer hub. The website offers any local nonprofit or community group in need of volunteers to post volunteer opportunities, in-kind needs, upcoming events, and even employment needs. Get connected then allows members of our community to respond to those needs, easily share with friends, create volunteer groups, track service hours, and even receive notifications when your favorite nonprofit posts a new need. This platform has quickly become our region's #1 source for locating and responding to local volunteer needs. Total expenses for get connected were $2,861.25.food insecurity - united way issued $30,865 in emergency food insecurity payments to bridge critical gaps for vulnerable individuals and families after government funding for community food programs was halted. This rapid-response initiative prevented a lapse in basic nutritional support, ensuring uninterrupted access to food for those experiencing severe hardship.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.8%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 81.1%; rating input score 81
• Fundraising efficiency: $13.21 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 45; 45th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 94.1%; rating input score 94; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 96%; rating input score 96; 36th 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; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 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: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 12.5%; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.12; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.06; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.1%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -4.5% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -1.7% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.2% per year; rating input score 100; 11th percentile among comparable filings