United Way of Greater Charlotte Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Community investment: the community investment process focuses on economic mobility across the region, while also helping provide a safety net for people and families in need. Annually, united way of greater charlotte invests in more than 100 local nonprofit agencies and initiatives through the funding provided by generous corporate and private foundations, the public sector, and individual donors.(continued on schedule o) united way tailors its community investment process to the assets, strengths and needs of each county in our four-county footprint. In mecklenburg county, united way funds two initiatives:1) through united neighborhoods, united way supports resident-driven neighborhood revitalization efforts that improve economic mobility so that a person's zip code no longer determines their future success in the charlotte region. United way launched united neighborhoods in september 2017 with an investment over three years into the grier heights and renaissance west neighborhoods in charlotte. We expanded to the lakeview neighborhood in fy22. In fy23, united way deepened our commitment to united neighborhoods, investing $4.9m in 50+ historically disinvested neighborhoods in the city of charlotte, and in northern mecklenburg county.united neighborhoods focuses on partnerships with residents, community leaders, businesses, and nonprofits, backed by multi-year funding and staff resources from united way. United neighborhoods serves 50+ neighborhood's in mecklenburg county focusing on funding community quarterback organizations for each geography as well as nonrofit agencies providing direct programs and services based on neighborhood priorties. Neighborhood residents participate in creating priorities and serving on grant review panels, selecting the nonprofits that receive funding to provide services within their communities. 51% of each neighborhood grant review panel must be neighborhood residents.united neighborhoods also supports neighborhoods that are in the early stages of comprehensive revitalization with "block building grants." these grants are focused on building the capacity of small neighborhood organizations, funding community engagement activities and completing resident-driven neighborhood planning to identify needs and solutions.2) unite charlotte supports new and grassroots organizations through grants and capacity-building activities. Unite charlotte was founded as a collaborative effort with other local funders and community leaders to address issues that led to the unrest in charlotte in the fall of 2016. Through this initiative, united way supports 55 small and grassroots organizations, working to support and empower all charlotte residents. United charlotte agencies receive grants ranging from $20,000 to $60,000 as well as capacity building training. The founders and leaders of these grassroots organizations have a background and experience in the community they serve.united way funding, technical assistance and guidance help stabilize and grow nonprofits, preparing them to secure additional public and private funding. We also work to strengthen the leadership capabilities within unite charlotte organizations. Dedicated volunteers participated in the grant review process, evaluating agency applications to identify those organizations that can generate the greatest impact.in anson county, united way funding supports organizations addressing residents' basic needs, including food security, rent and utility assistance, and housing. Recognizing the importance of providing children and youth a pathway out of poverty, united way also supported organizations focused on early childhood development and youth mentoring. Volunteers awarded funding to four agencies working in anson county.in cabarrus county, united way's investments support a collaboration between mental health professionals and community organizations. Broadly, the collaborative's goals are to reduce stigma around mental health, prepare individual

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 99.3%; rating input score 99
• Program expense ratio: 72.8%; rating input score 73
• Fundraising efficiency: $9.51 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 37; 37th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.8%; rating input score 94; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 97%; rating input score 97; 27th 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; 66th 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: -30.9%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.19; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.27; rating input score 50; 50th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.6%; rating input score 46; 46th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -4.9% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.3% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -0.4% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings