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Traverse City MI | IRS ruling year: 1971 | EIN: 38-1679060
Organization Mission
United Way of Northwest Michigan believes that to truly improve lives in our region we must act collectively to impact the critical issues affecting residents of Ant ... (More)
United Way of Northwest Michigan believes that to truly improve lives in our region we must act collectively to impact the critical issues affecting residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Benzie, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties. We are committed to bringing together partners across all sectors in order to address community concerns before they become problems. In so doing, we create sustainable community change. Our mission is to efficiently raise and effectively distribute both financial and volunteer resources to support community-determined initiatives that improve the lives of community members. (Less)
Great
This charity's score is 100%, earning it a Four-Star rating. If this organization aligns with your passions and values, you can give with confidence.
This overall score is calculated from multiple beacon scores, weighted as follows: 90% Accountability & Finance, 10% Leadership & Adaptability. Learn more about our criteria and methodology.
We recognize that not all metrics and beacons equally predict a charity’s success. The percentage each beacon contributes to the organization’s overall rating depends on the number of beacons an organization has earned.
Use the tool below to select different beacons to see how the weighting shifts when only one, two, or three beacons are earned.
Charity Navigator's ratings previously did not consider Leadership & Adaptability, Culture & Community, or Impact & Results. The historic rating mainly reflects a version of today’s Accountability and Finance score. More information on our previous rating methodologies can be found on our rating methodology page.
| Date Published | Overall Rating | ||
| 9/1/2021 | | ||
| 5/1/2020 | | ||
| 4/1/2020 |  | ||
| 2/1/2019 | | ||
This organization received multiple star ratings within this fiscal year, due to an update to its Accountability and Transparency data and/or the receipt of an amended Form 990. | |||
| 3/1/2018 |  | ||
| 12/1/2016 | | ||
| 6/1/2016 | | ||
| 12/22/2015 |  | ||
| 7/1/2015 | | ||
| 2/1/2014 | | ||
| 2/1/2013 | | ||
| 8/1/2012 | | ||
Score
Most Recent Fiscal Year:
FY 2022
This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies.
Learn more
Full Credit
Partial Credit
No CreditMajority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members8 out of 8 points Majority Independent Board Members - 100% independent members8 out of 8 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. We check to see that a majority of board members are identified as independent on their tax form.
Source: IRS Form 990
Independent Board Size - 12 independent members7 out of 7 points Independent Board Size - 12 independent members7 out of 7 points
Industry professionals strongly recommend an independent governing body to allow for full deliberation and diversity of thinking on governance and other organizational matters. For most organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least three independent board members. For large, donor-funded organizations, we check to see if the organization has at least five independent board members
Source: IRS Form 990
Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee15 out of 15 points Financial Statements - Audit and Oversight Committee15 out of 15 points
An Audit, Review, or Compilation provides important information about financial accountability and accuracy. Organizations are scored based on their Total Revenue Amount:
| Total Revenue Amount | Expectation to Receive Credit |
| $2 million or higher and 40% or higher donor support | Expected to complete an audit and have an audit oversight committee |
| $1 million or higher | Expected to complete an audit |
| $500,000 - $1 million | Expected to complete an audit, review, or compilation |
| Less than $500,000 | No expectation (removed from scoring methodology) |
Source: IRS Form 990
Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points Material Diversion of Assets - None10 out of 10 points
A diversion of assets — any unauthorized conversion or use of the organization's assets other than for the organization's authorized purposes, including but not limited to embezzlement or theft — also can seriously call into question a charity's financial integrity. We review the charity's most recent IRS Form 990 to see if the charity has reported any diversion of assets.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditWebsite Listed on Tax Form - Listed2 out of 2 points Website Listed on Tax Form - Listed2 out of 2 points
Charity Navigator looks for a website on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency metric.
Nonprofits act in the public trust and reporting publicly on activities is an important component.
Source: IRS Form 990
Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points Conflict of Interest Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a conflict of interest policy on the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy protects the organization and by extension those it serves, when it is considering entering into a transaction that may benefit the private interest of an officer, director and/or key employee of the organization.
Source: IRS Form 990
Whistleblower Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points Whistleblower Policy - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a whistleblower policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy outlines procedures for handling employee complaints, as well as a confidential way for employees to report financial or other types of mismanagement.
Source: IRS Form 990
Document Retention and Destruction - Listed4 out of 4 points Document Retention and Destruction - Listed4 out of 4 points
Charity Navigator looks for the existence of a document retention and destruction policy per the IRS Form 990 as an accountability and transparency measure.
This policy establishes guidelines for the handling, backing up, archiving and destruction of documents. These guidelines foster good record keeping procedures that promote data integrity.
Source: IRS Form 990
Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes2 out of 2 points Documents Board Meeting Minutes - Yes2 out of 2 points
Charity Navigator looks to confirm on the IRS Form 990 that the organization has this process in place as an accountability and transparency measure.
An official record of the events that take place during a board meeting ensures that a contemporaneous document exists for future reference.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditTax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed4 out of 4 points Tax Form Posted on Nonprofit's Website - Listed4 out of 4 points
For almost all charities, we check the charity's IRS Form 990 to see if it discloses that the Form 990 is available on the charity's website. As with the audited financial statement, donors need easy access to this financial report to help determine if the organization is managing its financial resources well.
Source: IRS Form 990
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditLiabilities to Assets: Ratio - 31.67%15 out of 15 points Liabilities to Assets: Ratio - 31.67%15 out of 15 points
The Liabilities to Assets Ratio is determined by Total Liabilities divided by Total Assets (most recent IRS Form 990). This ratio is an indicator of an organization's solvency and/or long-term sustainability.
Source: IRS Form 990
Program Expense: Ratio - 83.70%25 out of 25 points Program Expense: Ratio - 83.70%25 out of 25 points
The Program Expense Ratio is determined by Program Expenses divided by Total Expense (average of most recent three IRS Forms 990). This measure reflects the percent of its total expenses a charity spends on the programs and services it exists to deliver.
Source: IRS Form 990
This chart displays the trend of revenue and expenses over the past several years for this organization, as reported on their IRS Form 990.
Presented here are up to five of this organization's highest compensated employees. This compensation data includes salary, cash bonuses, and expense accounts and is displayed exactly how it is reported to the IRS. The amounts do not include nontaxable benefits, deferred compensation, or other amounts not reported on Form W-2. In some cases, these amounts may include compensation from related organizations. Read the IRS policies for compensation reporting
Seth Johnson, Executive Director
$75,684
Kenneth Kaufman, Director - Partial Year
Compensation not entered
Nicole Agruda, President
Compensation not entered
Deon Vaughan Jd, Director - Partial Year
Compensation not entered
Steve Horne, Treasurer
Compensation not entered
Source: IRS Form 990 (page 7), filing year 2022
Below are some key data points from the Exempt Organization IRS Business Master File (BMF) for this organization. Learn more about the BMF on the IRS website
Foundation Status:
Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) (BMF foundation code: 15)
Affiliation:
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations). (BMF affiliation code: 3)
The Form 990 is a document that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS annually. We leverage finance and accountability data from it to form Encompass ratings. Click here to search for this organization's Forms 990 on the IRS website (if any are available). Simply enter the organization's name (United Way of Northwest Michigan) or EIN (381679060) in the 'Search Term' field.
Not Currently Scored
United Way of Northwest Michigan cannot currently be evaluated by our Impact & Results methodology because either (A) it is eligible, but we have not yet received data; (B) we have not yet developed an algorithm to estimate its programmatic impact; (C) its programs are not direct services; or (D) it is not heavily reliant on contributions from individual donors.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Not Currently Scored
United Way of Northwest Michigan cannot currently be evaluated by our Culture & Community methodology because we have not received data from the charity regarding its Constituent Feedback or Equity Practices strategies.
Note: The absence of a score does not indicate a positive or negative assessment, it only indicates that we have not yet evaluated the organization.
Score
This beacon provides an assessment of the organization's leadership capacity, strategic thinking and planning, and ability to innovate or respond to changes in constituent demand/need or other relevant social and economic conditions to achieve the organization's mission.
Learn more
Full CreditPartial CreditNo CreditMission 10/10 points Mission 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization's mission
United Way of Northwest Michigan believes that to truly improve lives in our region we must act collectively to impact the critical issues affecting residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Benzie, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties. We are committed to bringing together partners across all sectors in order to address community concerns before they become problems. In so doing, we create sustainable community change. Our mission is to efficiently raise and effectively distribute both financial and volunteer resources to support community-determined initiatives that improve the lives of community members.
Vision 10/10 points Vision 10/10 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking through articulating the organization’s vision.
United Way of Northwest Michigan envisions a community where all individuals and families achieve th
Source: Nonprofit submitted responses
Goals 20/20 points Goals 20/20 points
The nonprofit organization presents evidence of strategic thinking and goal setting through sharing their most important strategic goals.
Goal One: Support early childhood education opportunities to increase school readiness score and give students a strong foundation on which to build their educational future.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Two: Ensure all families, especially Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, an Employed (ALICE) families, are receiving the support that they need thrive and achieve their goals and dreams.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Goal Three: Address root-cause problems and find solutions through the caring power of our community so that families and individuals have access to the care and supports that they need.
Goal Type: This goal reflects our commitment to further our advocacy work for our organization and or cause area.
Leadership Development 15/15 points Leadership Development 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of investment in leadership development
Describe an investment in leadership
We continually address the needs and requests from our staff and board members to provide continual opportunity for professional leadership development. Our organization invests to provide the highest-quality leadership within our team and our community. Staff and board members have increased access to professional training opportunities including a professionally-lead strategic planning process which gives our organization a strong roadmap for a successful future to serve our seven-county community. Continually, we have created a resource development plan which diversifies the variety of funding prospects to provide a broader focus for success.
Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points Mobilizing for Mission 15/15 points
The nonprofit provides evidence of leadership through focusing externally and mobilizing resources for the mission.
This organization mobilizes for mission in the following ways:
Strategic Partnerships
Networks of Collective Impact Efforts
Thought Leadership
Raising Awareness
Community Building
Policy Advocacy
What are this organization’s external mobilizaton efforts?
We continue to connect and mobilize our partners, volunteers, and area businesses to constantly assure we are listening to the pulse of our community. Continually, we are strengthening our relationships with local and state government officials to benefit our neighbors and support our community so that all voices can be heard.
Adaptability Story 30/30 points Adaptability Story 30/30 points
The nonprofit has an opportunity to tell the story of how the organization adapted to tremendous external changes in the last year.
United Way of Northwest Michigan continues to familiarize itself with the changing social climate and quickly pivots to better serve the needs of our region. We are finding new ways and investing in resources through volunteering, giving, and advocacy platforms. In the continued wake of the global pandemic, our local hospitality and retail economy was hit hard. Our quick response to provide every resource available to these entities in support of their employees became very successful through an innovative multi-partner granting system never realized at this level in our community. Additionally, volunteers were mobilized to provide several KN95 distribution events, providing thousands of protective masks to individuals, many who were in the most vulnerable population groups. United Way of Northwest Michigan also continued working with our 211 call center to provide our communities with covid-19 vaccine information and direct scheduling for testing.
Impact & Results
Accountability & Finance
Culture & Community
Leadership & Adaptability
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