Since 1945, the United Way has helped Ventura County residents receive valuable health and human services by providing support to worthy causes and organizations. Although there are United Way organizations in almost every part of the United States, each one is governed by its own local board and is completely autonomous from the United Way of America. The United Way of Ventura County is a volunteer-driven organization. This means that individuals living and working in the local community volunteer their time and expertise to set and monitor the direction in planning, policy decisions, and financial development of the United Way. United Way's Community Impact Fund is improving the health of Ventura County residents, building self-sufficiency, meeting basic needs, and providing connections to important resources.
Since 1945, the United Way has helped Ventura County residents receive valuable health and human services by providing support to worthy causes and organizations. Although there are United Way organizations in almost every part of the United States, each one is governed by its own local board and is completely autonomous from the United Way of America. The United Way of Ventura County is a volunteer-driven organization. This means that individuals living and working in the local community volunteer their time and expertise to set and monitor the direction in planning, policy decisions, and financial development of the United Way. United Way's Community Impact Fund is improving the health of Ventura County residents, building self-sufficiency, meeting basic needs, and providing connections to important resources.
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GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Gold Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly describing
their goals, strategies, and accomplishments.
Learn More about Impact Information.
Charting Impact
What is your organization aiming to accomplish?
Education - Increase the number of students who are college and career ready Income - Help individuals and families become financially stable and independent Health - Increase the number of children, young people and adults who have access to preventative health care and are educated about healthy behavior
What are your strategies for making this happen?
Education - effective parent engagement to improve student outcomes and high school graduation rate Income - access to free income tax preparation for low/moderate income earners, connecting them to the tax credits for which they are eligible Health - addressing gaps in services and access to care barriers for children's oral health
What are your organization's capabilities for doing this?
United Way of Ventura County mobilizes the community to address needs through giving, volunteering and advocacy
How will your organization know if you are making progress?
Education - decrease in school absenteeism, improved grades, more likely to take Algebra, completion of A-G requirements Income - number of clients receiving free tax preparation services, total amount of tax refunds, total amount of EITC received, number of volunteer income tax preparers Health - number of children connected to a dental home
What have and haven't you accomplished so far?
Education - over 300 parents and students have participated in a parent engagement summit increasing their ability to navigate the educational system Income - approximately 2000 clients provided free tax services annually with approximately 50% receiving the EITC, the nation's most successful anti-poverty program Health - oral health education and prevention services provided for over 1000 students at school based events
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This impact information is current as of August 2020, when it was provided to us by GuideStar.
At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.
Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.
Program Name
Amount Spent
% of Program Expenses
Allocations and Designations
$3,043,420
100.0%
Ratings History United Way of Ventura County has received 2 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.
Prior to 9/1/2016, Charity Navigator issued Advisories under the name CN Watchlist and Donor Advisory.
For more information on the CN Advisory system click here. This charity was issued a DA.
This donor advisory was published on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
In accordance with our policy for removing Donor Advisories, Charity Navigator removed the Donor Advisory for the United Way of Ventura County on June 5, 2013 because the Donor Advisory had been in place for more than a year (since May 1, 2012) and because the issues that prompted the Donor Advisory have been resolved. Specifically:
The Office of Personnel Management inspector general noted the charity resolved all the issues raised and thus lifted the debarment of the United Way of Ventura County for the 2014 and future campaigns.
Charity Navigator had published a Donor Advisory for this charity because we became aware of the following information in connection with this charity:
On April 2, 2012, the Federal Times reported that an audit by the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) inspector general (IG) criticized the United Way of Ventura County's management of the California Gold Coast Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). That report, dated February 14, 2012, questioned $114,161, including $92,940 that was not distributed because United Way of Ventura County did not properly allocate or account for those funds during the 2009 campaign. The IG recommended sanctioning the United Way of Ventura County and banning it from participating in the CFC. On March 12, 2012, the OPM sent the United Way of Ventura County a letter banning it from participating in the next CFC.
On January 24, 2013, the Director of the Office of Personal Management sent a letter to the United Way of Ventura County stating that “based on the corrective actions you have taken, I am removing the debarment of your organization for the 2014 campaign and forward.” For more information, please read the letter.
Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
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Charity Contact Info
United Way of Ventura County
702 County Square Drive
Suite 100 Ventura,
CA 93003
tel: (805) 485-6288 fax: (805) 485-4845 EIN: 95-1945833
