EIN 59-2116280

United Way of Central Florida

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
52
State
Year formed
1980
Most recent tax filings
2023-06-01
Description
United Way of Central Florida inspires and unites the community to create positive change by identifying needs and mobilizing resources through volunteering, advocacy, and giving. They also empower children under six through their program, Success by 6. Their Community Impact initiative mobilizes over 100 volunteers to review program sites, previous investments, goals, and more in areas such as education, income, health, and safety net. United Way of Central Florida is located in Highland City, FL.
Total revenues
$16,353,601
2023
Total expenses
$14,340,572
2023
Total assets
$21,900,180
2023
Num. employees
52
2023

Program areas at United Way of Central Florida

COMMUNITY IMPACT: UWCF's premiere Community Investment Process mobilizes more than 130 volunteers on 15 teams around their focus areas of EDUCATION, INCOME, HEALTH and SAFETY NET. These volunteers visit program sites, review previous investments, program goals and outcomes, and make recommendations about the most effective way to meet critical community needs. EDUCATION: The Early Literacy Initiative helps at-risk children develop the language skills they need to succeed in school. Given the right start, children learn to read, succeed academically and are more likely to graduate from high school. Academic Achievement Initiative helps children in grades K-12 pass achievement tests at grade level and graduate on time. FINANCIAL STABILITY/INCOME: The Financial Stability initiative helps families improve financial stability with GED and job training, credit and budgeting classes, money coaches, financial education and savings match programs. Improved credit scores, increases in emergency savings accounts, increases in job related credentials and/or increases in family income measure success. HEALTH: The Health Initiative helps people of all ages to improve or maintain good health. United Way improves access and utilization of health services and increases knowledge and personal responsibility about health issues that lead to improved blood pressure, weight control and other specific health indicators. United Way also works to reduce avoidable hospitalizations and incarcerations with prevention services and treatment for those with addiction. SAFETY NET: The Safety Net Initiative provides relatively short-term, crisis intervention services that vary widely, but meet one or more of the following: 1) Must verify that the service helped to stabilize a crisis, 2) Must refer clients to sources of on-going support (counseling, health clinic etc.) as needed, 3) Must verify quality of services using approved indicators selected by experts on a Safety Net Steering Team, 4) Crisis includes but is not limited to: health emergency, domestic violence, rape, child abuse, fire, teenaged runaways, hospice care, hunger & homelessness. END HUNGER INITIATIVE: The End Hunger Initiative helps to eliminate hunger and food insecurity by increasing the access to food and helps families to find financial stability. In 2020-23 our food distributions were able to provide food to over 950,000 visitors in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties. In the first three years of this initiative, over 6,000,000 meals were provided to communities in need. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOL INITIATIVE: The Community Partnership School Initiative helps to provide a full-service health clinic, financial education and academic support for Polk's first Community Partnership School. In 2020, Crystal Lake Elementary, A Community Partnership School began operations under guidance from the University of Central Florida. Five core partners of this project are Southeastern University, Heartland for Children, Central Florida Health Care, Polk County Public Schools, and United Way of Central Florida. Crystal Lake Elementary, A Community Partnership School received statewide certification from the UCF Center for Community Partnership Schools in 2023.
Disaster Relief: Provides immediate assistance and long-term recovery support in the event our community needs urgent disaster relief. UWCF develops partnerships to address the many challenges and/or emergencies that our community faces. UWCF meets with partners to coordinate the efforts of government, businesses, non-profit and faith-based organizations involved in disaster response. UWCF continues to respond to disasters through food security efforts and other assistance. With the support of local partnerships, UWCF was able to provide the following support: -The United Community Relief Fund was formed in partnership with GiveWell Community Foundation in 2020 to provide COVID-19 pandemic response. In the wake of Hurricane Ian in 2022, over $259,600 was distributed to nonprofits and their clients suffering direct losses as a result of the storm. -Publix Super Markets Emergency Relief provided $120,288 to support individuals who have experienced hardships due to various emergencies where other assistance is unavailable. This fund also provided $469,604 in Hurricane Ian relief both locally and to areas hardest hit in Southwest Florida. -2-1-1 referrals have remained high due to increasing needs faced by citizens of Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties: including the housing crisis, inflation of all goods, supply chain woes, fuel prices, childcare crisis, and staffing shortages.
Health Initiative: The UWCF Community Wellness initiative is a $6,000,000 grant in collaboration with the Polk County Indigent Health Care Department. Polk County is on an October1-September 30 fiscal year. During the 2022-23 Polk County fiscal year the grant provided a $300,000 administrative fee to UWCF, up to $500,000 to fund a team of UWCF Community Wellness Navigators, and $5,200,000 to fund behavioral/mental health and prevention/early intervention programs through an open Request for Proposals (RFP) to 501(c)(3) organizations. The navigator program's main purpose is to assist in connecting eligible Polk County residents with the Polk HealthCare Plan and additional community resources.
OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: Success By 6: Success By 6 (SB6) mobilizes volunteers from local organizations, businesses, government, churches, civic groups, educators and human services to ensure that all children, by the age of six, have the physical, emotional, social and mental foundation to succeed in school and in life. Since 1995, UWCF's SB6 has focused on early literacy to help children enter school ready to succeed. In total Success By 6 programs placed over 60,000 books in the hands of children in FY 22/23. In addition: -110 Parent Lending Libraries were in childcare centers serving low-income families; with 29,236 books checked out. -To increase awareness of the importance of early childhood education, Born Learning, a $90 million early childhood awareness campaign developed by the Ad Council, Civilian provided more than 300,000 messages to citizens of Central Florida. These included bus signs, billboards, newspaper advertisements and parent education materials placed in key locations throughout the area. Success By 6 events and staff provided 7,575 pieces of Born Learning and other literature into our community. -Dolly Parton Imagination Library mails a book each month to the homes of preschool children. 22.692 books were placed in the homes of 1,891 children ages 0-5. Let's Grow is a Success By 6 initiative facilitated by UWCF to improve language skills of children at-risk of school failure. Language skills predict the ability of children to learn to read. Of middle/high income children, 8 of 10 enter school with the skills they need. However, only 2 of 10 low income children have sufficient skills. Children who enter school ready to succeed, learn to read and graduate on time. Let's Grow partners provide early literacy interventions improving vocabulary scores by an average of 5 months for every 1 month of exposure to the interventions. Carol Jenkins Barnett United Way Children's Resource Center (CJBUWCRC), formerly Family Fundamentals, opened in November 2022 in our new location within the Florida Children's Museum at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland. As a community and family outreach of Success By 6 - CJBUWCRC is a parent resource center which mobilizes partnerships with more than 42 human service organizations providing parents and family members with activities, classes, reading, tutoring and other programs designed to strengthen the development of our children and family relationships. MASTER TEACHER: AN OUTREACH OF SUCCESS BY 6 SCHOOL READINESS - THE EXPANDED MASTER TEACHER INITIATIVE TARGETS NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE CHILDREN CONSIDERED AT-RISK FOR SCHOOL FAILURE RESIDE. IT PROVIDES AN INTERNSHIP FOR CHILDCARE INSTRUCTORS USING FOUR MASTER TEACHERS, ALONG WITH PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES, TO HELP INSTRUCTORS AND PARENTS PREPARE CHILDREN TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO SUCCEED. READINESS SKILLS FOR CHILDREN IN CLASSES WITH TEACHERS TRAINED BY A MASTER TEACHER IMPROVED AN AVERAGE OF 3 MONTHS FOR EVERY 1 MONTH WITH THE NEWLY TRAINED CAREGIVER. 2-1-1: The 2-1-1 program provides information and referrals to families/individuals and community groups concerning local services and resources. 2-1-1 also identifies gaps in services; assists in creating remedies to meet local needs; connects individuals/families to resources; and advocates on behalf of individuals/families for access to resources. It also works to provide better service, accessibility and information to the Hispanic community. From July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023, 211 received 32,682 contacts for services through calls, chats, texts, and e-mail inquiries. In addition, there were 77,049 webpage views for end hunger, 211, CJBUWCRC, free tax prep, and other needed community resources. Women United - ReadingPals: In Spring 2012, UWCF received a first-year grant to begin ReadingPals. Planning and implementation include collaborations with Polk and Highlands County Schools, the Early Learning Coalition of Polk and Learning Resource Center. From 2012-2020, Carol and Barney Barnett invested over $8,500,000 in 17 regions throughout the state of Florida to improve early literacy. ReadingPals focuses on engaging, training and deploying volunteer tutors to increase the number of students reading at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. It is important to our community, to the Barnetts, to all businesses and families in Florida that we make a united effort to reduce the close to 50% of children who are not reading at grade level. The program experienced lower numbers in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID's interference with volunteering in schools. ReadingPals traditional (in person) program transitioned to virtual on a limited basis in 2020. In 2021 the in-person program was scaled back to six schools and less than 50 volunteers. In 2022 the program secured over 100 volunteers and served over 320 children at 14 schools. In 2023 the program has expanded to 15 schools and 60+ classrooms and is working hard to secure over 250 ReadingPals volunteers. When fully staffed the program will serve 512 children.

Grants made by United Way of Central Florida

GranteeGrant descriptionAmount
Early Learning Coalition of Polk CountyDonor Designated for General Support, Donor Designated for Program Costs, Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief, Program Operating Cost$769,240
Boys and Girls Clubs of PolkDonor Designated for General Support, Donor Designated for Program Costs, Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief, Program Operating Cost$451,181
Peace River Center (PRC)Donor Designated for General Support, Donor Designated for Program Costs, Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief, Program Operating Cost$448,887
...and 66 more grants made totalling $8,168,376

Who funds United Way of Central Florida

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Givewell Community FoundationVarious Programs$2,079,428
George Jenkins FoundationContribution for George Jenkins End Hunger Initiative$805,000
Iron Horse Family FoundationFor Charitable and Educational Activities Consistent With Its Tax-Exempt Status$59,000
...and 28 more grants received totalling $3,321,249

Personnel at United Way of Central Florida

NameTitleCompensation
Christina Criser JacksonUwcf President and Chief Executive Officer Member$152,896
Christina Criser JacksonPresident and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Rod CrowleyChief Operating Officer$111,193
John RoundsChief Financial Officer
Ileana KnissChief Development and Marketing Officer
...and 9 more key personnel

Financials for United Way of Central Florida

RevenuesFYE 06/2023
Total grants, contributions, etc.$15,948,295
Program services$267,088
Investment income and dividends$177,437
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$-48,953
Net income from fundraising events$0
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$9,734
Total revenues$16,353,601

Form 990s for United Way of Central Florida

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2023-062024-01-16990View PDF
2022-062022-12-15990View PDF
2021-062021-12-21990View PDF
2020-062021-04-13990View PDF
2019-062020-01-30990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s
Data update history
September 21, 2024
Received grants
Identified 9 new grant, including a grant for $2,079,428 from Givewell Community Foundation
June 6, 2024
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023
May 23, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 7 new personnel
May 19, 2024
Received grants
Identified 10 new grant, including a grant for $44,092 from Polk Sheriff's Charities
December 25, 2023
Received grants
Identified 6 new grant, including a grant for $59,000 from Iron Horse Family Foundation
Nonprofit Types
Grantmaking organizationsFamily service centersCharities
Issues
Community improvement
Characteristics
Provides grantsState / local levelReceives government fundingEndowed supportCommunity engagement / volunteeringTax deductible donationsAccepts online donations
General information
Address
PO Box 1357
Highland City, FL 33846
Metro area
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
County
Polk County, FL
Website URL
uwcf.org/ 
Phone
(863) 648-1500
IRS details
EIN
59-2116280
Fiscal year end
June
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1980
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
T00: Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations: General
NAICS code, primary
624190: Individual and Family Services
Parent/child status
Independent
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