Lake Area United Way Inc
Lake Area United Way Inc is a public charity based in Griffith, Indiana. Its latest filing on record is for 2021, and no filings have been made since. It therefore appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Key facts about Lake Area United Way Inc
In short: Lake Area United Way Inc gave $2.8M across 33 grants in 2021 (avg $84K), mostly in Indiana. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 23-7170019
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2021
- Annual giving (2021)
- $2,780,369
- Grants made (2021)
- 33
- Average grant
- $84,254
- Median grant
- $25,629
- Total assets
- $2,544,209
- Primary geography
- Indiana (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2021; updated October 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2021 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
Annual Giving
$2.8M
Grant Count
33
Avg Grant Size
$84K
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization states its mission as “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good.” Its filing describes basic-needs funds as assistance to partner agencies serving people most in need, and community impact initiatives as programs for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) families. The filing also describes Level Up, designed to help working residents pursue financial stability through services such as job training, employment support, financial coaching, quality childcare, and basic-needs assistance.
The 2021 grants included COVID-19 relief, ALICE assistance, basic-needs grants, and donor-designated funds. Among the supported organizations, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana describes its mission as providing food to charitable organizations and people in need in Northwest Indiana. Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary says it serves the physical, emotional, and social needs of poor and vulnerable people. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest says it aims to help young people reach their potential, while Crossroads YMCA describes its work as building strong kids, families, and communities.
Grantmaking
In 2021, Lake Area United Way reported 33 grants totaling $2,780,369. Grants ranged from $5,062 to $864,127, with a median of $25,629. The largest grants included $864,127 to The Salvation Army for COVID-19 relief and donor-designated purposes; $463,100 to The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana for COVID-19 relief; and $378,798 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary for basic-needs, COVID-19 budget, ALICE assistance, and donor-designated purposes.
Other substantial 2021 grants included $115,196 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater NWI Inc, $100,537 to Mental Health America of Lake County Inc, $100,443 to Crossroads YMCA Inc, $85,616 to Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp (2-1-1), $80,825 to Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana Inc, and $80,445 to Geminus Corporation. The latest filing information does not establish a current application process.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2021 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $908K (2019) to $2.8M (2021). In 2021 it made 33 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was The Salvation Army ($864K). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 50 (64%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army Munster, IN | $860,000 Covid-19 Relief Plus $4127 Designated by Donor | $864,127 |
| The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Merrillville, IN | Covid-19 Relief | $463,100 |
| Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary Gary, IN | $15,000 basic needs grant plus $338,643 covid-19 budget plus $25,000 alice assistance grant plus $155 designated by donor | $378,798 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater NWI Inc Portage, IN | $15,000 covid-19 relief plus $100,000 alice assistance grant plus $196 designated by donor | $115,196 |
| Mental Health America of Lake County Inc Hammond, IN | Alice Assistance Grant Plus $537 Designated by Donor | $100,537 |
| Crossroads YMCA Inc Crown Point, IN | Alice Assistance Grant Plus $443 Designated by Donor | $100,443 |
| Northwest Indiana Community Action Corp (2-1-1) Crown Point, IN | $30,000 basic needs grant plus $55,615 alice assistance grant plus $1 designated by donor | $85,616 |
| Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana Inc Merrillville, IN | Covid-19 Relief Plus $825 Designated by Donor | $80,825 |
| Geminus Corporation Merrillville, IN | Alice Assistance Grant Plus $445 Designated by Donor | $80,445 |
| Tradewinds Merrillville, IN | $31,950 covid-19 relief plus $35,000 alice assistance grant plus $451 designated by donor | $67,401 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $2,544,209 | $2,378,977 | $4,301,243 | $2,780,369 across 33 grants |
| 2019 | $2,406,633 | $2,407,751 | $2,080,893 | $908,327 across 17 grants |
The latest filing on record is for 2021.
| Metric | 2021 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,544,209 | $2,406,633 |
| Revenue | $2,378,977 | $2,407,751 |
| Expenses | $4,301,243 | $2,080,893 |
| Net Investment Income | $23,698 | $25,319 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 9, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2021
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Michael Jasaitis as chairman and Christopher White as past chair. Trustees listed were Aaron McDermott, Allen M Spajer, Matt Saltanovitz, Sherri Ziller, Marijo Dluzak, Evelyn Morrison, Julian Marsh, and Frank Mrvan.
Lake Area United Way Inc is led by Lisa Daugherty, Outgoing President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 23 officers listed in 2021 is compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Lisa Daugherty
Outgoing President & CEO
President & CEO → Outgoing President & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$136K (2019) → $146K (2021)
David Nicole
Interim President & CEO
New on the 2021 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Jasaitis
Chairman
Vice Chair → Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron McDermott
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allen M. Spajer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evelyn Morrison
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Mrvan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Montague
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Dye
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julian Marsh
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leo Correa
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louie Gonzalez
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marijo Dluzak
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Saltanovitz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Schneider
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Wortham
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherri Ziller
Trustee
Past Chairwoman → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom McDermott Sr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Desila Rosetti
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher White
Past Chair
Chairman → Past Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Strack
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marisa Smoljan
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Phil Taillon
Vice Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Dave Koester (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Delisa Rosetti (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Denise Conlon (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Mark Tade (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Rick Czyz (2019) — Vice President of Finance & Administration
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $146K, to Lisa Daugherty (Outgoing President/CEO).
Contact
Mailing address: 221 West Ridge Road, Griffith, IN 46319
Phone: (219) 923-2302
Website: https://lauw.org
Frequently asked questions about Lake Area United Way Inc
How much does Lake Area United Way Inc give each year?
Lake Area United Way Inc gave $2.8M across 33 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990.
What is Lake Area United Way Inc's typical grant size?
Lake Area United Way Inc's median grant in 2021 was $25,629, and its average grant was $84,254, across 33 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990.
Where does Lake Area United Way Inc give grants?
Lake Area United Way Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Merrillville, IN (7 grants), Hammond, IN (6 grants), Gary, IN (5 grants) and Munster, IN (3 grants).
Does Lake Area United Way Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Lake Area United Way Inc's 2021 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Covid-19 Relief" (11 grants) and "Basic Needs Grant" (3 grants).
Who are Lake Area United Way Inc's largest grantees?
Lake Area United Way Inc's largest 2021 grantees include The Salvation Army ($864,127), The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana ($463,100) and Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary ($378,798), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
How large is Lake Area United Way Inc?
Lake Area United Way Inc reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2021 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.
What does Lake Area United Way Inc fund?
The organization states its mission as “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lake Area United Way Inc?
Lake Area United Way Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check lauw.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lake Area United Way Inc's EIN?
Lake Area United Way Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7170019. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2021.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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