Mile High United Way is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization and grantmaking foundation based in Denver, Colorado. Founded on October 16, 1887, it is the world's first United Way chapter. The organization unites people, ideas, and resources to advance the common good through community partnerships and strategic investments. Mile High United Way impacts over 599,400 lives through direct services and community partnerships across its service area.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.2M
+14.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$24.3M
+98.5% YoY
Grant Count
314
-31.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$77K
+190.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Unite people, ideas, and resources to advance the common good.
Vision: A community united to create opportunities for all.
Community Priorities:
- Giving all children a strong start
- Supporting education and academic success
- Creating economic opportunity for all
The organization focuses on early childhood education, housing stability, economic opportunity, school readiness, youth success, and adult self-sufficiency. Specific initiatives include ensuring all children are ready for school and reading at grade level or beyond by the end of third grade, ensuring all youth graduate from high school and are ready for college or the workplace, and ensuring all individuals and families have opportunities to move toward economic success.
Grantmaking
Mile High United Way distributes approximately $22.8 million annually to the community through community partnership and impact investments grants awarded to nonprofit agencies.
Grant Range
** Recent awards typically range from $20,000 to $50,000 average, with variations by program.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Mile High United Way serves a seven-county Metro Denver area:
- Adams County
- Arapahoe County
- Boulder County
- Broomfield County
- Denver County
- Douglas County
- Jefferson County
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2025 (Most Recent Tax Filing):
- Total Revenue: $43.4 million
- Total Expenses: $43.1 million
- Total Assets: $80.2 million
- Total Liabilities: $18.8 million
- Annual Giving: $37.6 million
Staffing: 154 employees (as of 2025)
Tax-Exempt Status: Designated 501(c)(3) since December 1959
Special Features: The organization operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,192,324 | $70,028,359 | $61,130,897 |
| Revenue | $43,438,168 | $31,239,265 | $32,551,577 |
| Expenses | $43,084,034 | $30,683,899 | $34,297,700 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,901,321 | $955,941 | $2,052,855 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mile High United Way Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Assoc General Contractors of Co ($860,297), African American Trade Association ($726,590), Activate Work Inc ($669,615).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2901 RES INC DBA CURRY & GRILL LONGMONT, CO | OTHER | $15,000 |
| ABIDING HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH DENVER, CO | DESIG | $6,250 |
| ABILITY CONNECTION COLORADO INC STATEN ISLAND, NY | SIG, DESIG | $50,733 |
| ACCESS GALLERY DENVER, CO | OTHER | $10,000 |
| ACE SCHOLARSHIPS DENVER, CO | DESIG | $39,833 |
| ACTIVATE WORK INC FRISCO, CO | OTHER | $669,615 |
| ADAMS 12 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS FRISCO, CO | SIG, DESIG | $25,420 |
| ADAMS ARAPAHOE SCHOOL DIST 28J DBA DENVER, CO | OTHER | $9,685 |
| ADAMS COUNTY EMERGENCY FOOD BANK DENVER, CO | SIG, DESIG | $10,888 |
| ADAMS COUNTY GOVERNMENT DENVER, CO | OTHER | $78,622 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTINE BENERO | CEO | 40 | $424,121 |
| JAMES TREICHLER | COO | 40 | $170,634 |
| VANECIA KERR | CIO | 40 | $159,218 |
| ERIC ARTIS | CHIEF HR OFF | 40 | $160,839 |
| MICHAEL BURKE | CFO | 40 | $158,645 |
| CHELSEA CARVER | CDO | 40 | $156,677 |
| KEITH WOODELL | DATABASE ARC | 40 | $141,116 |
| KATHY AMBROSE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TATIANA ARGUELLO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GREG BANTE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAMON BARRY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RYAN BEISER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KENT BERKE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TRUDI BOYD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DERON BROWN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DORIAN BRUGGER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MAGGIE DEHN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DOUGLAS DELL | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| ALEXIS DENIS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINA DORFHUBER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| HELEN DREXLER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| VERONICA FIGOLI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TODD FILSINGER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRIAN FITZPATRICK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LORI FOX | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DIANE GARCIA | VICE CHAIR | 2 | — |
| JAMIE GARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW GOLDBERG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE HANCE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATHY HODGSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JD KELLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BROOK KRAMER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATHY KRANZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STERLING LEBOEUF | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DEREK LONGWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MASHENKA LUNDBERG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARTIN MAHALCHICK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JASON MAPLES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MAUREEN MCDONALD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MEGAN MCRAE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RODD MERCHANT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANISH MICHAEL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KEVIN NEHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KELLY NOBLE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NEIL OBERFELD | BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| BETH OPPERMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CARLOS PACHECO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBIN RICKETTS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ETHAN ROJHANI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARTY RUFFALO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TONETTE SALAZAR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MONICA SASAKURA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TERESA VAN DE BOGART | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BLAINE VERSAW | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ENID WADE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ALICE YAKE JACKSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**September 2025:** Announced $1.25 million investment in 53 organizations
Mile High United Way Announces $1.9 Million Investment in Metro Denver Nonprofits**June 2024:** Announced $1.9 million investment in 73 organizations
Mile High United Way Announces $1.9 Million Investment in Metro Denver Nonprofits**Recent investments:** $7 million and $8 million investments in transformational community partnerships announced in prior years
Mile High United Way Announces $1.9 Million Investment in Metro Denver Nonprofits**$4.5 million investment:** Distributed across 105 organizations in the Denver-Boulder metro area
Mile High United Way Announces $1.9 Million Investment in Metro Denver NonprofitsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Mile High United Way Inc fund?
**Mission:** Unite people, ideas, and resources to advance the common good. **Vision:** A community united to create opportunities for all. **Community Priorities:** • Giving all children a strong start • Supporting education and academic success • Creating economic opportunity for all The organization focuses on early childhood education, housing stability, economic opportunity, school readiness, youth success, and adult self-sufficiency. Specific initiatives include ensuring all children are …
How do I apply for a grant from Mile High United Way Inc?
Mile High United Way distributes approximately $22.8 million annually to the community through community partnership and impact investments grants awarded to nonprofit agencies. **Grant Programs:** • **Targeted Community Investments:** Recent examples include $1.25 million to 53 organizations (September 2025) and $1.9 million to 73 organizations (June 2024) • **Strategic Investment Grants (SIG):** Flagship competitive grant program for nonprofits providing high-quality early childhood education…
Where does Mile High United Way Inc make grants?
Mile High United Way serves a seven-county Metro Denver area: • Adams County • Arapahoe County • Boulder County • Broomfield County • Denver County • Douglas County • Jefferson County
What size grants does Mile High United Way Inc award?
In 2025, Mile High United Way Inc awarded 314 grants totaling $24.3M — an average of about $77K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Mile High United Way Inc's EIN?
Mile High United Way Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-0404235. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mile High United Way Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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