United Way for Southeastern Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, with a presence in Canada. Founded in 1917, the organization mobilizes community resources to create positive, measurable, and sustainable change across Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Macomb counties in Southeastern Michigan. The organization employs 261 staff members and works to address the reality that nearly 40% of households in the region struggle to meet their basic needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$88.9M
+50.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$52.6M
+127.9% YoY
Grant Count
397
+30.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$133K
+74.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To mobilize the caring power of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to improve communities and individual lives in measurable and lasting ways.
Primary Focus Areas:
Basic Needs: United Way strategically invests in programs helping families afford food, shelter, and health care. Core programs include one-on-one social services navigation support, foreclosure and eviction prevention, utility assistance, emergency food and shelter, and child nutrition programs. The organization operates the connect4care network to help families navigate assistance programs and build systems of holistic, person-centered care.
Economic Mobility: The organization addresses root causes and barriers to financial stability and wealth-building through financial coaching, transportation support, and free tax preparation services that help families maximize tax credits.
Education and Child Development: Supporting children's ability to thrive in school and develop into stable adults.
Grantmaking
United Way for Southeastern Michigan functions as both a funder and grant administrator. The organization makes strategic investments in community-based programs and partners.
Ready to take the next step with United Way for Southeastern Michigan?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way for Southeastern Michigan funds primarily in:
- Wayne County
- Oakland County
- Washtenaw County
- Macomb County
- Michigan, Illinois, and Nebraska (based on grant-making patterns)
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $59.1 million (2023); $88.9 million (2024)
- Total Revenue: $51.2 million (2023)
- Total Expenses: $62.7 million (2023)
- Total Liabilities: $19.1 million (2023)
- Total Giving: $72.1 million (2024)
Financial Governance:
United Way maintains rigorous financial controls including:
- A finance committee composed of volunteer high-level financial professionals that oversees accounting and financial procedures
- Annual independent audits by external accounting firms
- A separate audit committee composed of volunteer CPA firm partners
- Board of directors review and approval of annual audits
- Segregated responsibilities among accounting staff to prevent any single individual from processing transactions in isolation
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $88,922,499 | $59,051,977 | $74,103,757 |
| Revenue | $93,127,658 | $51,188,539 | $60,890,875 |
| Expenses | $101,827,424 | $62,687,280 | $67,310,700 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $2,194,941 | $1,591,758 | $3,058,378 |
| 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Community Access and Response Fund
UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Racial Equity Fund
UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Wraparound Services and Stability Fund
UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dr. Darienne Hudson, Ed.D. – President & CEO
- Ashleigh Imerman – Chief Philanthropy Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ED SIAJE | DIRECTOR/CHAIR | 3 | — |
| MARK STIERS | DIRECTOR/IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | 3 | — |
| LUANNE EWALD | DIRECTOR/VICE CHAIR | 3 | — |
| DAVID PARENT | DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 3 | — |
| LYNDA ROSSI | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 3 | — |
| WENDELL ANTHONY | DIRECTOR - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| ORLANDO BAILEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ERIK BAKKER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LISA CAWLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICH CHANG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WANDA COOK-ROBINSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA DICKERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GREGORY DILL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIA DWYER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BILL EMERSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PANCHO HALL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SONIA HASSAN DUGGAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| IAN HOGAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOCELYN HOWARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KELLE ILITCH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HASSAN JABER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SAUNTEEL JENKINS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HARRY KEMP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NICOLE KONTYKO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WENDY LEWIS JACKSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DEBBIE MANZANO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALYCIA MERIWEATHER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARK MORENO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| FAYE NELSON | DIRECTOR - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| DARYL NEWMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RICHARD PAPPAS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANUP POPAT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL REIN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL RESHA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ANGELA REYES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TERRANCE RHADIGAN | DIRECTOR - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| JAMES ROBINSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MELISSA ROY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KRISTIN SMALLWOOD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER STAFEIL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRANDON TUCKER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALLYSON WALDMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CLARE WILLETT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DANA WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR DARIENNE HUDSON | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 50 | $449,637 |
| TONYA ADAIR | CHIEF PEOPLE, EQUITY & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER | 50 | $273,748 |
| STEVEN SCHWARTZ | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 50 | $261,459 |
| BRANDON LEE | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | 50 | $267,816 |
| KAREN LEGENDRE | INTERIM CFO (3/1/24-9/22/24) | 50 | — |
| KYLE DUBUC | VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS & ADVOCACY | 50 | $174,300 |
| SARAH GRUTZA | VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE RELATIONS | 50 | $183,074 |
| ASHLEIGH IMERMAN | CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER | 50 | $175,385 |
| PAMELA SMITH | PRESIDENT OF UW FOR WASHTENAW COUNTY | 50 | $222,998 |
| JEFFREY MILES | VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY IMPACT | 50 | $191,083 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**December 2025:** United Way released $670,000 from its "Every Family Fed" Emergency Food Fund in response to unprecedented cuts to federal food assistance programs including SNAP benefits, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) grants. The fund supports 21 community-based food security partners.
**2025:** The organization announced $5.2 million in community investments to support households in need and a $5.3 million investment to help support families across Southeast Michigan.
United Way invests $5.3M to help support families across Southeast MichiganThe organization launched a $35 million fundraising campaign to support its mission.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan launches $35 million fundraising campaignSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Kadant Johnson Inc Scholarship Foun
THREE RIVERS, MI
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$5K
Thomas W Itin Charitable Trust
KEEGO HARBOR, MI
Assets
—
Grants
11
Total Given
$4K
Robert a Leonard Jr Charitable Trus
SOUTHFIELD, MI
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$11K
Homer Youth Athletic Association
TEKONSHA, MI
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$4K
Dr Shanti Swarup & Mrs Chawla Devi
TROY, MI
Assets
—
Grants
9
Total Given
$3K
Bojrab Family Foundation
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI
Assets
$185K
Grants
9
Total Given
$27K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with United Way for Southeastern Michigan on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities