United Way of Greater Los Angeles (also known as United Way Inc) is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Los Angeles, California. The organization has been tax-exempt since May 1965 and was founded in 1962. United Way of Greater Los Angeles operates as a philanthropy and grantmaking organization that serves as a community guide for giving and receiving help, particularly focused on supporting vulnerable populations across Greater Los Angeles.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$188.2M
+102.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$18.8M
+13.5% YoY
Grant Count
170
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$111K
+22.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
United Way of Greater Los Angeles believes that every community across Greater L.A. must be rooted in justice and equity, where every generation prospers. The organization's mission is to permanently break the cycle of poverty for low-income families, children, veterans, and people experiencing homelessness through coordinated services and community partnerships.
Primary focus areas include:
Housing Stability: Helping hundreds of thousands of families and individuals move into stable homes through rental assistance, case management, and shelter partnerships. The organization has supported 22,214 households with utilities costs through its utilities assistance program and provided an estimated 50,000 households with food assistance through the emergency food and shelter program.
Poverty Reduction: Addressing root causes of poverty through workforce development, financial literacy, and economic mobility programs for low-income families.
Education Access: Investing in early childhood education, youth development, and college access programs that break intergenerational poverty cycles.
Crisis Support: Supporting people in crisis by multiplying contributions and hard work into immediate relief for neighbors who need food, housing, healthcare, and financial assistance.
Homelessness Services: Supporting operational enhancements at 76 shelters, senior centers, and daytime services to expand care to over 15,000+ people experiencing homelessness annually.
Grantmaking
United Way of Greater Los Angeles processes designations on behalf of donors and has processed $9,253,127 in designations to other nonprofit organizations. The organization has reported total giving of $28,318,136.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of Greater Los Angeles primarily funds work in California, Texas, and Illinois, with a primary geographic focus on Greater Los Angeles County.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Total Assets: $188,168,540
- Total Revenue: $38,681,108
- Total Expenses: $49,630,595
- Number of Employees: 86
Historical Data (2021):
- Revenue: $49,602,090
- Expenses: $44,155,282
- Assets: $90,002,015
- Employees: 93
The organization maintains a Four-Star rating with a 90% overall score, reflecting strong accountability and financial management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $188,168,540 | $92,970,414 | $90,002,015 |
| Revenue | $38,681,108 | $47,407,107 | $49,602,090 |
| Expenses | $49,630,595 | $44,808,121 | $44,155,282 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $6,357,232 | $1,243,639 | $472,416 |
| 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 Inc
Call for Interest Program Grant
UNITED WAY INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Prosperity Fund
UNITED WAY INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Request for Information (RFI): Intergenerational Housing Prototypes
UNITED WAY INC
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
Elise Buik serves as President & CEO of the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LARRY JAMES | CHAIR - PART YEAR | 5 | — |
| MARTHA SANTANA-CHIN | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| LISA CLERI REALE | CORPORATE SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| EDGAR CAMPOS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ALEX MARTIN CHAVES | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SCOTT COHEN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KEVIN DEMOFF | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RUDY ESPINOZA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KIM HARRINGTON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARC HICKMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DARLENE HOPKINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SANDRA HRNA | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ALICE JUAREZ | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STEFANIE KANE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| STEWART KWOH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL LAWSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| IRENE OH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| RICHARD RAFFETTO | BOARD MEMBER - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| KAIA REIN-HOFFMAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE RHONE-COLLINS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ERIK ROBINSON | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MARIA SALINAS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| NATALIE SCHILLING | BOARD MEMBER - PART YEAR | 1 | — |
| JADE SHOPP | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANN SUGAI | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HAMED TAVAJOHI | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| HASSAN WEBB | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| YVONNE WHEELER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JIM WHITE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| MICHELLE WROAN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JOHN YAMAMOTO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| AARON YOHNKE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ELISE BUIK | PRESIDENT & CEO | 50 | $496,597 |
| LINING RECENDEZ | VP, FINANCE | 50 | $234,457 |
| TAULENE KAGAN | VP, SPEC. PROJ. & INIT. - PART YEAR | 50 | $206,937 |
| CHRIS KO | VP, IMPACT & STRATEGY | 50 | $206,660 |
| THOMAS NEWMAN | VP, PUBLIC AFFAIRS | 50 | $177,605 |
| ERIN MORTON | VP, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS | 50 | $187,988 |
| DAVID TRAN | DIR., FINANCE & BUSINESS SOLUTION | 50 | $157,081 |
| CRISTIAN YANCEY | DIR., MARKET. & ENGAGE. - PART YEAR | 50 | $153,133 |
| XOCHITL FLORES | DIRECTOR, PEOPLE & CULTURE | 50 | $128,930 |
| JASON RIFFE | DIR., HOUSING INITIATIVES | 50 | $130,179 |
| MICHAEL DENNIS | DIR., COMM. ACTIVATION - PART YEAR | 50 | $128,152 |
Recent Activity & Impact
Recent developments and announcements
United Way of Greater Los Angeles has accomplished significant work over its 100-year history, helping power impactful policy initiatives, coalitions, and programs in Los Angeles. The organization has created pathways out of poverty and homelessness and led movements for education equity for LAUSD students.
The organization is planning WalkUnitedLA 2026, scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at SoFi Stadium at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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