United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County is a nonprofit civic and social organization headquartered in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1918, the organization unites people and resources to address critical community needs. The organization currently employs 8 staff members and serves as a coordinating hub for community philanthropy and human services in the Carlisle and Cumberland County region.
Key facts about United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland
- EIN
- 23-1552261
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,171,668
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- Average grant
- $27,897
- Median grant
- $19,682
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (3 of 42, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,053,279
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland's 42 itemized 2025 grants were Pennsylvania (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Carlisle, PA (29 grants), Harrisburg, PA (4 grants) and Camp Hill, PA (3 grants). None of its 42 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Specific Support - Designations" (20 grants).
Is United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 42 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $22K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland
- How to evaluate United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-11.3% YoY
Grant Count
42
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
-11.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To unite people and resources to build a stronger, healthier Carlisle & Cumberland County.
The organization focuses on four critical areas:
- Health
- Education
- Financial Stability
- Safety Net
United Way coordinates with 23 local nonprofit partner agencies, supporting 35 programs across the region. The organization identifies community needs through collaborative partnerships and works to leverage resources to address evolving human service needs.
Grantmaking
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County distributes funding to support partner agencies and programs. Based on recent financial data:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County primarily funds programs in:
- Pennsylvania (primary focus)
- Virginia
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 42 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total Assets: $3,053,279
- Total Giving: $1,398,296
- Total Revenues: $1,868,003
- Total Expenses: $1,905,731
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,053,279 | $3,002,372 | $2,835,944 |
| Revenue | $1,868,003 | $1,979,740 | $1,756,380 |
| Expenses | $1,905,731 | $1,951,773 | $1,783,634 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $101,675 | $98,110 | $75,964 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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
209 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Project Share ($102,283), Carlisle Family YMCA ($96,502), Community Cares ($83,623).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PROJECT SHARE Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - CORE PROGRAM/DESIGNATIONS | $102,283 |
| CARLISLE FAMILY YMCA Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS/CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIPS/COMMUNITY YOUTH PROGRAM/DESIGNATIONS | $96,502 |
| COMMUNITY CARES Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - RESOURCE CENTER/DESIGNATIONS | $83,623 |
| SAFE HARBOUR Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - JAMES WILSON EMERGENCY SHELTER/DESIGNATIONS | $81,622 |
| CARLISLE EARLY EDUCATION CENTER Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - SCHOLARSHIPS/DESIGNATIONS/EITC SCHOLARSHIPS | $68,313 |
| CUMBERLAND COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - DESIGNATIONS | $44,160 |
| JOSEPH T SIMPSON PUBLIC LIBRARY Mechanicsburg, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - DESIGNATIONS | $42,500 |
| ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - DESIGNATIONS | $41,500 |
| YWCA Camp Hill, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL/COMMUNITY YOUTH EDUCATION/CRISIS SERVICES/DESIGNATION | $40,814 |
| THE ARC OF CUMBERLAND AND PERRY COUNTIES Carlisle, PA | PROGRAM SPECIFIC SUPPORT - ADVOCACY/DESIGNATIONS | $39,339 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Cate Mellen – Executive Director
- Jessie Poe – Community Impact Director
- Lu Flickinger – Resource Development Director
- M Kelton Artuso – Resource Development Director (joined November 2025)
- Jacquie Hultquist – Fundraising Contact/Resource Development Director
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Cathrine Mellen | Executive Director (July 2024 - Current) | 40 | $69,521 |
| Lucy Zander | Former Executive Director (Thru May 2024) | 1 | $33,075 |
| Brenda Kaufman | Finance Director | 25 | $35,347 |
| Melissa Kelso | President | 1 | — |
| Laurel Williams | Past President | 1 | — |
| Lisa Thomas | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Kelly Murray | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| David Zimmerman | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Katie Clark | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Susan Dworsak | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Joel Flinchbaugh | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Roderick Frazier | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jeffery Gayman | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Michael Gogoj | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Titichia Jackson | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Salim Makhlouf | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Bob McAvoy | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Daniel Ridenour | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Chad Searer | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Dottie Warner | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Cortney Woolslayer | Board Member | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County conducted its annual community campaign with a $1.5 million fundraising goal. The organization recognizes outstanding community members through awards such as the Alexis de Tocqueville Humanitarian Award.
Leading the Way: United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County kicks off annualThe organization operates Success by 6, a program that provides training and mentoring to child care providers to enhance the quality of child care in the region and prepare children for kindergarten success. This program includes components such as pre-kindergarten scholarships, professional development, and an Early Learning Resource Center.
Contact Information
Address: 145 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: (717) 243-4805
Website: uwcarlisle.org
EIN: 23-1552261
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland fund?
**Mission:** To unite people and resources to build a stronger, healthier Carlisle & Cumberland County. The organization focuses on four critical areas: • Health • Education • Financial Stability • Safety Net United Way coordinates with 23 local nonprofit partner agencies, supporting 35 programs across the region. The organization identifies community needs through collaborative partnerships and works to leverage resources to address evolving human service needs.
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland?
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County distributes funding to support partner agencies and programs. Based on recent financial data: • **Total Annual Giving:** $1,398,296 • **Typical Award Range:** $5,059–$122,564 • **Grant Distribution Model:** The organization receives funding applications from partner agencies, which are reviewed and assessed by trained community volunteers to ensure programs address community needs and demonstrate positive, measurable results The organization also distr…
Where does United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland make grants?
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County primarily funds programs in: • Pennsylvania (primary focus) • Virginia • New York
What size grants does United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland award?
In 2025, United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland awarded 42 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland's EIN?
United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1552261. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.