United Way of Central Ohio Inc
United Way of Central Ohio (UWCO) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1923, the organization has evolved from a community fundraiser into a community impact organization that mobilizes resources and brings people together to address critical social issues. UWCO is an independent organization governed by local volunteers and is a member of United Way Worldwide. The organization serves Franklin County, Union County (affiliated in 2021), and Pickaway County (added in 2022).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$39.5M
+9.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.9M
-5.1% YoY
Grant Count
197
-1.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
-4.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Improve the lives of others by mobilizing the caring power of our community.
Vision: Build a community in which everyone has the aspirations, resources and opportunities to reach their fullest potential.
The organization's primary purpose is to reduce poverty in Central Ohio. UWCO's signature initiative is "Success by Third Grade," which aims to put every child in Franklin County on a pathway to success by third grade and reduce the 30-point proficiency gap between participating and non-participating school districts in half by 2035. The organization partners with local nonprofit organizations to address critical needs in education, health, and financial stability.
Grantmaking
UWCO distributed approximately $13.6 million across 228 awards in 2023. In 2024-2025, the organization funded 91 nonprofit agencies. Recent funding announcements indicate 68 nonprofit partners received funding for 2025-2026.
Grant Range
** $3,000 to $200,000
Grant Types
Invitation Only
** Invitation-only for existing partners
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
UWCO serves Franklin County, Union County, and Pickaway County in Ohio. The organization expanded its service area in 2000 when it adopted the name "United Way of Central Ohio" to reflect its growing geographic reach.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024-2025):
- Total Revenue: $24.3 million
- Total Expenses: $23.4 million
- Total Assets: $39.5 million
- Total Liabilities: $9.05 million (as of 2024)
- Administrative Costs: 16% of total net revenues
Historical Giving Trends: The organization's annual giving has fluctuated over the past decade, ranging from approximately $35.2 million in 2011 to $12 million in 2024-2025.
Audit Status: UWCO undergoes annual financial statement audits by an independent CPA firm. The most recent audit was completed in August 2024, with independent auditors confirming that financial statements fairly and accurately present the organization's financial position.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,458,269 | $36,163,636 | $33,590,820 |
| Revenue | $24,296,435 | $26,157,145 | $22,819,783 |
| Expenses | $23,438,085 | $23,619,732 | $23,576,024 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,021,901 | $2,516,658 | $412,379 |
| 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 United Way of Central Ohio Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Dr. Lisa S. Courtice – President and CEO (previously spent 13 years leading community research and grants management)
- Derrick Antwi – Trustee
- Tal Bendor – Board Fellow
- Barbara Benham – Past Chair and Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DERRICK ANTWI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| TAL BENDOR | BOARD FELLOW | 1 | — |
| BARBARA BENHAM | PAST CHAIR AND SECRETARY | 4 | — |
| MARK BIDSTRUP | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MELODY BIRMINGHAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEFF CARPER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DUANE CASARES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RACHEL CAVINESS | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| HOPE COTTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAN CRANE | CHAIR | 4 | — |
| MORGAN GLASSER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JEREMY GUTIERREZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID LEE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH MARTINEZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| STEVE MASON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KENNY MCDONALD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BILL MCGEE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AZURE'D METOYER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROCKY PARKER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KATHRYN RAINIERI | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARTYN REDGRAVE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ROBERT TANNOUS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| SHAREE WELLS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SELESHI ASFAW | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAWN BARKLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DORIAN BASS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANGELA CHAPMAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JOHN CONEGLIO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DOREEN DELANEY CRAWLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MELISSA MARINO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MATT ZARNOSKY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LISA COURTICE | PRESIDENT & CEO | 61 | $373,934 |
| MICHAEL WILKOS | VP OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | 42 | $153,439 |
| JULIANA HARDYMON | VP OF FINANCE AND CFO | 45 | $155,276 |
| KOURTNI HATTON | VP CHIEF PEOPLE & EQUITY OFFICER | 40 | $138,165 |
| MARY BIRCHARD | VP OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT | 39 | $158,623 |
| MELANIE GRESSON | VP IT AND CIC | 42 | $128,152 |
| CHERYL WYATT | VP SUCCESS BY THIRD GRADE | 40 | $149,825 |
| DAVID REIERSON | VP PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS | 40 | $137,008 |
| DA'NITA ABNEY | SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR | 40 | $112,493 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025-2026, UWCO announced funding for 68 nonprofit partners. The organization has also announced state and federal funding to support families and students in the region. These funding announcements reflect UWCO's continued commitment to its "Success by Third Grade" initiative and broader poverty reduction goals in Central Ohio.
United Way Of Central Ohio Inc - Full Filing - Nonprofit ExplorerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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