United Way of Greater Chattanooga
United Way of Greater Chattanooga is a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization and federated fund located at 630 Market Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The organization unites people and resources to build a stronger, healthier community through community investment, direct programming, and volunteer engagement. With 52 employees, the organization operates as a grantmaking foundation and fundraising entity serving the greater Chattanooga region.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.9M
+11.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
-3.7% YoY
Grant Count
78
-4.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
+1.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Since 1922, United Way of Greater Chattanooga has been uniting people and resources to build a stronger, healthier community. The organization's mission is to unite the community with a shared aspiration for the future, one where every child can thrive and where working families can break the cycle of financial hardship.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education and school readiness for children
- Economic stability and self-sufficiency for working families
- Community investment in nonprofit programs and initiatives
- Family stability services across a 16-county region
- Tutoring programs for students in grades 1-8, including high-dosage, low-ratio tutoring through programs such as the "TN All Corps" tutoring program
Grantmaking
United Way of Greater Chattanooga provides funding through a community investment model that supports nonprofits through a local community investment committee and the board of directors.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of Greater Chattanooga's community investment model supports nonprofits in:
- Hamilton County, Tennessee
- Dade, Walker, and Catoosa counties in Georgia
The organization's 211 helpline serves individuals across:
- 10 counties in Tennessee
- 3 counties in Georgia
- 2 counties in Alabama
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2025):
- Total Revenue: $12.1 million
- Total Expenses: $11.9 million
- Total Assets: $32.9 million
- Total Liabilities: $6.7 million
Prior Year Data (2024):
- Total Revenues: $10,826,715
- Total Expenses: $11,687,249
- Total Assets: $29,616,774
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since October 1957 (EIN: 62-0565962)
Rating: The organization achieved a 100% score from independent evaluators, earning a Four-Star rating reflecting high standards in accountability, finance, culture, and community engagement.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,913,063 | $29,616,774 | $30,870,044 |
| Revenue | $12,141,832 | $10,826,715 | $11,872,512 |
| Expenses | $11,922,849 | $11,687,249 | $10,855,072 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,004,528 | $537,921 | $579,555 |
| 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
100 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Restore Hope Fund
UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA
Amount
Up to crisis assistance amounts (variable)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Tennessee Community Cares Program (TN Cares)
UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA
Amount
$24,000,000+ (regional allocation)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Chambliss Center for Children ($231,212), Boys and Girls Club ($198,782), Girls Incorporated ($182,153).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Step Ahead Foundation Chattanooga Inc Chattanooga, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $31,299 |
| American Red Cross Boone, IA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $6,796 |
| BETHEL BIBLE VILLAGE HIXSON, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $16,128 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Chattanooga, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $109,134 |
| Boy Scouts of America - Cherokee Area Council Chattanooga, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $54,008 |
| Boys and Girls Club CHATTANOOGA, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $198,782 |
| Catholic Charities Chattanooga, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $6,080 |
| Cempa Community Care Chattanooga, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $27,174 |
| Chambliss Center for Children Chattanooga, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $231,212 |
| Chatt Foundation CHATTANOOGA, TN | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $18,694 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President & CEO: Lesley Scearce
Key Staff:
- Abby Garrison: Vice President, Community Investments
- Suzy Anthony: Vice President of Finance and Operations
- Tammy Mccallie: HR Director
Board: The organization has an independent board composed of 18 members.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LESLEY SCEARCE | PRESIDENT & CEO | 45 | $216,739 |
| ABBY GARRISON | VICE PRESIDENT | 45 | $156,018 |
| SUZY ANTHONY | VP FINANCE & OPERATIONS | 45 | $168,971 |
| TERRAN ANDERSON | VICE PRESIDENT | 45 | $153,026 |
| JAY DALE | IMMEDIATE PAST BOD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| KEN JONES | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| EDNA VARNER | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| ANGELA GARCIA | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| BARON HERDELIN-DOHERTY | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DALYA QUALLS WHITE | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| DEJUAN JORDAN | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| JIM CATANZARO JR | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PAULO Hutson Solrzano | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| TOM RICE | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| Katie Harbison | Member | 1 | — |
| Bryan Kelly | Member | 1 | — |
| Mike McKee | Member | 1 | — |
| Bill Rush | Member | 1 | — |
| Katy Spurlock | Member | 1 | — |
| Kirk Walker | MEMBER | 1 | — |
| Ben Staples | Member | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
United Way of Greater Chattanooga launched its 2026-2027 grant cycle to fuel innovation and frontline support. The organization also launched its first-ever multi-year funding initiative and announced a Catalyst Fund to support community needs.
United Way Grant Announcements 2026-2027Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does United Way of Greater Chattanooga fund?
**Mission Statement:** Since 1922, United Way of Greater Chattanooga has been uniting people and resources to build a stronger, healthier community. The organization's mission is to unite the community with a shared aspiration for the future, one where every child can thrive and where working families can break the cycle of financial hardship. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education and school readiness for children • Economic stability and self-sufficiency for working families • Community investm…
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Greater Chattanooga?
United Way of Greater Chattanooga provides funding through a community investment model that supports nonprofits through a local community investment committee and the board of directors. **Grant Activity:** • Funded 74 nonprofit organizations supporting 176 total programs and initiatives in fiscal year 2024 • Previously funded 68 approved nonprofit programs and initiatives • Trained community volunteers annually assess data and programmatic results of funded organizations to ensure funded prog…
Where does United Way of Greater Chattanooga make grants?
United Way of Greater Chattanooga's community investment model supports nonprofits in: • Hamilton County, Tennessee • Dade, Walker, and Catoosa counties in Georgia The organization's 211 helpline serves individuals across: • 10 counties in Tennessee • 3 counties in Georgia • 2 counties in Alabama
What size grants does United Way of Greater Chattanooga award?
In 2025, United Way of Greater Chattanooga awarded 78 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is United Way of Greater Chattanooga's EIN?
United Way of Greater Chattanooga's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-0565962. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Greater Chattanooga'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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