United Way of Greater Union County
United Way of Greater Union County is a public charity based in Rahway, New Jersey. It brings individuals, businesses, government agencies, and community organizations together to address local challenges and improve lives in Greater Union County and surrounding communities.
United Way of Greater Union County at a glance
In short: United Way of Greater Union County gave $215K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in New Jersey. 40% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $215,354
- +104.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,357
- +36.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,178
- Total assets
- $4,462,159
- +13.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (6 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to United Way of Greater Union County
- Contact
Mailing address: 219 Central Avenue, Rahway, NJ 07065
Phone: (908) 353-7171
Website: https://uwguc.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who United Way of Greater Union County funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Gateway Family YMCA ($31K). Together the top 10 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization says it serves residents throughout Greater Union County and surrounding communities. All grant dollars itemized in its 2025 filing went to recipients in New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Way of Greater Union County open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 15 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $16K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $95K (2020) to $2.0M (2023). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $215K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Gateway Family YMCA Elizabeth, NJ | Family Strengthening, Homelessness | $31,480 |
| Salvation Army Elizabeth Corps Elizabeth, NJ | Family Strengthening | $26,632 |
| Neighborhood House Association Plainfield, NJ | Child Care Services | $24,114 |
| Arc of Union County Scotch Plains, NJ | Disabled Services | $20,888 |
| Rahway Community Action Organization Rahway, NJ | Family Strengthening and Child Care Services | $19,848 |
| King's Daughters Day School Inc Plainfield, NJ | Child Care Services | $15,926 |
| Second Street Youth Center Plainfield, NJ | Family Strengthening | $13,907 |
| Rahway Day Care Center Rahway, NJ | Child Care Services | $11,178 |
| Community Coordinated Child Care Rahway, NJ | Child Care Services | $10,254 |
| YWCA of Eastern Union County Elizabeth, NJ | Domestic Violence | $8,307 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,462,159 | $4,666,297 | $4,346,797 | $215,354 | 15 | $47,264 |
| 2024 | $3,934,986 | $4,432,267 | $2,860,981 | $105,381 | 10 | $1,166,158 |
| 2023 | $3,168,887 | $3,763,649 | $4,480,004 | $2,041,759 | Total only | $28,894 |
| 2022 | $3,685,668 | $4,198,546 | $4,480,581 | $159,110 | 9 | $49,634 |
| 2021 | $3,398,054 | $4,178,217 | $4,192,622 | $108,932 | 6 | $20,824 |
| 2020 | $3,636,192 | $3,560,162 | $3,461,372 | $94,844 | 6 | $20,330 |
| 2019 | $3,985,531 | $4,789,633 | $4,560,321 | $233,815 | 5 | $26,122 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is to improve lives and build stronger communities by uniting people and resources to address local challenges. Its stated focus areas include financial security, healthy communities, youth opportunity, and community resiliency. The organization describes related work such as workforce development, financial education, early childhood education, mental health support, basic-needs assistance, and referrals to community resources.
Its 2024 filing describes a family-strengthening approach that advances education, income, and health, and identifies the Union County Family Strengthening Network as a public-private partnership. It also describes funds raised and distributed to health and human services organizations according to donor designations.
Examples of organizations receiving grants in 2025 include Neighborhood House Association, which describes its mission as providing early childhood education, food nutrition, and day care services for children in and around Plainfield; Second Street Youth Center, which describes providing educational, recreational, athletic, and social activities and individual social and advisory services; and Rahway Day Care Center, which describes offering affordable full- and part-time child care. YWCA of Eastern Union County describes its mission as eliminating racism and empowering women while promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the organization reported 15 grants totaling $215,354. Grants ranged from $5,332 to $31,480, with a median of $11,178. Its largest reported grants included:
The 2024 filing reported 10 grants totaling $105,381. The 2024 filing also describes a pledge designation system through which funds are distributed to health and human services organizations. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 15 grants totaling $215,354.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Martin P. Melilli as chairman; Anna Bellin-Pyles as vice chairman; Clarence Burknight III as secretary; and Anne Kroon as treasurer. Trustees listed are Geraldine Harvey, Eric Levine, Larry Lockhart, James L. Meyer, Thomas Ponosuk, and Roderick Spearman.
United Way of Greater Union County is led by Julienne Cherry, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2023); 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julienne Cherry
CEO
CEO Hired61923 → CEO, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$38K (2023) → $186K (2025)
Martin P. Melilli
Chairman
Trustee → Chair, 2021
Chair → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alison G. Yablonowitz
Trustee
Chairman → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Levine
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geraldine Harvey
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James L. Meyer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry J. Lockhart
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roderick Spearman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Ponosuk
Trustee
Vice Chairman → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Amiccucci
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debbie-Ann Anderson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Orsita
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clarence Burknight III
Secretary
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$9K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Juanita Ayala Vargas
Chief Program Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$111K (2025)
Anna Bellin-Pyles
Vice Chairman
Trustee → Vice Chairman, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Kroon
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Donald Bucciarelli (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Luis Lima (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph Diaz (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Quinn (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Clarence W. Bauknight III Esq. (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: James W. Horne Jr. (2019–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Kevin Phoenix (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Patricia Perkins-Auguste (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Camille Douglas (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Phyllis Mirabella (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Amanda P. Block (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Carlos Alma (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Joan Evans (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Kimberly Smith (2019) — Trustee to
- Former: Lester S. Rapalo (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Stan Borowiec (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Tina M. Earley (2019) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $186K, to Julienne Cherry (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Greater Union County
How much does United Way of Greater Union County give each year?
United Way of Greater Union County gave $215K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $105K across 10 grants.
What is United Way of Greater Union County's typical grant size?
United Way of Greater Union County's median grant in 2025 was $11,178, and its average grant was $14,357, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of Greater Union County that year got $11K on average.
Where does United Way of Greater Union County give grants?
United Way of Greater Union County gives mostly in New Jersey: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Plainfield, NJ (5 grants), Elizabeth, NJ (4 grants) and Rahway, NJ (3 grants).
Does United Way of Greater Union County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Greater Union County's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Child Care Services" (4 grants) and "Disabled Services" (3 grants).
Who are United Way of Greater Union County's largest grantees?
United Way of Greater Union County's largest 2025 grantees include The Gateway Family YMCA ($31,480), Salvation Army Elizabeth Corps ($26,632) and Neighborhood House Association ($24,114), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Greater Union County?
United Way of Greater Union County reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What does United Way of Greater Union County fund?
The organization’s mission is to improve lives and build stronger communities by uniting people and resources to address local challenges. Its stated focus areas include financial security, healthy communities, youth opportunity, and community resiliency. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Greater Union County?
United Way of Greater Union County has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check uwguc.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way of Greater Union County's EIN?
United Way of Greater Union County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-1904427. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 5, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 21, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 17, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Greater Union County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Greater Union County funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-greater-union-county-morg_4b12b49886c34a88933e6e543e2b1704
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_221904427_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Greater Union County funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-greater-union-county-morg_4b12b49886c34a88933e6e543e2b1704},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-06. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from United Way of Greater Union County's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
United Way of Greater Union County down — hundreds of funders to go?