United Way of Mower County Inc
United Way of Mower County is a public charity based in Austin, Minnesota. It supports programs addressing community needs in Mower County, connecting people with resources and investing in local nonprofit programs.
United Way of Mower County Inc at a glance
In short: United Way of Mower County Inc gave $1.3M across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in Minnesota. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,289,167
- -14.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,917
- -1.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $32,500
- Total assets
- $1,976,487
- +4.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (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 Mower County Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
United Way of Mower County accepts unsolicited requests from local nonprofits through its Community Investment process. New programs, or programs not currently funded, must first submit a preliminary application for Board review; eligible programs may then be invited to submit an annual Community Investment grant application. Volunteer panels review applications, interview applicants, evaluate performance, and make recommendations to the Board, which makes final funding decisions. The year-round Board Discretionary Fund offers one-time support for supplies or equipment with a direct client impact, or for a program needing immediate funding outside the investment-cycle timeline. Requests must fit one of the four focus areas and contribute to its goals and outcomes.
- Review Cycle
- The Board Discretionary Fund is open year-round. Community Investment requests are submitted annually; no specific deadline is stated.
- Deadline
- The Board Discretionary Fund is open year-round.
- Contact
Mailing address: 111 N Main St Ste 202 PO Box 605, Austin, MN 55912
Phone: (507) 437-2313
Website: https://uwmower.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from United Way of Mower County Inc
Board Discretionary Fund
United Way of Mower County Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Community Investment Grant Application
United Way of Mower County Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
New Program Application
United Way of Mower County Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who United Way of Mower County Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Austin Aspires Inc ($165K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $920K.
Grant Size Distribution
166 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 166 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s funding opportunities serve Mower County, Minnesota. Its 2025 grant filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Way of Mower County Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
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 $1.2M (2022) to $1.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Austin Aspires Inc Austin, MN | Hormel Foundation Grant - Uw Passes Through Grant | $130,000 |
| The Salvation Army Austin, MN | Emergency Housing and Community Meals Program | $100,000 |
| Children's Dental Health Services Rochester, MN | Hormel Foundation Grant - Uw Passes Through Grant | $90,408 |
| Comprehensive Human Services Foundation Austin, MN | Mental Health Funding and Housing & Homeless Services | $90,000 |
| Nexus Gerard Family Healing Plymouth, MN | Community Mental Health | $65,000 |
| Comprehensive Human Services Foundation Austin, MN | Hormel Foundation Grant - Uw Passes Through Grant | $60,000 |
| Pacelli Catholic Schools Inc Austin, MN | Hormel Foundation Grant - Uw Passes Through Grant | $60,000 |
| Children's Dental Health Services Rochester, MN | Happy Healthy Teeth | $50,000 |
| Semcac Rushford, MN | Senior Nutrition and Housing Payment Assistance | $50,000 |
| Hormel Historic Home Austin, MN | Hormel Foundation Grant - Uw Passes Through Grant | $49,018 |
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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 | $1,976,487 | $2,130,792 | $2,054,253 | $1,289,167 | 34 | $22,507 |
| 2024 | $1,896,975 | $2,276,170 | $2,253,965 | $1,500,641 | 39 | $17,455 |
| 2023 | $1,896,147 | $2,110,009 | $2,035,732 | $1,465,392 | 31 | $7,228 |
| 2022 | $1,707,294 | $1,720,846 | $1,680,356 | $1,158,661 | 30 | $2,028 |
| 2021 | $1,653,581 | $1,740,753 | $1,720,912 | $1,290,231 | 32 | $2,230 |
| 2020 | $1,749,786 | $1,949,929 | $1,837,142 | $1,414,362 | 34 | $9,978 |
| 2019 | $1,635,158 | $1,938,404 | $1,859,611 | $1,425,400 | 39 | $7,612 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.” Its stated focus areas are Education, Financial Stability, Health, and Basic Needs; its 2025–26 annual report describes these as youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community, and basic needs.
United Way of Mower County funds programs operated by nonprofit organizations. Examples of grantees’ work include Austin Aspires’ efforts to bring together community resources and families to support learners, and Children’s Dental Health Services’ work to reduce dental-care access barriers for low-income families with children under 21. Other supported organizations include SEMCAC, whose stated mission includes addressing poverty and other community needs, and Cedar Valley Services, which provides vocational, behavioral, and educational programming for adults with developmental disabilities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, United Way of Mower County reported 34 grants totaling $1,289,167. Awards ranged from $8,000 to $130,000, with a median of $32,500. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota. Some funding is passed through from the Hormel Foundation to specific approved agencies; the organization states that these amounts are included in its revenue and expenses.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $130,000 to Austin Aspires, $100,000 to The Salvation Army for emergency housing and community meals, $90,408 to Children’s Dental Health Services through a Hormel Foundation pass-through grant, and $90,000 to Comprehensive Human Services Foundation for mental health funding and housing and homeless services. Other awards included $65,000 to Nexus Gerard Family Healing for community mental health and $50,000 to SEMCAC for senior nutrition and housing payment assistance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jayne Gibson as president, Jennifer Riggs as vice president, Tom Dankert as treasurer, and Amy Baskin as secretary. It also lists Katie Baskin, Sara Lee, Melissa Swenson, Jamaal Gibson, Dan Wiechmann, and Crystal Peterson as directors.
The organization’s website lists Molly Lanke as executive director.
United Way of Mower County Inc is led by Molly Lanke, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Molly Lanke
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$55K (2020) → $89K (2025)
Jayne Gibson
President
Board Member → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Baskin
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sara Lee
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jamaal Gibson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Swenson
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Crystal Peterson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Wiechmann
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Baskin
Secretary
Board Member → Director, 2021
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Riggs
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Dankert
Treasurer
Vice President → President, 2021
President → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Annemarie Vaupel (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Damien Londino-Green (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kim Duncomb (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Steve King (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Goutham Putta (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Diane Baker (2019–2020) — Executive Director -
- Former: Sarah Johnson (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Tami Yokiel (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Merrilyn Berg (2019) — Board Member -
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 $89K, to Molly Lanke (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Mower County Inc
How much does United Way of Mower County Inc give each year?
United Way of Mower County Inc gave $1.3M across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 39 grants.
What is United Way of Mower County Inc's typical grant size?
United Way of Mower County Inc's median grant in 2025 was $32,500, and its average grant was $37,917, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of Mower County Inc that year got $20K on average.
Where does United Way of Mower County Inc give grants?
United Way of Mower County Inc gives mostly in Minnesota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, MN (20 grants), Rochester, MN (6 grants) and Saint Paul, MN (3 grants).
Does United Way of Mower County Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Mower County Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hormel Foundation Grant - Uw Passes Through Grant" (10 grants).
Who are United Way of Mower County Inc's largest grantees?
United Way of Mower County Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Austin Aspires Inc ($165,000 across 2 grants), Comprehensive Human Services Foundation ($150,000 across 2 grants) and Children's Dental Health Services ($140,408 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Mower County Inc?
United Way of Mower County Inc reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.1M.
What does United Way of Mower County Inc fund?
The organization’s mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.” Its stated focus areas are Education, Financial Stability, Health, and Basic Needs; its 2025–26 annual report describes these as youth opportunity, financial security, healthy community, and basic needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Mower County Inc?
United Way of Mower County accepts unsolicited requests from local nonprofits through its Community Investment process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is United Way of Mower County Inc's EIN?
United Way of Mower County Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0831896. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does United Way of Mower County Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2019 (received by the IRS February 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Mower County Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
$6.0M
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Mower County Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-mower-county-inc-morg_c57a1995d3dd4b768b88f6e6806d0b44
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_410831896_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Mower County Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-mower-county-inc-morg_c57a1995d3dd4b768b88f6e6806d0b44},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Mower County Inc'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.
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