United Way of Pierce County
United Way of Pierce County (UWPC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1921, the organization mobilizes local businesses, community organizations, governmental agencies, and individuals to address poverty and create measurable improvements in community wellbeing. UWPC employs 34 staff members and operates as part of the United Way network while maintaining independent governance and decision-making authority for its local community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.7M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+87.3% YoY
Grant Count
35
+20.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
+55.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: United Way of Pierce County mobilizes and unites the caring power of Pierce County to tackle the community's toughest challenges to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways.
Mission Critical Goal: Lift 15,000 Pierce County households out of poverty by 2028, one family at a time.
Primary Focus Areas:
Community Impact Grants: Distributions to nonprofit agencies providing programs that reduce poverty in Pierce County. Grants are reviewed by community volunteers before board approval. More than 130,177 individuals accessed services moving them closer to self-sufficiency.
Centers for Strong Families: Seven centers providing coaching in jobs, finance, and income supports. Since 2016, 4,538 clients have been served by 22 coaches providing tools and resources for financial stability.
ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained While Employed) Support: Dedicated focus on supporting working individuals and families who struggle to afford basic living expenses despite employment.
GRIT Resilience Cash Assistance Project: Direct cash assistance strategy addressing income volatility and household instability.
211 Information & Referral Service: Connects approximately 75,000 people annually via web and phone to agencies offering assistance in rental support, food assistance, utility assistance, and other services.
Grantmaking
Funding decisions are made by community volunteers guided by outcome measures developed through annual site visits. Grants are tailored to meet community needs assessed through grassroots processes before submission to the United Way Board for approval.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
United Way of Pierce County serves the entire Pierce County, Washington community. While the organization's office is located in Tacoma, it makes an intentional effort to fund programs and initiatives serving the whole county and recognizes that some areas require more targeted support.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $17,749,545 (as of most recent filing)
- Annual revenue: $29,486,283
- Total expenses: $6,400,567 (2023)
- Total revenues: $7,897,303 (2023)
Accountability: UWPC submits to annual independent audits to ensure financial responsibility and accountability. The organization maintains audited financial reports and Form 990 filings available to the public, including 2024 and 2023 audited financials.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,749,545 | $17,078,616 | $14,858,100 |
| Revenue | $7,684,653 | $7,897,303 | $6,788,060 |
| Expenses | $8,143,511 | $6,400,567 | $6,193,461 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $547,241 | $333,577 | $185,607 |
| 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
182 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Sound Outreach ($228,450), Goodwill of the Olympic and Rainier Region ($152,300), Tacoma Community House ($127,300).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Associated Ministries of Tacoma Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $93,000 |
| Bellarmine Preparatory School Tacoma, WA | Designations | $10,000 |
| CARES Of Washington Seattle, WA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Mi Centro Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Children's Emergency Fund Puyallup, WA | Designations | $9,941 |
| Communities in Schools Puyallup Puyallup, WA | Designations | $5,097 |
| Communities in Schools of Tacoma Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Communities in Schools of Lakewood Lakewood, WA | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Communities in Schools of Peninsula Vaughn, WA | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Emergency Food Network Lakewood, WA | Program Support | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Executives:
- Dona Ponepinto: President
- Annie Njenga: Chief Development Officer
- Pete Grignon: Chief Financial Officer
- Helen Myrick: Senior Vice President
- Rebecca Dixon: Director, Human Resources
- Dan McFarland: IT Director
The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing diverse areas of the community.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dona Ponepinto | President and Chief Executive Officer | 50 | $206,257 |
| Peter J Grignon | Sr VP of Finance and Chief Financial Officer | 50 | $109,746 |
| Annie Frisbie | Chief Development Officer | 50 | $119,855 |
| Louis Cooper | Director | 2 | — |
| Jackie Flowers | Director | 2 | — |
| Mike Griffus | Director | 2 | — |
| Stuart Grover | Director | 2 | — |
| Steve Harlow | Past Chair | 2 | — |
| Beth Johnson | Director | 2 | — |
| Tanisha Jumper | Director | 2 | — |
| Shasta Kelley | Director | 2 | — |
| Andy Larson | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Nathe Lawver | Vice Chair | 2 | — |
| Georgia Lomax | Director | 2 | — |
| Joe Martinez | Director | 2 | — |
| Renee McClain | Director | 2 | — |
| Tim Holmes | Director | 2 | — |
| Mark Pinto | Director | 2 | — |
| Faaluaina Pritchard | Director | 2 | — |
| Archi Sharma | Director | 2 | — |
| Grant Twyman | Director | 2 | — |
| Eli Taylor | Director | 2 | — |
| Tina Vasen | Secretary | 2 | — |
| Eileen Walker | Director | 2 | — |
| James Walton | Director - Emeritus | 1 | — |
| Sebrena Chambers | Chair | 2 | — |
| Kent Roberts | Director - Emeritus | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
More than 143,000 individuals have accessed UWPC services
Centers for Strong Families have served 4,538 clients since 2016
211 service connects approximately 75,000 people annually to assistance resources
Organization maintains current audited financial reports and Form 990 filings for public transparency
Contact Information
Address: 1501 Pacific Avenue, Suite 400, Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: 253-272-4263
Fax: 253-597-7481
Email: contactus@uwpc.org
Website: www.uwpc.org
EIN: 91-0650669
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does United Way of Pierce County fund?
**Mission Statement:** United Way of Pierce County mobilizes and unites the caring power of Pierce County to tackle the community's toughest challenges to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways. **Mission Critical Goal:** Lift 15,000 Pierce County households out of poverty by 2028, one family at a time. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Community Impact Grants:** Distributions to nonprofit agencies providing programs that reduce poverty in Pierce County. Grants are reviewed by community volunt…
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Pierce County?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $3,367,394 (based on most recent IRS Form 990 filing) • Typical award range: $5,042–$228,450 • Funding supports more than 120 local programs addressing areas including child abuse prevention, food banks, and senior services **Grant Review Process:** Funding decisions are made by community volunteers guided by outcome measures developed through annual site visits. Grants are tailored to meet community needs assessed through grassroots processes before submissi…
Where does United Way of Pierce County make grants?
United Way of Pierce County serves the entire Pierce County, Washington community. While the organization's office is located in Tacoma, it makes an intentional effort to fund programs and initiatives serving the whole county and recognizes that some areas require more targeted support.
What size grants does United Way of Pierce County award?
In 2024, United Way of Pierce County awarded 35 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is United Way of Pierce County's EIN?
United Way of Pierce County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-0650669. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Pierce County'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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