United Way of Pierce County
United Way of Pierce County (UWPC) is a public charity based in Tacoma, Washington, that supports programs and partnerships addressing poverty and helping households move toward stability and self-sufficiency. Its work includes community investments in local nonprofits and collaborations, as well as resource-navigation services.
Key facts about United Way of Pierce County
In short: United Way of Pierce County gave $1.0M across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $27K), mostly in Washington. 37% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 91-0650669
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,041,345
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- Average grant
- $26,701
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (14 of 38, 2025)
- Total assets
- $17,466,785
- Primary geography
- Washington (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$17.5M
-1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
-18.7% YoY
Grant Count
39
+11.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-27.0% YoY
Is United Way of Pierce County open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 38 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
UWPC’s mission is to “mobilize and unite the caring power of Pierce County to tackle our community’s toughest challenges to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways.” Its stated priorities include basic needs such as food security, housing and health services; services that support self-sufficiency, including employment, training and financial education; and community empowerment and advocacy.
UWPC’s 2025–27 community investment approach emphasizes household stability, basic-needs services, integrated and client-centered support, collaboration and inclusion. Its investments include housing and homelessness prevention, food security, health and wellbeing, and services addressing barriers to self-sufficiency. UWPC also describes 211 as a free, confidential resource-navigation service; its filing says that in October 2025 the service became part of a statewide system and that UWPC formed Access Pierce to assist Pierce County residents.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations UWPC supported in 2025. Tacoma Community House says it creates opportunities for immigrants, refugees and other community members through services focused on self-sufficiency, inclusion and advocacy. CJK Community Homes describes its work as providing safe, affordable housing and supportive case management to low-income families in Pierce County. Food Backpacks 4 Kids says it meets the nutritional needs of children and families when other resources are unavailable.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, UWPC reported 39 grants totaling $1,041,345. Grants ranged from $5,102 to $172,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $172,000 to Tacoma Community House for a Capacity Grant for Centers for Strong Families; $100,000 to Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center for program support; and $76,000 to Goodwill of the Olympic and Rainier Region for a Centers for Strong Families capacity grant. Other notable awards included $50,000 each to CJK Community Homes and New Phoebe House Association, $48,000 to Associated Ministries of Tacoma, and $45,000 to Making A Difference Foundation. UWPC reported that 99% of 2025 grant dollars went to Washington recipients and 1% to California recipients.
UWPC’s Equity Fund offers one-year grants of unrestricted funding to eligible grassroots organizations led by and serving BIPOC communities. Its stated criteria include majority-BIPOC staff and board leadership, serving majority-BIPOC communities, providing services in communities with significant BIPOC populations, an annual operating budget of no more than $500,000 (with preference for budgets below $250,000), a history of serving communities of color, and a measurable connection to UWPC’s goal of moving households toward self-sufficiency. The published schedule calls for applications by September 30, 2026 for a January 1, 2027 award.
UWPC’s Impact Fund RFP for the 2025–27 community investment cycle described awards of $20,000–$50,000 and a total investment of $325,000. Its application deadline was July 12, 2024, so that deadline has passed.
UWPC also administers the Willie Stewart Community Service Scholarship for Pierce County high school seniors. The stated award range is $2,500–$5,000 per recipient, with funds used for college or university tuition. The listed deadline, May 1, 2026, has passed.
Ready to take the next step with United Way of Pierce County?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
UWPC says it supports the entire Pierce County community and aims to reflect countywide needs in its work. Its 2025 grants were concentrated in Washington: 99% of grant dollars went to Washington recipients and 1% to California recipients. The 2025–27 investment materials also identify particular low-equity communities and communities with high concentrations of ALICE households as priorities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $683K (2023) to $1.4M (2021). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tacoma Community House ($192K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $662K.
Grant Size Distribution
184 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 184 (89%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tacoma Community House Tacoma, WA | Capacity Grant Centers for Strong Families | $172,000 |
| Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Goodwill of the Olympic and Rainier Region Tacoma, WA | Capacity Grant Centers for Strong Families | $76,000 |
| CJK Community Homes Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $50,000 |
| New Phoebe House Association Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Associated Ministries of Tacoma Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $48,000 |
| Making A Difference Foundation Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $45,000 |
| Help A Student Fund Tacoma, WA | Designations | $36,070 |
| St Vincent DePaul Society Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $35,000 |
| Mi Centro Tacoma, WA | Program Support | $30,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,466,785 | $6,859,905 | $7,811,375 | $1,041,345 | 39 |
| 2024 | $17,749,545 | $7,684,653 | $8,143,511 | $1,280,297 | 35 |
| 2023 | $17,078,616 | $7,897,303 | $6,400,567 | $683,372 | 29 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,466,785 | $17,749,545 | $17,078,616 |
| Revenue | $6,859,905 | $7,684,653 | $7,897,303 |
| Expenses | $7,811,375 | $8,143,511 | $6,400,567 |
| Net Investment Income | $575,203 | $547,241 | $333,577 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 11, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dona Ponepinto as President and Chief Executive Officer, Annie Frisbie as Chief Development Officer, and Peter J Grignon as Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Listed board officers and directors include Jackie Flowers, Vice Chair; Sebrena Chambers, Past Chair; Tanisha Jumper, Secretary; and directors AJ Gordon, Mike Griffus, Stuart Grover and Beth Johnson. UWPC says its volunteer board approves policy and investment decisions.
United Way of Pierce County is led by Dona Ponepinto, President & Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 3 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dona Ponepinto
President & Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$189K (2020) → $216K (2025)
Nathe Lawver
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eli Taylor
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Grover
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tina Vasen
Director
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Faaluaina Pritchard
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Georgia Lomax
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Martinez
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shasta Kelley
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eileen Walker
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Pinto
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Griffus
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee McClain
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Archi Sharma
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grant Twyman
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Holmes
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
AJ Gordon
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Westbrooke
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Stancil
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacqueline Justice
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Mincheff
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Chandran
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yelda Bryant
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter J Grignon
Senior Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$94K (2020) → $113K (2025)
Annie Frisbie
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2024
50 hrs/week
$120K (2024) → $129K (2025)
Andy Larson
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Walton
Director - Emeritus Non Voting
Director → Director - Emeritus, 2024
Director - Emeritus → Director - Emeritus Non Voting, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sebrena Chambers
Past Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tanisha Jumper
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jackie Flowers
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kent Roberts
Director - Emeritus Non Voting
Director - Emeritus → Director - Emeritus Non Voting, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Louis Cooper (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Steve Harlow (2020–2024) — Past Chair
- Former: Carla Santorno (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jon Rossman (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Kristie Nockleby (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Jarrett Brunny (2022–2023) — Vice President of Community Impact
- Former: Emily Mendez Bryant (2020–2022) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: William Pugh (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Anette Bryant (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: David Carlson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kathy Schmidt (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Nino (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Linda Proett (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: William Berry (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mabel Edmonds (2020) — Director
- Former: Matthew Levi (2020) — Director
- Former: Nicole Sherman (2020) — Director
- Former: Patricia Rose (2020) — Director
- Former: Sue Dreier (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $216K, to Dona Ponepinto (President and Chief Executive Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1501 Pacific Avenue 4Th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (253) 272-4263
Website: https://uwpc.org
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Pierce County
How much does United Way of Pierce County give each year?
United Way of Pierce County gave $1.0M across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 35 grants.
What is United Way of Pierce County's typical grant size?
United Way of Pierce County's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $26,701, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of Pierce County that year got $15K on average.
Where does United Way of Pierce County give grants?
United Way of Pierce County gives mostly in Washington: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Tacoma, WA (28 grants), Lakewood, WA (4 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does United Way of Pierce County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Pierce County's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (29 grants), "Designations" (7 grants) and "Capacity Grant Centers for Strong Families" (3 grants).
Who are United Way of Pierce County's largest grantees?
United Way of Pierce County's largest 2025 grantees include Tacoma Community House ($192,000 across 2 grants), Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center ($100,000) and Goodwill of the Olympic and Rainier Region ($76,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Pierce County?
United Way of Pierce County reported $17.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.9M.
What does United Way of Pierce County fund?
UWPC’s mission is to “mobilize and unite the caring power of Pierce County to tackle our community’s toughest challenges to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Pierce County?
United Way of Pierce County has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check uwpc.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching United Way of Pierce County by hand.
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