United Way of Santa Cruz County
THE MISSION OF THE UNITED WAY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS TO IGNITE OUR COMMUNITY TO GIVE, ADVOCATE AND VOLUNTEER SO THAT OUR YOUTH SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE, OUR RESIDENTS ARE HEALTHY AND OUR FAMILIES ARE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT.OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY IS THE UNITED FOR YOUTH INITIATIVE, A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS TO REDUCE YOUTH POVERTY BY CREATING ENVIRONMENT CHANGES GIVING CHILDREN MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIVING IN A HEALTHIER, THRIVING, AND SAFER SANTA CRUZ COUNTY.Cradle to career and black health initiative as fiscal sponsorship.
United Way of Santa Cruz County at a glance
In short: United Way of Santa Cruz County gave $84K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $84,250
- -53.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -62.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,083
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $3,536,869
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who United Way of Santa Cruz County funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cradle to Career ($33K). Together the top 3 received $84K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 56 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How United Way of Santa Cruz County gives
- Giving fell 67% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $84K (2025) to $442K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cradle to Career Capitola, CA | United for Youth Program | $33,000 |
| Community Action Board Watsonville, CA | United For Youth Program | $30,000 |
| Santa Cruz Community Ventures Watsonville, CA | Promotora/Semillitas Funding | $21,250 |
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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 | $3,536,869 | $5,638,281 | $5,379,696 | $84,250 | 3 | $2,570 |
| 2024 | $3,335,669 | $5,946,932 | $4,895,085 | $181,366 | 8 | $4,164 |
| 2023 | $2,136,401 | $5,158,561 | $4,738,163 | $239,700 | 11 | $1,611 |
| 2022 | $1,337,481 | $3,528,642 | $3,408,283 | $258,168 | 15 | $-9,881 |
| 2021 | $1,184,373 | $3,816,942 | $3,684,303 | $442,124 | 19 | $12,751 |
| 2020 | $1,488,078 | $3,819,902 | $3,754,311 | $404,887 | 6 | $1,290 |
About United Way of Santa Cruz County
Based on IRS filings
United Way of Santa Cruz County is a public charity, based in Capitola, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $84K. Net investment income was $3K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
United Way of Santa Cruz County is led by Keisha Frost, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 3 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Keisha Frost
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$115K (2020) → $146K (2025)
Yvette Brooks
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hajime Arnold
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Dodge
Finance Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$90K (2020) → $123K (2025)
Sarah Emmert
Community Org Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$82K (2020) → $97K (2025)
Brian Spector
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deanre James
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martine Watkins
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Larive
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Morgan Lyng Lukina
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oscar Sanchez
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia FeldMan
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elaine Johnson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Faris Sabbah
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Regina Langhout
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharmara Van Der Voort
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Travaris Harris
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beau Wilder
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bindi Gandhi
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patty Winters
Vice President Campaign
Director → Vice President Campaign, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Chris Maffia (2020–2024) — Vice President Campaign
- Former: Fernando Giraldo (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Laurie Egan (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Matthew Wetstein (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Lejla Bratovic (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Deander James (2023) — Director
- Former: Dawn Mathes (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Greg Lukina (2020–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: Jodie Kench (2020–2022) — Elc Chair
- Former: Joe Foster (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Julie Giannotta (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rachel Sherer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Robert Terrance (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Danielle Burke (2022) — Director
- Former: Michele Chaney (2022) — Director
- Former: Stuart Mager (2022) — Director
- Former: Aaron Johnston (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Bettye Saxon (2020–2021) — 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 $146K, to Keisha Frost (President & CEO). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Santa Cruz County
How much does United Way of Santa Cruz County give each year?
United Way of Santa Cruz County gave $84K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $181K across 8 grants.
What is United Way of Santa Cruz County's typical grant size?
United Way of Santa Cruz County's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $28,083, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does United Way of Santa Cruz County give grants?
United Way of Santa Cruz County gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Watsonville, CA (2 grants).
Does United Way of Santa Cruz County give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Santa Cruz County's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is United Way of Santa Cruz County?
United Way of Santa Cruz County reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.6M.
What is United Way of Santa Cruz County's EIN?
United Way of Santa Cruz County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1422471. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Santa Cruz County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from United Way of Santa Cruz 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.
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