United Way of Southwest Minnesota
United Way of Southwest Minnesota is a public charity based in Marshall, Minnesota. It invests donations primarily through Community Impact Grants and works to improve lives and strengthen communities in southwest Minnesota.
United Way of Southwest Minnesota at a glance
In short: United Way of Southwest Minnesota gave $286K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Minnesota. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $285,544
- -0.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,036
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,526
- Total assets
- $787,438
- -8.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to United Way of Southwest Minnesota
- How to Apply
-
For Community Impact Grants, applicants must meet the program guidelines and eligibility criteria; the 2026–27 application cycle is past. For Kindness Investment Program grants, applications are accepted year-round while funds are available.
- Review Cycle
- The Community Impact Grant deadline for the 2026–27 cycle was April 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
- Deadline
- The Community Impact Grant deadline for the 2026–27 cycle was April 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
- Next open deadline
- January 31, 2027 (Small Grants Program)
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 41, Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: (507) 929-2273
Website: https://unitedwayswmn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from United Way of Southwest Minnesota
Who United Way of Southwest Minnesota funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Imagination Library ($64K). Together the top 10 received $238K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 70 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization serves Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, and Yellow Medicine counties, plus portions of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties in Minnesota. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Way of Southwest Minnesota open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 15 grantees (7%) 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 $8K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 93% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $261K (2022) to $300K (2021). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $286K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Imagination Library Marshall, MN | Youth Opportunity | $63,691 |
| United Community Action PTSHP Kitchen Table Food Shelves Marshall, MN | Healthy Communities | $32,500 |
| New Horizons Crisis Center Crime Victim Services Marshall, MN | Community Resilience | $26,388 |
| United Community Action PTSHP the Refuge Marshall, MN | Community Resilience | $23,572 |
| United Community Action PTSHP Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Pro Marshall, MN | Financial Security | $16,840 |
| Serveminnesota Reading Corps Minneapolis, MN | Youth Opportunity | $16,000 |
| New Horizons Crisis Center Parenting Time Program Marshall, MN | Community Resilience | $16,000 |
| Stuff the Bus Marshall, MN | Youth Opportunity | $15,526 |
| Marshall FOOD4KIDS Marshall, MN | Healthy Communities | $14,000 |
| Wild About Kindergarten Marshall, MN | Youth Opportunity | $13,327 |
Ready to take the next step with United Way of Southwest Minnesota?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $787,438 | $409,767 | $518,506 | $285,544 | 15 | $20,284 |
| 2024 | $861,140 | $571,722 | $498,797 | $285,770 | 17 | $17,449 |
| 2023 | $820,050 | $483,822 | $496,551 | $268,951 | 12 | $1,643 |
| 2022 | $830,695 | $489,702 | $477,078 | $260,995 | 11 | $1,096 |
| 2021 | $840,720 | $534,393 | $550,175 | $300,128 | 15 | $3,469 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to unite people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities in southwest Minnesota. Its stated funding priorities include Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resilience. Its website also describes work related to health, education, financial stability, hunger, and safety and well-being.
For Community Impact Grants, the organization identifies eligible applicants as 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, or government units whose programs serve people in its service area and align with at least one priority area. In its 2025 grants, funded programs included food shelves, crisis and crime-victim services, literacy and kindergarten-readiness initiatives, youth development, and tax assistance. Among the grantees, United Community Action Partnership describes its mission as empowering people in need, while New Horizons Crisis Center describes its work as supporting crime victims, advocating for families, and providing educational programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, United Way of Southwest Minnesota reported 15 grants totaling $285,544. Grant amounts ranged from $7,700 to $63,691, with a median of $15,526. Notable awards included $63,691 for Imagination Library, $32,500 for United Community Action Partnership’s Kitchen Table Food Shelves, $26,388 for New Horizons Crisis Center Crime Victim Services, and $23,572 for United Community Action Partnership’s The Refuge.
The organization’s website describes a community volunteer review process: panels score applications, interview applicants, evaluate program goals and expected outcomes, and recommend funding to the board for final approval. The filing states that the board sets the overall Community Impact Grant funding level based on resources from the preceding fundraising campaign, and that approved grants become available July 1 and are paid in quarterly installments. The 2026–27 application cycle had a stated deadline of April 3, 2026, which has passed. First-time applicants for that cycle were required to attend a grant workshop. The website also lists eligibility requirements and says incomplete applications will not be considered.
The website separately describes Kindness Investment Program grants of up to $1,000 for small-scale community projects. Applications are accepted year-round while funds are available. Applicants must meet eligible-organization criteria, align with a priority area, and carry out the project in the service area; a final report is required. Listed exclusions include marketing and fundraising promotions, certain capital expenditures, debt reduction, endowments, lobbying, and activities supporting a specific religious purpose.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Meg Louwagie as CEO and Al Castor as chair. It also lists Shawna Christianson as Community IM and Doug Desmet, Tracie Hansen, Angie Hennen, Kim Holm, Brian Jeremias on, Andy Lanoue, and Melissa Maranell as directors.
United Way of Southwest Minnesota is led by Meg Louwagie, CEO on every filing since 2022; 1 of 18 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Meg Louwagie
CEO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$34K (2023) → $55K (2025)
Al Castor
Chair
Resource Development → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Jeremiason
Director
Community Impact → Community Im, 2023
Community Im → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Nuese
Director
Chair → Past Chair, 2024
Past Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Desmet
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Holm
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andy Lanoue
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angie Hennen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cedric Williams
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Smith
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Maranell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Panka
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Voss
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracie Hansen
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hans Zahrbock
Vice Chair
Director → Resource Development, 2023
Resource Development → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawna Christianson
Community Im
Director → Community Im, 2025
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Casey Pohlen
Treasurer
Director → Co Treasurer, 2024
Co Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Suby
Resource Development
Director → Resource Development, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Michelle Warme (2021–2024) — Co-Treasurer
- Former: Curt Schake (2022–2024) — Community Im
- Former: Hayley Fruin (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Molly Peterson (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: George Taylor III (2024) — Director
- Former: Joseph Karanja (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Melanie Pedersen (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: See Moua-Leske (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Terry Kriz (2021–2023) — Past Chair
- Former: Kassi Tietz (2023) — Director
- Former: Kevin Veldhuisen (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Krista Kopperud (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Sarah Kicmal (2021–2022) — Previous CEO
- Former: Amy Herrick (2021) — Past Chair
- Former: Bethany Janachovsky (2021) — Director
- Former: Julie Hartle (2021) — Director
- Former: Lee Steffen (2021) — Director
- Former: Luke Tietz (2021) — Community Impact
- Former: Michelle Doeling (2021) — Resource Development
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $55K, to Meg Louwagie (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Southwest Minnesota
How much does United Way of Southwest Minnesota give each year?
United Way of Southwest Minnesota gave $286K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $286K across 17 grants.
What is United Way of Southwest Minnesota's typical grant size?
United Way of Southwest Minnesota's median grant in 2025 was $15,526, and its average grant was $19,036, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of Southwest Minnesota that year got $8K on average.
Where does United Way of Southwest Minnesota give grants?
United Way of Southwest Minnesota 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 Marshall, MN (11 grants).
Does United Way of Southwest Minnesota give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Southwest Minnesota's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Youth Opportunity" (5 grants), "Community Resilience" (4 grants) and "Healthy Communities" (4 grants).
Who are United Way of Southwest Minnesota's largest grantees?
United Way of Southwest Minnesota's largest 2025 grantees include Imagination Library ($63,691), United Community Action PTSHP Kitchen Table Food Shelves ($32,500) and New Horizons Crisis Center Crime Victim Services ($26,388), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Southwest Minnesota?
United Way of Southwest Minnesota reported $787K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $410K.
What does United Way of Southwest Minnesota fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to unite people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities in southwest Minnesota. Its stated funding priorities include Youth Opportunity, Healthy Communities, Financial Security, and Community Resilience. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Southwest Minnesota?
For Community Impact Grants, applicants must meet the program guidelines and eligibility criteria; the 2026–27 application cycle is past. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is United Way of Southwest Minnesota's EIN?
United Way of Southwest Minnesota's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6023143. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work United Way of Southwest Minnesota funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Southwest Minnesota funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-southwest-minnesota-morg_018feb9fb9a545d09502f2e7df70fcae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416023143_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Southwest Minnesota funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-southwest-minnesota-morg_018feb9fb9a545d09502f2e7df70fcae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Southwest Minnesota'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 Southwest Minnesota down — hundreds of funders to go?