United Way of the Piedmont Inc logo

United Way of the Piedmont Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Spartanburg, SC EIN: 57-0314377 Website

United Way of the Piedmont Inc is a public charity based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, serving Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties. Founded in 1936, it brings together donors, volunteers, businesses, and community partners and supports local programs and services addressing community needs.

United Way of the Piedmont Inc at a glance

In short: United Way of the Piedmont Inc gave $1.6M across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in South Carolina. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,582,392
-9.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
40
-14.9% vs 2024
Average grant
$39,560
+6.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$25,504
Total assets
$3,523,234
+7.4% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
5% first-time grantees (2 of 40, 2025)
Primary geography
South Carolina (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 the Piedmont Inc

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 5624, Spartanburg, SC 29304
Phone: (864) 582-7556
Website: https://uwpiedmont.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who United Way of the Piedmont Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Middle Tyger Community Center: $163KMiddle Tyger Community Center$163KUpstate Family Resource Center: $136KUpstate Family Resource Center$136KSafe Homesrape Crisis Coalition: $122KSafe Homesrape CrisisCoalition$122KHope Center for Children: $97KHope Center for Children$97KProject Hope Foundation: $80KProject Hope Foundation$80KThe Bethlehem Center: $71KThe Bethlehem Center$71KGreer Relief & Resources Agency: $63KGreer Relief & ResourcesAgency$63KBoys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate: $57KBoys & Girls Clubs of theUpstate$57KChildren's Advocacy Center: $53KChildren's Advocacy Center$53KAdult Learning Center Inc: $51KAdult Learning Center Inc$51K

The largest 2025 recipient was Middle Tyger Community Center ($163K). Together the top 10 received $892K.

Grant Size Distribution

288 grants across all recorded years

236<$50K33$50–100K19$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 236 grants of 288 (82%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The organization states that it serves Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties in South Carolina. Its 2025 reported grants went entirely to South Carolina recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.

Cities

SpartanburgGaffneyGreenvilleUnionWoodruffBoiling SpringsColumbiaGreenwoodGreerLymanBlacksburgWellfordAlexandriaAndersonCentralPigeon ForgeBuffaloJonesville

Is United Way of the Piedmont Inc open to new grantees?

5%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 40 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $40K. How we count

Medians: $24K first-time, $26K repeat.

  • 93% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 27% from 2022 to 2025. 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

$0$1M$2M$3M66 grants2021 64 grants2022 71 grants2023 47 grants2024 40 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2025) to $2.5M (2021). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Middle Tyger Community Center Lyman, SCHUR Helene & PGR Ops$163,220
Upstate Family Resource Center Boiling Springs, SCHUR Helene & PGR Ops$135,920
Safe Homesrape Crisis Coalition Spartanburg, SCProgram Operations$122,145
Hope Center for Children Spartanburg, SCProgram Operations$96,784
Project Hope Foundation Woodruff, SCProgram Operations$79,675
The Bethlehem Center Spartanburg, SCProgram Operations$71,291
Greer Relief & Resources Agency Greer, SCHUR Helene & PGR Ops$62,565
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate Spartanburg, SCProgram Operations$56,913
Children's Advocacy Center Spartanburg, SCProgram Operations$53,337
Adult Learning Center Inc Spartanburg, SCProgram Operations$50,522
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$3,523,234$5,403,229$5,501,202$1,582,39240$45,053
2024$3,279,597$5,293,207$5,128,660$1,747,85647$52,834
2023$3,314,453$13,287,779$13,953,442$2,216,68771$14,759
2022$4,052,920$17,201,832$17,149,511$2,162,24364$1,124
2021$4,093,923$15,798,807$16,010,272$2,464,21466$1,956

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s 2023 filing states its mission as strengthening educational opportunity, economic mobility, and access to healthcare for families across Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties. Its website describes four impact areas: community resilience, financial security, healthy community, and youth opportunity. Its Community Impact Agenda also identifies five focus categories, including economic mobility and basic needs.

Through community investment, United Way of the Piedmont funds nonprofit programs in Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union counties. Examples of supported organizations include Middle Tyger Community Center, whose stated mission is to provide holistic resources to support people in Spartanburg County; Upstate Family Resource Center, which says it helps families in northern Spartanburg County become self-sufficient and resilient; and Hope Center for Children, which says it works to build stable, healthy families by providing a safe place from abuse and neglect.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, United Way of the Piedmont reported 40 grants totaling $1,582,392. Grants ranged from $5,123 to $163,220, with a median of $25,504. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina. Some of the largest grants were designated for “HUR HELENE & PGR OPS”; others listed “PROGRAM OPERATIONS.”

The largest reported grants included $163,220 to Middle Tyger Community Center, $135,920 to Upstate Family Resource Center, $122,145 to Safe Homesrape Crisis Coalition, $96,784 to Hope Center for Children, and $79,675 to Project Hope Foundation. Other substantial grants included $71,291 to The Bethlehem Center, $62,565 to Greer Relief & Resources Agency, and $56,913 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate.

The organization’s website says its community investment process uses separate Letters of Intent and applications for each program; organizations may apply for multiple programs, and each program is evaluated separately. Required Letter of Intent information includes organization details, program name and county, priority area, intended result, estimated request, a program overview, organizational budget, organizational health self-assessment, and Patriot Act compliance form. Funds may cover program-related expenses, including salaries. The organization will fund faith-based organizations, but services cannot require participation in religious activities and any religious components must be voluntary. It says it cannot cover all program costs or be the sole funding source. In Spartanburg County, the stated minimum is $15,000 per program per year; the maximum for Basic Needs and Safe Environments is $25,000 per program per year, with no maximum stated for Economic Mobility, Education, or Health. Cherokee and Union County programs have no stated minimums or maximums. The website says awards are for 12 months, January through December, with funding contracts for 2026–2028. The 2026–2028 process is closed.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Paige Stephenson as President/CE, Chris Neely as VP Finance &, Mitch Kennedy as Chair, Earl Alexander as Sec/Treas Ti, and Jennifer Cash as Sec/Treas Fr. Directors listed are Tony Acevedo, Laura Barbas-Rhoden, Denise Beers-Kiepper, Donda Bishop, and Reed Brown.

United Way of the Piedmont Inc is led by Paige Stephenson, President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 2 of 33 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Paige Stephenson

    President

    President & CEO → President, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $129K (2021) → $167K (2025)

  • Mitch Kennedy

    Chair

    Director → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beth Lancaster

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Santoro

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marquice Clark

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shaunte Evans

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sky Foster

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrea Moore

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joey Fowler

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Barbas-Rhoden

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Angela Halstead

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bennie Harris

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dana Gottman

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Denise Beers-Kiepper

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kurt Dallas

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Parkes Coggins

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Timika Wilson

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Donda Bishop

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gia Quinones

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Henderson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Reed Brown

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brian Earnest

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Greyson Furnas

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Josh Thompson

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Julie Fowler

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Konopasek

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Langley

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nicole Caldwell

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Keim Stallard

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tony Acevedo

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Chris Neely

    Vice President Finance

    On filings since 2024

    40 hrs/week

    $105K (2024) → $118K (2025)

  • Earl Alexander

    Secretary & Treasurer Ti

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer Ti, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Cash

    Secretary & Treasurer Fr

    Director → Secretary & Treasurer Fr, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (37)
  • Former: Craig Haydamack (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Dana Fall (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Dawn Bingham (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Kathleen Brady (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Rob Barrett (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Todd Horne (2021–2024) — Director
  • Former: Jay Beeson (2022–2024) — Director
  • Former: Jim Shank (2022–2024) — Director
  • Former: Lance Radford (2022–2024) — Director
  • Former: Sarah Keim (2024) — Director
  • Former: Anu Agarwal (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Bryan Stone (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Deborah Bertelsman (2021–2023) — Vice President of Financ
  • Former: Jonathan Waller (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Kevin P. Drake (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Lori McMillan (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Paul Newhouse (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Renee Klein (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Scott Cochran (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Steven Wise (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Walter Bennett (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Reggie Browning (2022–2023) — Director
  • Former: Amanda Richardson (2021–2022) — Vice President of Resource Development
  • Former: Heather Witt (2021–2022) — Vice President of Community Impact
  • Former: Katherine O'Neill (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Lisa Arwood Gunton (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Alexandra Moore (2022) — Vice President of Brand Experience
  • Former: Denise Beers Kiepper (2022) — Director
  • Former: Hannah Jarrett (2022) — Vice President of Community Impact
  • Former: Dennis Chapman Hughes (2021) — Director
  • Former: Heather Lother (2021) — Vice President of Engagement
  • Former: Jack McBride (2021) — Director
  • Former: Jill Van Pelt (2021) — Director
  • Former: Luc Debaty (2021) — Director
  • Former: Monica Greene (2021) — Vice President of Resource Development
  • Former: Perry D. Boulier (2021) — Chair
  • Former: Ronald Garner (2021) — Director

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

Paige Stephenson — President/Ce: $167KPaige StephensonPresident/Ce$167KChris Neely — VP Finance &: $118KChris NeelyVP Finance &$118K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $167K, to Paige Stephenson (President/Ce). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about United Way of the Piedmont Inc

How much does United Way of the Piedmont Inc give each year?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc gave $1.6M across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 47 grants.

What is United Way of the Piedmont Inc's typical grant size?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,504, and its average grant was $39,560, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of the Piedmont Inc that year got $24K on average.

Where does United Way of the Piedmont Inc give grants?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc gives mostly in South Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Spartanburg, SC (26 grants), Greenville, SC (3 grants), Woodruff, SC (2 grants) and Gaffney, SC (2 grants).

Does United Way of the Piedmont Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of the Piedmont Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Operations" (37 grants) and "HUR Helene & PGR Ops" (3 grants).

Who are United Way of the Piedmont Inc's largest grantees?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Middle Tyger Community Center ($163,220), Upstate Family Resource Center ($135,920) and Safe Homesrape Crisis Coalition ($122,145), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is United Way of the Piedmont Inc?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.4M.

What does United Way of the Piedmont Inc fund?

The organization’s 2023 filing states its mission as strengthening educational opportunity, economic mobility, and access to healthcare for families across Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from United Way of the Piedmont Inc?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check uwpiedmont.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is United Way of the Piedmont Inc's EIN?

United Way of the Piedmont Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0314377. 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

(4)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 20, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 18, 2025)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 6, 2026)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). United Way of the Piedmont Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-the-piedmont-inc-morg_ff25f50b0c1c4f08b2673a0fa309e56b

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_570314377_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{United Way of the Piedmont Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-the-piedmont-inc-morg_ff25f50b0c1c4f08b2673a0fa309e56b},
  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 the Piedmont 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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