United Way of Western Kentucky
United Way of Western Kentucky is a public charity based in Paducah, Kentucky. It supports community programs focused on education, income, and health, and its website says it serves seven western Kentucky counties: Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken.
United Way of Western Kentucky at a glance
In short: United Way of Western Kentucky gave $469K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), mostly in Kentucky. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $469,200
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $39,100
- -13.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,500
- Total assets
- $2,293,867
- -11.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to United Way of Western Kentucky
- Review Cycle
- March 27, 2027.
- Deadline
- March 27, 2027.
- Next open deadline
- March 27, 2027 (United Way of Western Kentucky - Community Impact Funding)
- Contact
Mailing address: 120 S 3Rd St, Paducah, KY 42001
Phone: (270) 442-1691
Website: https://unitedwaywky.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 Western Kentucky
Who United Way of Western Kentucky funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Family Services Society ($121K). Together the top 10 received $449K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 49 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization says it serves Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Marshall, and McCracken counties in western Kentucky. Its community impact funding is described as covering western Kentucky, with a specific focus on McCracken County. All grants listed for filing year 2025 went to Kentucky recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Way of Western Kentucky open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 12 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−6%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $469K (2025) to $503K (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $469K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Family Services Society Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $121,000 |
| Paducah Day Nursery Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $64,500 |
| Paducah Lifeline Ministries Inc Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $53,000 |
| Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $46,400 |
| Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $45,000 |
| Child Watch Children's Advocacy Center Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $35,000 |
| Kentucky Legal Aid Bowling Green, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $28,000 |
| Salvation Army Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $26,000 |
| Paducah-McCracken County Senior Center Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $16,500 |
| Paducah Coooperative Ministry Paducah, KY | To provide assistance for education, income and health to the community. | $14,000 |
Ready to take the next step with United Way of Western Kentucky?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,293,867 | $1,149,348 | $1,366,798 | $469,200 | 12 | $85,158 |
| 2024 | $2,591,003 | $2,256,895 | $1,923,903 | $497,168 | 11 | $79,263 |
| 2023 | $2,407,164 | $936,394 | $1,892,356 | $503,000 | 12 | $30,881 |
| 2022 | $2,273,301 | $1,177,212 | $859,767 | $501,200 | 14 | $55,530 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to serve the community by improving conditions in education, income, and health. Its funding process is organized around community-level outcomes in those three areas.
United Way’s 2025 filing lists grants to local organizations for the stated purpose of providing assistance for education, income, and health. One recipient, Paducah Day Nursery, describes its own mission as providing child care for low-income families to assist working parents and parents enrolled in school.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, United Way reported 12 grants totaling $469,200. Grant amounts ranged from $6,000 to $121,000, with a median of $31,500. Its largest reported grants included $121,000 to Family Services Society, $64,500 to Paducah Day Nursery, $53,000 to Paducah Lifeline Ministries, $46,400 to Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center, and $45,000 to Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky.
For community impact funding, local or regional impact councils review program applications in education, income, and health and recommend awards; the United Way Board of Directors gives final approval. Funded partners are informed of decisions annually in June. The website’s application requirements include an audited financial statement for the most recent fiscal year, current agency and program budgets, a 501(c)(3) determination letter, a Form 990 or 990-EZ matching the audit year and including all schedules, counterterrorism compliance, a current board roster, and a written nondiscrimination policy. Applicants must also show that the program works toward a defined community-level outcome. Partner agencies are encouraged to fundraise, but must refrain from launching capital campaigns during the annual United Way campaign.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Darren Smith, Leigh Ann Siener, James Morrow, Drew Hulette, Beth Hood, Eric Holland, Oscar Harrell, Latoya Richardson, and Wendy Elrod as board members, and CJ Gurley as vice president.
United Way of Western Kentucky is led by Todd Myers, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 25 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Todd Myers
President
Vice President → President Elect, 2024
President Elect → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arianne Dillon
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Sivills
Board Member
President Elect → Board President, 2024
Board President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cj Gurley
Vice President
Board Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gayle Martin
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynsi Barnhill
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marinel Dunigan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Wessel
Board Member
Board President → Past President, 2023
Past President → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Holland
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gina Leeper
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leigh Ann Ballegeer
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Oscar Harrell
Board Member & President Elect
Board Member → Board Member & Vice President, 2024
Board Member & Vice President → Board Member & President Elect, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Hood
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Darren Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drew Hulette
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dylan Street
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Morrow
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katina Todd
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leigh Ann Siener
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Elrod
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brent Housman
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Morris
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Georgann Lookofsky
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Latoya Richardson
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Ferch
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Lesley Owen (2022–2024) — Past President
- Former: Latoya Burton (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: April Gallimore (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jeremy Black (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Amie Clark (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Ashley Simmons (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Betsy Burkeen (2022–2023) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Brooke Colinger (2022–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Jayme Jones (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jessica Vasseur (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Sharlott Higdon (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bill Pinkston (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Brandon Hall (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Mills (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Maegan Mansfield (2022) — Past President
- Former: Vicki Morgan (2022) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Western Kentucky
How much does United Way of Western Kentucky give each year?
United Way of Western Kentucky gave $469K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $497K across 11 grants.
What is United Way of Western Kentucky's typical grant size?
United Way of Western Kentucky's median grant in 2025 was $31,500, and its average grant was $39,100, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does United Way of Western Kentucky give grants?
United Way of Western Kentucky gives mostly in Kentucky: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Paducah, KY (11 grants).
Does United Way of Western Kentucky give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on United Way of Western Kentucky's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are United Way of Western Kentucky's largest grantees?
United Way of Western Kentucky's largest 2025 grantees include Family Services Society ($121,000), Paducah Day Nursery ($64,500) and Paducah Lifeline Ministries Inc ($53,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Western Kentucky?
United Way of Western Kentucky reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does United Way of Western Kentucky fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to serve the community by improving conditions in education, income, and health. Its funding process is organized around community-level outcomes in those three areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Western Kentucky?
United Way of Western Kentucky has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check unitedwaywky.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way of Western Kentucky's EIN?
United Way of Western Kentucky's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-0514710. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in United Way of Western Kentucky's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Western Kentucky funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-western-kentucky-morg_0ea8b6b5bdb14e2783fece36d34188a3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_610514710_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Western Kentucky funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-western-kentucky-morg_0ea8b6b5bdb14e2783fece36d34188a3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Western Kentucky'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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