United Way of Wilkes County Inc
United Way of Wilkes County Inc is a public charity based in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. Incorporated in 1953, it brings together community donors, volunteers, businesses, and partner programs to address local needs and improve people’s lives.
United Way of Wilkes County Inc at a glance
In short: United Way of Wilkes County Inc gave $220K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in North Carolina. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $219,942
- +14.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +41.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,938
- -19.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,000
- Total assets
- $480,741
- +2.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to United Way of Wilkes County Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: One United Way Building910 C Stree, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Phone: (336) 651-7803
Website: https://uwwilkes.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 Wilkes County Inc
Who United Way of Wilkes County Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Appalachian State University ($30K). Together the top 10 received $192K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 69 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its work as serving Wilkes County, North Carolina. Its 2024 filing shows that all grant dollars went to North Carolina recipients. The listed recipients included organizations in North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro, as well as recipients in Boone and Dobson.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is United Way of Wilkes County Inc open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $14K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $81K (2023) to $275K (2021). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $220K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University Boone, NC | Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents | $30,000 |
| Wilkes Circle of Care N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $29,000 |
| Wilkes Adult Development Activity Program N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $23,000 |
| Child Abuse Prevention Team Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $22,750 |
| Wilkes Senior Resources N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Samaritan Christian Ministry Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $18,000 |
| Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $14,500 |
| Ruby P Blackburn Adult Day Care N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $13,000 |
| Carenet Counseling of Wilkes N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $12,000 |
| Volunteers for Wilkes Literacy N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $10,000 |
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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 | $480,741 | $299,106 | $316,769 | $219,942 | 17 | $39,071 |
| 2024 | $471,042 | $367,727 | $329,343 | $193,000 | 12 | $95,527 |
| 2023 | $441,016 | $320,356 | $356,400 | $80,500 | 8 | $2,959 |
| 2022 | $464,940 | $260,474 | $388,016 | $253,320 | 15 | $11,554 |
| 2021 | $598,321 | $400,167 | $415,795 | $275,153 | 17 | $3,422 |
| 2020 | $632,958 | $436,979 | $415,917 | $275,028 | 20 | $7,173 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to involve the entire community in identifying community needs, developing financial resources, and partnering with programs to meet those needs. Its 2023 filing describes its focus areas as crisis intervention, education advancement, and health improvement.
The organization says it works through partner agencies and programs. Among its 2024 grantees, Appalachian State University Foundation says its mission is to support the university’s students, faculty, staff, and community through financial support, stewardship, resource growth, and advocacy. Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission describes itself as a nonprofit established to administer federal and state grants in Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes counties. Wilkes Senior Resources says it provides services, education, and information promoting quality of life and active aging for seniors.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the organization awarded 12 grants totaling $193,000. Grants ranged from $6,500 to $30,200, with a median of $16,600. Its largest awards included $30,200 to Child Abuse Prevention Team, $24,400 to Appalachian State University, and $20,000 each to Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission, Samaritan Christian Ministry, and Wilkes Adult Development Activity Program. The filing lists the purpose of each award as “to fund the exempt purpose.” Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 17 grants totaling $219,942.
The organization’s website describes a scholarship program for Wilkes County adult learners with demonstrated financial need who are enrolled in specified programs at Wilkes Community College. The listed academic year is 2025–2026, which is a past cycle as of September 29, 2026; the listed awards were $1,000 for associate in applied science programs and $500 for certificate or diploma programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Greg Edwards, Lee Bentley, Petey Horton, Arnold Lakey, Gerald Lankford, Betsy Welborn, and Deana Billings as directors; Michelle Bare as assistant treasurer; Karen Worley as treasurer; and Craig Langston as past president.
United Way of Wilkes County Inc is led by Joey Bullis, Executive Director & Board Secretary on the 2025 filing; 1 of 18 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joey Bullis
Executive Director & Board Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
28 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arnold Lakey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Langston
Director
President → Past President, 2022
Past President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Harper
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evan Handy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Triplett
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Bentley
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Petey Horton
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Watson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aynsley Zulpo
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denna Parsons
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ernest Coles
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marty Watkins
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosanna Limon-Reyes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kinsley Walker
Former Executive Director-Board Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$25K (2025)
Karen Worley
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Bare
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Westley Wood
Presdient
Director → Presdient, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Betsy Welborn (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Clara Hickman (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Deana Billings (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Gerald Lankford (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Greg Edwards (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Jenny Morgan (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Pat Osborne (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Crystal Owens (2024) — Director
- Former: Brent West (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jean Graf (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lisa Pardee (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Matt Black (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jean Hefner (2021) — Director
- Former: Caroline Whitson (2020) — Director
- Former: John Yates (2020) — Past President
- Former: Luther Parks (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 $25K, to Kinsley Walker (former Exec Director-Board Secy).
Frequently asked questions about United Way of Wilkes County Inc
How much does United Way of Wilkes County Inc give each year?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc gave $220K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $193K across 12 grants.
What is United Way of Wilkes County Inc's typical grant size?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,000, and its average grant was $12,938, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from United Way of Wilkes County Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does United Way of Wilkes County Inc give grants?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were N Wilkesboro, NC (10 grants) and Wilkesboro, NC (4 grants).
Who are United Way of Wilkes County Inc's largest grantees?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Appalachian State University ($30,000), Wilkes Circle of Care ($29,000) and Wilkes Adult Development Activity Program ($23,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Wilkes County Inc?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc reported $481K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $299K.
What does United Way of Wilkes County Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to involve the entire community in identifying community needs, developing financial resources, and partnering with programs to meet those needs. Its 2023 filing describes its focus areas as crisis intervention, education advancement, and health improvement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from United Way of Wilkes County Inc?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check uwwilkes.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is United Way of Wilkes County Inc's EIN?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-0942846. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 10, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). United Way of Wilkes County Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-wilkes-county-inc-morg_95ca0c6e8da141f98837d3301cfab3fa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_560942846_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{United Way of Wilkes County Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/united-way-of-wilkes-county-inc-morg_95ca0c6e8da141f98837d3301cfab3fa},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-13. 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 Wilkes County 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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