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.
Key facts about United Way of Wilkes County Inc
In short: United Way of Wilkes County Inc gave $193K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in North Carolina. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-0942846
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $193,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- Average grant
- $16,083
- Median grant
- $16,600
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $471,042
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$471K
+6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$193K
+139.8% YoY
Grant Count
12
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+59.8% YoY
Is United Way of Wilkes County Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 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
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
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.”
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.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from United Way of Wilkes County Inc
Ready to take the next step with United Way of Wilkes County Inc?
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 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $81K (2023) to $275K (2021). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $193K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Child Abuse Prevention Team ($30K). Together the top 10 received $179K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 72 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Child Abuse Prevention Team Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $30,200 |
| Appalachian State University Boone, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $24,400 |
| Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Samaritan Christian Ministry Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Wilkes Adult Development Activity Program N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Wilkes Senior Resources N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $18,000 |
| Wilkes Circle of Care N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $15,200 |
| Carenet Counseling of Wilkes N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $11,500 |
| Volunteers for Wilkes Literacy N Wilkesboro, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $11,200 |
| Mountain Valley Hospice Dobson, NC | To Fund the Exempt Purpose | $8,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $471,042 | $367,727 | $329,343 | $193,000 (12) |
| 2023 | $441,016 | $320,356 | $356,400 | $80,500 (8) |
| 2022 | $464,940 | $260,474 | $388,016 | $253,320 (15) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $471,042 | $441,016 | $464,940 |
| Revenue | $367,727 | $320,356 | $260,474 |
| Expenses | $329,343 | $356,400 | $388,016 |
| Net Investment Income | $95,527 | $2,959 | $11,554 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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
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's 2024 filing lists 19 officers; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Arnold Lakey
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy Welborn
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deana Billings
Director
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
Gerald Lankford
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Edwards
Director
Director → Past President, 2021
Past President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Morgan
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
Pat Osborne
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
Crystal Owens
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clara Hickman
Secretary
Secretary → Executive Director, 2022
Executive Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$56K (2020) → $56K (2024)
Craig Langston
Past President
President → Past President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Worley
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 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 (8)
- 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, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $56K, to Clara Hickman (Secretary).
Contact
Mailing address: One United Way Building910 C Stree, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
Phone: (336) 651-7803
Website: https://uwwilkes.org
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 $193K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $81K across 8 grants.
What is United Way of Wilkes County Inc's typical grant size?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc's median grant in 2024 was $16,600, and its average grant was $16,083, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
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 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were N Wilkesboro, NC (8 grants) and Wilkesboro, NC (2 grants).
Who are United Way of Wilkes County Inc's largest grantees?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Child Abuse Prevention Team ($30,200), Appalachian State University ($24,400) and Blue Ridge Opportunity Commission ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is United Way of Wilkes County Inc?
United Way of Wilkes County Inc reported $471K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $368K.
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 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching United Way of Wilkes County Inc by hand.
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