Valley United Way Inc
Valley United Way Inc is a public charity based in Shelton, Connecticut, serving Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton. It supports health and human service organizations working in those five Lower Naugatuck Valley communities, with funding focused on preparing youth to succeed, strengthening families, and helping people in crisis.
Valley United Way Inc at a glance
In short: Valley United Way Inc gave $256K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Connecticut. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $255,852
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,681
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $19,200
- Total assets
- $621,500
- -4.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (98% 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 Valley United Way Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 54 Grove Street 1, Shelton, CT 06484
Phone: (203) 926-9478
Website: https://valleyunitedway.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Valley United Way Inc
Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award
Valley United Way Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Partner Agency Funding (Annual Grant Program)
Valley United Way Inc
Amount
Varies (FY 2020-21: Over $258,000 total distributed)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Youth Leadership Program (YLP) Funding
Valley United Way Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Valley United Way Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boys and Girls Club of the LNV ($66K). Together the top 10 received $239K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 62 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Valley United Way serves Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton, Connecticut. Its website says funds raised in the Valley stay in the Valley unless a donor requests that they go to an organization outside the area. The 2025 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to Connecticut recipients and 2% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Valley United Way Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 85% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $232K (2024) to $357K (2019). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $256K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club of the LNV Shelton, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $66,350 |
| Valley YMCA Ansonia, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $27,850 |
| Parent Child Resource Center Derby, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $26,900 |
| Bsahousatonic Council Derby, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $22,295 |
| Area Congregations Together Shelton, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $22,189 |
| Christian Counseling & Family Life Center Shelton, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $20,000 |
| BHCARE - Center for Domestic Violence Services Ansonia, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $19,200 |
| Rape Crisis Center Milford, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $15,000 |
| Catholic Charities - Family Service Center Ansonia, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $9,600 |
| Team Inc Meals on Wheels Derby, CT | Provide Funds for Local Community Programs | $9,600 |
Ready to take the next step with Valley United Way Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $621,500 | $649,503 | $706,320 | $255,852 | 13 | $8,410 |
| 2024 | $647,652 | $646,672 | $626,929 | $231,612 | 11 | $2,509 |
| 2023 | $662,480 | $717,952 | $647,172 | $245,060 | 12 | $5 |
| 2022 | $556,297 | $784,201 | $661,020 | $281,312 | 15 | $4 |
| 2021 | $551,381 | $737,098 | $702,827 | $234,593 | 11 | $-1,223 |
| 2020 | $527,986 | $857,863 | $898,007 | $252,399 | 13 | $354 |
| 2019 | $568,331 | $1,016,738 | $1,159,389 | $356,987 | 17 | $414 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Valley United Way’s mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and collaboration.” Its stated goal is to improve quality of life in the Valley by funding programs and organizations that make a measurable difference. Its website identifies income, education, and health as fields of investment, and names three funding areas: preparing youth to succeed, strengthening families, and helping people in crisis.
The organization says it supports nonprofit agencies delivering health, social services, and youth programs to families across its five-town service area. One 2025 recipient, Area Congregations Together, describes its own mission as providing food, shelter, and support services to people in need in the Lower Naugatuck Valley and fostering long-term solutions to those needs.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports 13 grants totaling $255,852. Grant amounts ranged from $5,100 to $66,350, with a median of $19,200. The largest reported awards included Boys and Girls Club of the LNV ($66,350), Valley YMCA ($27,850), Parent Child Resource Center ($26,900), BSA Housatonic Council ($22,295), and Area Congregations Together ($22,189). The filing lists the purpose of these grants as providing funds for local community programs.
The organization’s website separately lists $275,495 in board-approved 2025–2026 community investment awards, distributed across its three focus areas and community resources. Its annual Partner Agency Funding Program is for nonprofit agencies in its partner network; the program description identifies 17 Valley nonprofits as the current network. The website also describes a Youth Leadership Program in which high school seniors from the five Valley towns learn grant writing and community impact assessment and allocate funding to local nonprofits focused on preparing youth to succeed. It does not specify an application process or deadline for either program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joy DeMarchis as board chair; William Purcell as vice chair; Diana De La Rosa as treasurer; Dominick Thomas as secretary; and Karen Stockla as immediate past chair. It also lists Patrick Charmel, John McFarland, Jasmine Torres, Joseph DiBacco, and Jill Johnson as directors.
Valley United Way Inc is led by Michael Pacowta, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Pacowta
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$28K (2023) → $92K (2025)
Joy Demarchis
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McFarland
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Charmel
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill Johnson
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Dibacco
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frederick J. Elmy
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Davis
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jasmine Torres
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dominick Thomas
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Stockla
Immediate Past Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Purcell
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana De La Rosa
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Gregory P. Destefano (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Michael Gnibus (2019–2024) — Immediate Past President
- Former: Cheryl Amicone (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Anne H. Keane (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Bing J. Carbone (2024) — Director
- Former: Brian Diehl (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey Tracey (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jimmy Tickey (2019–2022) — Immediate Past President
- Former: David Kennedy (2020–2022) — Interim President & CEO
- Former: Carolyn Cutaneo (2022) — Director
- Former: Justin Vescovi (2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Ann Miskowicz (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael Wilson (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Amy Murphy (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sharon Gibson-Ellis (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Fred Ortoli (2019) — Director
- Former: Janice Sheehy (2019) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Bull (2019) — Director
- Former: Joe Perun (2019) — Director
- Former: Joseph Pagliaro Jr. (2019) — Board Chair
- Former: Michael Duncan (2019) — Director
- Former: Michael Marsenik (2019) — Director
- Former: Peter A. Dagostine (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Ramon Peralta (2019) — Director
- Former: Ruth Parkins (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $92K, to Michael Pacowta (President and CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Valley United Way Inc
How much does Valley United Way Inc give each year?
Valley United Way Inc gave $256K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $232K across 11 grants.
What is Valley United Way Inc's typical grant size?
Valley United Way Inc's median grant in 2025 was $19,200, and its average grant was $19,681, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Valley United Way Inc that year got $6K on average.
Where does Valley United Way Inc give grants?
Valley United Way Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Derby, CT (4 grants), Shelton, CT (3 grants) and Ansonia, CT (3 grants).
Does Valley United Way Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Valley United Way Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide Funds for Local Community Programs" (13 grants).
Who are Valley United Way Inc's largest grantees?
Valley United Way Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Boys and Girls Club of the LNV ($66,350), Valley YMCA ($27,850) and Parent Child Resource Center ($26,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Valley United Way Inc?
Valley United Way Inc reported $622K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $650K.
What does Valley United Way Inc fund?
Valley United Way’s mission is “to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community through philanthropy, volunteerism, and collaboration.” Its stated goal is to improve quality of life in the Valley by funding programs and organizations that make a measurable difference. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Valley United Way Inc?
Valley United Way Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check valleyunitedway.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Valley United Way Inc's EIN?
Valley United Way Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-0847098. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 29, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Valley United Way Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Valley Community Foundation Inc
Derby, CT
The Valley Community Foundation supports civic vitality, health, education, and arts and culture, with priority for nonprofits serving Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton, Connecticut. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,495 to $142,500, with a median of $15,000; its Valley Community Grants offer $250 to $2,500. The profile describes application and inquiry processes but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$39.6M
Grants
45
Total Given
$1.1M
United Way Inc United Way of Cent & Ne Connecticut
Hartford, CT
United Way Inc funds Connecticut community programs addressing poverty, including child literacy, basic needs, housing stability, health, and economic mobility, with community impact grants focused on Greater Hartford. Its 2025 grants ranged from $25,000 to $360,000, with a median of $55,000; an open application process is stated for the separate R2 program, but not for its other grants.
Assets
$23.6M
Grants
35
Total Given
$2.7M
Griffin Hospital
Derby, CT
Griffin Hospital is committed to providing personalized, humanistic, consumer-driven health care in a healing environment, to empowering individuals to be actively involved in decisions affecting their care and well-being through access to information and education. (sch. O)Griffin Hospital is also committed to providing leadership to improve the health of the community we serve.
Assets
$218.4M
Grants
6
Total Given
$229K
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
The United Way of Greater Waterbury Inc
Waterbury, CT
The United Way of Greater Waterbury funds programs addressing basic needs, education, and financial stability, including food, housing, health services, early education, youth development, and employment support. It awarded $1.05 million across 32 grants in 2024, but no typical award size is stated; grants support services in its ten-town Connecticut region. Its Community Needs Fund accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, though the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$9.8M
Grants
77
Total Given
$1.8M
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
New Haven, CT
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven supports nonprofits working in civic vitality, arts and culture, health, and education across its 20-town Greater New Haven service area. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, though amounts varied widely; it offers competitive, online application-based programs, but whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$627.4M
Grants
505
Total Given
$23.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Valley United Way Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/valley-united-way-inc-morg_009f0e03a3044788a673ca5473311f31
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_060847098_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Valley United Way Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/valley-united-way-inc-morg_009f0e03a3044788a673ca5473311f31},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Valley United Way 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.
Valley United Way Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?