United Way of Central Florida Inc
Highland City, FL · EIN 59-2116280. Reported 196 grants totalling $22.1M to 81 organizations across tax years 2021-2023, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For United Way of Central Florida Inc, the IRS classifies it as a federated giving programme -- a United Way, Jewish federation, Community Chest or similar (NTEE T700).
- How spread out its giving is. 81 distinct organizations, with 7% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 86% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 2 year-to-year transitions. That is well above the 57% median for grantmaking charities, and above the 67% private foundations manage. This list is close to settled, so a newcomer has to displace someone rather than fill a gap.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $69,536. Half of what it reported fell between $32,463 and $147,368; the smallest was $5,277 and the largest $769,240. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boys & Girls Club of Polk County | Lakeland, FL | $1,464,714 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Polk County School Readiness Coalition Inc | Lakeland, FL | $1,361,151 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Peace River Center for Personal Development Inc | Bartow, FL | $1,264,147 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland Inc | Lakeland, FL | $1,117,985 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Salvation Army of East Polk (winter Haven) | Winter Haven | $821,431 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center | Lakeland, FL | $817,684 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Mulberry Community Service Center Inc | Mulberry, FL | $715,244 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Achievement Academy Inc | Lakeland, FL | $663,625 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Central Florida Health Care Inc | Winter Haven, FL | $637,584 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Learning Resource Ctr of Polk Co | Lakeland, FL | $630,602 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Florida Childrens Museum Inc | Lakeland, FL | $620,845 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine Inc | Lakeland, FL | $592,684 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Alliance for Independence Inc | Lakeland, FL | $580,733 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Girls Incorporated of Lakelane Inc | Lakeland, FL | $580,376 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Childrens Home Society of Florida | Orlando, FL | $478,234 | 5 | 3 | 2023 |
| Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Inc | Tampa, FL | $439,560 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Tri-County Human Services Inc | Lakeland, FL | $429,558 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Volunteers in Service to the Elderly Inc | Lakeland, FL | $409,094 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Camp Fire | Lakeland, FL | $407,389 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way of Lee County Inc | Fort Myers, FL | $400,943 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay Inc | Tampa, FL | $383,691 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven | Winter Haven, FL | $367,089 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army | Brookhaven, GA | $359,803 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Young Mens Christian Association of West Central Florida Inc | Lakeland, FL | $338,904 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Nu-Hope Elder Care Services Inc | Sebring, FL | $318,231 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Heartland for Children Inc | Bartow, FL | $300,592 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind Inc | Tampa, FL | $289,431 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Good Shepherd Hospice Inc | Temple Terr, FL | $281,231 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Early Learning Coalition of Floridas Heartland Inc | Pt Charlotte, FL | $273,544 | 6 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wilson House Inc | Lakeland, FL | $222,017 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Church Service Center Inc | Bartow, FL | $218,445 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Frostproof Care Center Inc | Frostproof, FL | $207,679 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Freedom Tour Inc | Eagle Lake, FL | $203,606 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| North American Family Institute Inc | Stoneham, MA | $198,113 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Polk for Recovery | Winter Haven, FL | $197,162 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Womens Resource Center of Florida Inc | Winter Haven, FL | $195,754 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Catholic Charities of Central Florida Inc | Orlando, FL | $192,168 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Feeding America Tampa Bay Inc | Tampa, FL | $180,454 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Heart of Florida Legal Aid Society Inc | Bartow, FL | $177,796 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Help of Fort Meade Inc | Fort Meade, FL | $173,172 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Boy Scouts-Gulf Ridge Council | Tampa | $158,403 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Heart of Florida United Way | Orlando, FL | $151,122 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Epilepsy Services of West Central Florida Inc | Brandon, FL | $150,212 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way of Charlotte County Inc | Pt Charlotte, FL | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| 10090 American National Red Cross - Wh | Winter Haven | $138,141 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Way of Collier and the Keys Inc | Naples, FL | $125,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands County Inc | Sebring, FL | $123,770 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hardee County Ministerial Association Inc | Wauchula, FL | $113,493 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Youth and Family Alternatives Inc | New Prt Rchy, FL | $110,677 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Womens Care Center of Bartow Inc | Bartow, FL | $109,964 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way Suncoast Inc | Tampa, FL | $107,726 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way of South Sarasota County Inc | Venice, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Family Literacy Academy at Lake Wales Inc | Babson Park, FL | $97,518 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way Worldwide | Alexandria, VA | $89,010 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ridge Area Arc Inc | Avon Park, FL | $87,595 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| One More Child Inc | Lakeland, FL | $79,861 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Inspiration Ministries Inc | Lakeland, FL | $71,150 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| American National Red Cross | Washington, DC | $68,486 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| One Hope United | Chicago, IL | $68,278 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| House of Hope of Polk County Inc | Winter Haven, FL | $67,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast Inc | Sarasota, FL | $63,774 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Highlands County Family Y M C a Inc | Sebring, FL | $53,753 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hands of Hope America | Clermont, FL | $45,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Highlands County | Sebring, FL | $44,530 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Heartland Horses Equine Activities & Learning Inc | Avon Park, FL | $39,335 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Heart for Winter Haven | Winter Haven, FL | $28,934 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lake Wales Care Center Inc | Lake Wales, FL | $28,130 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Polk Vision Inc | Lakeland, FL | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties Inc | Daytona Beach, FL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Society for the Prevention of Cruel Ty to Animals Tampa Bay Florida in | Largo, FL | $22,012 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Orlando Youth Alliance Inc | Orlando, FL | $11,627 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lyft Inc | Chicago, IL | $11,365 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Temple Emanuel | Lakeland, FL | $10,781 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Polk Education Foundation and Business Partnership Inc | Bartow, FL | $8,286 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Options for Women Pregnancy Help Clinic Inc | Lakeland, FL | $8,118 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kid Pack Inc | Lakeland, FL | $7,876 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wonderhere Education Foundation | Lakeland, FL | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hands for Homeless Inc | Avon Park, FL | $6,900 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lighthouse Ministries Inc | Lakeland, FL | $6,486 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lake Wales Family YMCA | Lake Wales, FL | $5,828 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Way of Northeast Florida Inc | Jacksonville, FL | $5,277 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
58 of 81 (72%) received money in more than one year over the 3 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose column of its filings, largest first. This is the closest thing to a statement of what it funds, in its own words.
- Early Learning Coalition-Polk County
Donor Designated for General Support, Donor Designated for Program Costs, Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief, Program Operating Cost - Florida Children's Museum
Donor Designated for General Support, Donor Designated for Program Costs - United Way of Lee Hendry & Glades
Donor Designated for General Support, Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief - Central Florida Health Care Inc
Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief, Donor Designated for Program Costs - The Wilson House Inc
Program Operating Support - United Way of Charlotte Co
Donor Designated for Disaster/ Emergency Relief
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 57 of 81 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59 | $5,444,240 | $58,626 |
| 2022 | 73 | $8,642,433 | $76,660 |
| 2023 | 64 | $8,058,710 | $70,479 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
96% of its giving went to organizations in Florida. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $69,536 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Florida.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from United Way of Central Florida Inc's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 3 returns (tax years 2021-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 64 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 0 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: P O Box 1357, Highland City, FL, 33846.
EIN 59-2116280 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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