United Community Fund

The information for United Community Fund is as of the organization's most recent filing in September '21. This organization is located in New York, NY. It has been in existence for 2 years, following its founding in 2019.

Organization Classification

The IRS classifies organizations according to the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) system. The NTEE system helps the IRS assign a 3-character code to each organization to describe the organization's activities.

The United Community Fund's NTEE code is Q01. The "Q" tells us that the organization is classified within the International, Foreign Affairs & National Security major group area. The "01" tells us that the organization is categorized under Alliances & Advocacy. The NTEE describes Alliances & Advocacy organizations as those whose primary purpose is influencing public policy within the International, Foreign Affairs, and National Security major group area, including activities such as public education, influencing public opinion, public mobilizations, and lobbying.

Every organization is also governed by a specific section of the Internal Revenue Code. This organization happens to fall under section 4, which includes Civic Leagues, Social Welfare Organizations, and Local Associations of Employees. The IRS describes these organizations as those engaged in promoting social welfare programs and empowering marginalized populations.

Perhaps the most accurate way to understand the organization's goals is by looking at its mission. The mission of the United Community Fund is to promote social welfare programs that empower marginalized populations.

Program Areas

The general fund of the organization encompasses a wide range of activities and initiatives. It primarily focuses on supporting education and advocacy programs that promote human rights and social justice. In addition, the fund also supports civic engagement programs that empower marginalized populations and initiatives aimed at promoting journalism that enhances the lives of impacted communities. The organization's main goal is to promote social welfare by providing strategic and financial support to local organizations that align with its mission.

Organization Staffing

United Community Fund is run by Franziska Kleiner, who is the Director & President. The organization does not have any employees, and there are no employees paid over $100k per year. Supporting the organization are 7 volunteers.

Board Governance

United Community Fund appears to be a well-governed non-profit organization based on the information provided. The organization has a small but fully independent board of three voting members, indicating that decision-making is not influenced by any potential conflicts of interest. This is further supported by the absence of any conflicts of interest and the requirement for disclosure of conflicts, ensuring transparency and accountability within the organization. Furthermore, the organization demonstrates good governance practices by documenting both board meetings and committee meetings. This documentation helps to ensure that all decisions and discussions are properly recorded and can be reviewed in the future if necessary. United Community Fund also has a conflict of interest policy in place, which further strengthens its governance structure. This policy ensures that any potential conflicts are identified and managed appropriately, minimizing the risk of biased decision-making. However, there are a few areas where the organization could improve its governance practices. The absence of a written whistleblower policy and a document retention policy leaves room for potential gaps in reporting and record-keeping. These policies are essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct within the organization. Additionally, the organization does not substantiate or review leadership and officer salaries, which could potentially raise concerns about financial management and accountability. However, the fact that the organization provides copies of the 990 form to the board prior to filing indicates a level of transparency regarding financial information. Overall, United Community Fund demonstrates strong governance practices, particularly in terms of independence, conflict of interest management, and documentation of meetings. However, there are areas where the organization could further enhance its governance structure to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

Grant History

Our dataset includes one year of grant history for the United Community Fund. In this year, they have awarded two grants, with an average check size of $1,857,500. Both grants were awarded in the International, Foreign Affairs & National Security sector. Additionally, the organization has awarded one grant in New York and one grant in Massachusetts.

Organization Growth

The United Community Fund nonprofit organization has experienced a decrease in various financial aspects over the given time period. Contributions and grants received went from $39.9 million in 2018 to $0 in 2020, indicating a significant decline. Investment income also decreased from $33.9 thousand in 2018 to $217 in 2020. Similarly, total revenue decreased from $40.0 million in 2018 to $217 in 2020. Grants paid and total expenses also experienced a decrease, going from $38.3 million in 2018 to $430.0 thousand in 2020 and from $38.3 million in 2018 to $500.4 thousand in 2020, respectively. However, the organization did see an increase in the number of volunteers, with the count rising from 1 in 2018 to 7 in 2020. Overall, while the United Community Fund has experienced growth in terms of volunteer participation, it has seen a decline in various financial aspects over the specified time period.