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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: July 2026 Expires: July 2028

United Way of Greater Toledo

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
10
(419) 248-2424
1001 Madison Avenue, Suite 100
Toledo, OH, 43604
https://www.unitedwaytoledo.org/
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

United Way of Greater Toledo does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 10 (Ending Net Assets)
Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

United Way Toledo does not meet this Standard because:

  • According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2025, its total unrestricted net assets were $20,298,075, or 3.68 times the charity's total expenses of $5,511,441.

United Way of Greater Toledo meets the remaining 19 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to unite the caring power of people to improve lives."

Year, State Incorporated:
1918, OH

United Way of Greater Toledo (United Way Toledo) reports that it works to make life better for people in Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties. The organization works with local partners, focusing on education, financial stability, health, and housing stability. Assistance includes housing assistance, utility assistance, food assistance, transportation assistance, and clothing and household help. United Way Toledo states that its United Way 2-1-1 program offers free health and human services resources via a live community resource advisor within its county network. In 2025, the organization reports that it received 23,718 requests for housing assistance, 9,923 requests for food assistance, and 4,170 requests for transportation assistance.

For the year ended June 30, 2025, United Way of Greater Toledo's program expenses were:

Community impact, leadership, and support $2,790,011
United Way 2-1-1 and coordinated assessment $854,655
Other programs $372,079
Total Program Expenses $4,016,745

Chief Executive
Wendy Pestrue, J.D., Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$190,760

Chair of the Board
MaryLouise Bowe

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Community Volunteer

Board Size
20

Paid Staff Size
25

*2024 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Invitations to fund raising events, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Radio, Grant proposals, Internet, Planned giving arrangements, Workplace Giving

Fundraising costs were 20% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $4,464,898, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on United Way of Greater Toledo's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Source of Funds
Campaign revenue, net $3,486,566
Investments income, net $2,550,558
Grants $818,332
Bequest $160,000
Total Income $7,015,456

Programs: 73% Fundraising: 16% Administrative: 11%

Total Income $7,015,456
Total expenses: $5,511,441
  Program expenses $4,016,745
  Fundraising expenses $894,280
  Administrative expenses $600,416
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $1,504,015
Beginning Net Assets $24,221,223
Other Changes In Net Assets $85,081
Ending Net Assets $25,810,319
Total Liabilities $3,613,264
Total Assets $29,423,583

Note: As noted in the above financial section, "other changes in net assets" refers to a change in value of beneficial interest in perpetual trust.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Serving Northwest and West Central Ohio and Southeast Michigan