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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

United Way of Southwest Minnesota

Standards Not Met
Standards Not Met
18
(507) 929-2273
800 East Main Street, Post Office Box 41
Marshall, MN, 56258
https://unitedwayswmn.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 Southwest Minnesota does not meet the following 1 Standards for Charity Accountability:

Standard 18 (Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy)
Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

UWSWMN does not meet this Standard because the privacy policy on its website, https://unitedwayswmn.org/, does not indicate:

  • What security measures are in place to protect personal information that is collected.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance requested but did not receive complete information from the organization and is unable to verify the organization's compliance with the following Standard(s) for Charity Accountability: 7

United Way of Southwest Minnesota meets the remaining 18 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to unite people and resources, improving lives and strengthening communities in southwest Minnesota."

Year, State Incorporated:
1962, MN

Also Known As:
Lyon County United Way

United Way of Southwest Minnesota (UW SW MN) promotes health, education, financial stability, safety, and well-being in southwest Minnesota. The organization reports providing services to people residing in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and parts of Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, Nobles, and Redwood counties. UW SW MN helps prepare children for school in terms of literacy, social, emotional, and cognitive skills. The organization also reports providing K-12 students in 23 schools with free tools to help them succeed and thrive.

For the year ended June 30, 2023, United Way of Southwest Minnesota's program expenses were:

Distributions to charities $299,536
Other program expenses $90,874
Total Program Expenses $390,410

Chief Executive
Meg Louwagie, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$34,316

Chair of the Board
Al Castro

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Salesman, Lockwood Motors

Board Size
16

Paid Staff Size
3

*2022 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Radio, Special events, Telemarketing, Foundation grants

Fundraising costs were 11% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $520,161, 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 Southwest Minnesota's audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023.

Source of Funds
Unclaimed and forefeited funds $73
Investment income $1,643
Reimbursements $2,272
In-kind contributions $10,300
Employee Retention Credit $14,000
Campaign contributions, net $474,256
Total Income $502,544

Programs: 77% Fundraising: 11% Administrative: 12%

Total Income $502,544
Total expenses: $507,860
  Program expenses $390,410
  Fundraising expenses $55,522
  Administrative expenses $61,928
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-5,316
Beginning Net Assets $603,712
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $598,396
Total Liabilities $229,067
Total Assets $827,463

Note: According to UW SW MN’s audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2023, the organization received in-kind contributions of $10,300, including services and professional fees ($8,500), and promotions ($1,800).

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 Wise Giving Alliance