Creating youth opportunity: children thrive when they have access to safe, supportive, and enriching environments and when the systems around them are designed to help them succeed. United way partners with educators, families, and community organizations to strengthen the whole child preparing them for lifelong success.our work strengthens in-school and out-of-school learning and fills critical gaps through supplemental literacy and steam programming. Together, these efforts ensure young people are prepared to learn, grow, and succeed in a rapidly changing world.last year, our youth-focused…
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan: CEO salary, finances and where donations go
“To mobilize the caring power of detroit and southeastern michigan to improve communities and individual lives in measurable and lasting ways.”
Data only Figures straight from the filing, screened by our rules. Not yet reviewed in depth by a CPA.
Methodology by Amir Arani, CPA, CA · Updated
- Top pay
- $432K Dr Darienne Hudson, 0.4% of spending
- Revenue
- $112.3M 96.9% from donations and grants
- Spent
- $115.3M 92.1% on programs, as reported
- Net assets
- $39.7M end of FY ending Sep 2025
- Savings
- 4.1 months of spending, net assets ÷ spending
- People
- 237 employees, 8,712 volunteers
1 thing to look at.
We screen every filing against twelve rules. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
Business transactions with insiders or their companies
Part IV line 28a answered yes.
Form 990 Part IV, lines 28a–28c; Schedule L Part IVOf each dollar it spent, 92.1¢ went to programs, as reported.
For each dollar donated, United Way for Southeastern Michigan spent 4¢ on fundraising.
Fundraising ÷ $108.8M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IXWhat it told the IRS it spent on.
The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.
Promoting prosperity: families can't build a successful future without financial stability. United way helps individuals and families take control of their finances, reduce barriers, and build toward long-term security.through free tax preparation, financial coaching, and transportation support, we help families keep more of what they earn and plan for what's ahead. In 2025, our coalition partners filed more than 20,000 tax returns, securing over $30 million in refunds for alice families dollars that go directly back into households and local communities.priority initiatives & programs…
Other: united way for southeastern michigan funds, supports and administers several additional programs that support the overall health, well-being and equity of our community and its residents. Our 2-1-1 helpline continued to serve as a vital resource for thousands of community members looking for assistance with housing, utility assistance, food pantries and more as the pandemic continued and inflation impacted household budgets. As part of our ongoing efforts to address racial equity and other equity-focused issues, we continued to award racial equity fund grants, now totaling $3.2 million…
Net assets: $54.2M to $39.7M in 11 years.
Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2014 to 2025.
The 8 highest-paid people.
Reportable pay in FY ending Sep 2025, from the charity and related organizations.
| Contractor | Service | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Apex Digital Solutions | Outsourced it services | $437,450 |
| Gryphon Place | Outsourced it services | $247,840 |
| Brightstreet Group LLC | Program consulting services | $195,290 |
| Leila Hilal | Program consulting services | $168,576 |
| Elevate Production Group | Event planning | $149,164 |
The questions people ask about the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
Short, sourced answers. Each one stands on its own.
How much does the United Way for Southeastern Michigan CEO make?
Dr Darienne Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, received $431,735 in reportable compensation in FY ending Sep 2025, 0.4% of United Way for Southeastern Michigan's $115.3M in spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VIIWhat percentage of United Way for Southeastern Michigan donations go to programs?
United Way for Southeastern Michigan reported 92.1% of FY ending Sep 2025 spending as programs, 3.5% as fundraising and 4.4% as management.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part IXHow much money does United Way for Southeastern Michigan have?
Net assets were $39.7M at the end of FY ending Sep 2025, about 4.1 months of spending.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part XDoes United Way for Southeastern Michigan have any red flags in its filing?
Its latest Form 990 triggered 1 of our twelve screening rules: business transactions with insiders or their companies. A flag is a prompt for a closer look, not a finding of wrongdoing.
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025)Every number, traced.
- United Way for Southeastern Michigan Form 990, FY ending Sep 2025 (IRS e-file)
- United Way for Southeastern Michigan Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Amir Arani, “United Way for Southeastern Michigan: CEO salary, finances and where your dollar goes,” Charity Math, updated 2026-11-07. https://charitymath.com/charities/united-way-for-southeastern-michigan/