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Charity Math
The 990 read · EIN 20-3099071 · MI · Fiscal year FY ending Sep 2025

United Way for Southeastern Michigan

United Way for Southeastern Michigan: CEO salary, finances and where donations go

In its own words

“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
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Parts I, VII, IX, X
01 · Red flags

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.

low

Business transactions with insiders or their companies

Part IV line 28a answered yes.

Form 990 Part IV, lines 28a–28c; Schedule L Part IV
02 · Where $1 goes · FY ending Sep 2025

Of each dollar it spent, 92.1¢ went to programs, as reported.

The split the charity filed.
92.1¢
Programs, $106.2M
3.5¢
Fundraising, $4.1M
4.4¢
Admin, $5.0M
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part IX, line 25
Cost to raise $1
4¢
as reported

For each dollar donated, United Way for Southeastern Michigan spent 4¢ on fundraising.

Fundraising ÷ $108.8M contributions · Form 990 Parts VIII, IX
03 · What it does

What it told the IRS it spent on.

The charity's own description of its largest programs, with what each cost.

Program 1 · 62% of program spending · $63.5M in grants $65.9M

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…

Program 2 · 2.5% of program spending · $208K in grants $2.7M

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…

Program 3 · 18.5% of program spending · $19.7M in grants $19.7M

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…

Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part III
04 · The savings

Net assets: $54.2M to $39.7M in 11 years.

Net assets at each fiscal year end, 2014 to 2025.

Net assets at year end, $ millions
54
60
58
56
51
47
38
66
49
52
40
40
Form 990 history via ProPublicaForm 990 (FY ending Sep 2025)
05 · Who gets paid

The 8 highest-paid people.

Reportable pay in FY ending Sep 2025, from the charity and related organizations.

Dr Darienne Hudson
Chief Executive Officer
$431,735
Brandon Lee
Chief Operating Officer & Executive
$276,077
Tonya Adair
Former Chief People, Equity & Eng
$272,619
Sarah Grutza
VP Corporate Relations-Part Year
$222,594
Ashleigh Imerman
Chief Philanthropy Officer
$207,775
Jeffrey Miles
Vice President, Community
$199,704
Lara Keathley
Vice President, People, Culutre, & Governance
$193,290
Kyle Dubuc
Vice President, Communicat
$186,090
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VII, Section A
Largest outside contractors
ContractorServicePaid
Apex Digital SolutionsOutsourced it services$437,450
Gryphon PlaceOutsourced it services$247,840
Brightstreet Group LLCProgram consulting services$195,290
Leila HilalProgram consulting services$168,576
Elevate Production GroupEvent planning$149,164
Form 990 (FY ending Sep 2025), Part VII, Section B
06 · Questions

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 VII

What 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 IX

How 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 X

Does 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)
07 · Sources and citing

Every number, traced.

  1. United Way for Southeastern Michigan Form 990, FY ending Sep 2025 (IRS e-file)
  2. United Way for Southeastern Michigan Form 990 history (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer)
Cite this page

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/