About United Way of Southwest Michigan
To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities to advance the common good.
Focus Areas
Health (maternal & infant health, community health)Food security and emergency food assistanceEarly childhood education and supportsLGBTQ+ competent healthcare accessVolunteer services and capacity building2-1-1 crisis and resource referralFree tax preparation (VITA)Planned giving and philanthropy
Who They Fund
not specified
Funding Style
unrestricted supportgeneral operating support
About United Way of Southwest Michigan
United Way of Southwest Michigan’s grantmaking is built around local impact partners, with general support flowing to nonprofit organizations that work on health, education, financial stability, and community resilience across Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties. The pattern is visible in grants to Region IV Area Agency on Aging Inc in St. Joseph and Kinexus in Benton Harbor, both funded as general support. The foundation’s active programs center on community investment and impact partners, and its stated agenda includes ALICE households, basic needs, early childhood, reading and literacy, and health-related services. Recent awards also show support for organizations tied to community health and access, such as the Berrien County Health Department and the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor. Its portfolio is mostly local, with nearly all grants reaching Michigan recipients. The foundation also uses emergency-focused vehicles, including the Southwest Michigan Cares Emergency Fund and the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund, to respond when community need rises.
What United Way of Southwest Michigan Funds
Health-related giving appears repeatedly in the recent grants list. United Way of Southwest Michigan gave $134,876 to the Berrien County Health Department in Benton Harbor for general support, and $95,550 to the Children's Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan in St. Joseph for general support. The active program descriptions also point to maternal and infant health, LGBTQ+ competent healthcare access, and community health. Education and youth development are another visible thread. The foundation awarded $127,400 to the Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor for general support and $72,800 to Berrien Resa in Berrien Springs for general support. Its program materials reference early childhood, reading and literacy, and community programs aligned with education priorities. Basic needs and financial stability show up through food access, emergency shelter, and workforce-related partners. Recent grants include $77,350 to Emergency Shelter Services Inc in Benton Harbor and $59,150 to Feeding America West MI Food Bank in Comstock Park, both as general support.
How United Way of Southwest Michigan Gives
Typical awards fall in a mid-sized range: p25 is $13,000, the median is $25,000, and p75 is $45,250. The recent grants list also shows much larger general-support awards, which suggests a layered portfolio that includes both broad operating support and larger anchor relationships. The foundation’s grantmaking appears recurring rather than one-off, with organizations such as Region IV Area Agency on Aging Inc, Kinexus, Berrien County Health Department, Boys and Girls Club of Benton Harbor, YMCA of Southwest Michigan, and Salvation Army - Benton Harbor appearing in multiple years. The organization is structured as a local funder and community partner, and the active program pages indicate that nonprofits are asked to apply for funding in defined impact areas.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.6M
Total Assets
$4.6M
Total Revenue
$3.4M
Total Expenses
$4.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $13K and $45K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$13K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$45K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
ANNA MURPHY
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