United Way of Central Indiana & its nonprofit partners strengthen region’s economy, new report shows

Report examines economic impact of United Way grants over six years

When United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) talks about the organization’s impact and its network of community-based organizations, oftentimes the tangible ways people and families are helped are highlighted: number of meals served, people housed, students tutored, financial coaching provided.

A new report published today examines a secondary benefit: United Way’s grants and partnerships with hundreds of nonprofits stimulate significant economic activity in the region, contributing more than $1.75 billion to central Indiana’s gross domestic product (GDP) over a six-year period from 2020 through 2025. The report also includes an analysis of the economic benefits of services provided by United Way grantees.

The report, “United Way of Central Indiana’s Economic Impact,” was prepared by the Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. It analyzes the economic impact of 3,006 grants to 431 organizations totaling $219 million from 2020 through 2025.

Click here to read the full report on United Way’s website.

Key findings include:

• Every $1 invested by United Way spurs an additional $1.28 in economic activity for other businesses in central Indiana.
• United Way’s grants to nonprofits contributed an average of $52.4 million per year to the region’s GDP.
• On average, United Way investments sparked $79.9 million per year in economic activity between 2020 and 2025.
• United Way grants supported 860 local jobs per year, including 580 at local nonprofits.

The IBRC report also examines the economic impact of 363 tax-exempt nonprofits that received United Way funding. Key findings include:

• The 363 nonprofits employed 19,205 workers in central Indiana in 2025.
• With the “ripple effect” of those jobs, another 7,279 jobs were generated in the community.
• The combined effect of these 363 nonprofits contributed more than $2.34 billion to Central Indiana’s GDP.

Payne

“This report makes clear what we’ve long believed: Investing in people and communities isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s smart economic policy,” UWCI President and CEO Fred Payne said. “Every dollar United Way and our nonprofit partners put to work in Central Indiana comes back multiplied, supporting jobs, strengthening neighborhoods and driving growth that benefits everyone. We’re proud to work alongside hundreds of organizations that are not only changing lives but powering this region’s economy.”

The goal of the report was to measure and understand the economic impacts of United Way and its nonprofit partners across the region.

“United Way of Central Indiana has a remarkable investment track-record in this region,” IBRC Director Carol O. Rogers said. “This study shows just how much economic activity is powered by their direct investments.”

Matt Kinghorn, IBRC principal analyst and author of the report, said, “We are proud to partner with United Way on this work, to show the economic value of these dollars alongside the very human benefits their network provides.”

This is the second time UWCI has conducted an economic impact assessment. The first was published in 2023 and examined data from 2020 to 2023. This new report expands on that analysis, examining a six-year period from 2020 through 2025. The new report also examines the social return of service delivery on the economy.