The first organization that sought to coordinate a community wide effort to help meet human service needs in Fargo, N.D. was the Community Welfare Association. Started in 1927 this organization solicited funds from the community and operated a Community Chest that distributed these funds to some twenty different organizations. The American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, YMCA, YWCA, and the Salvation Army were some of the organizations that received money from this Community Chest. The Community Welfare Association raised $68,397 during their first campaign in 1927 but the economic downturn after 1929 made building on this initial success difficult. The Community Welfare Association exceeded their 1927 campaign total only once during the next 13 years. World War II precipitated, among other things, an economic upturn in the country and this was reflected in the funds that the Community Welfare Association was able to raise. The Community Chest was called the War Chest from 1942 to 1945, and the association campaigns were able to raise over $100,000 during these years. After 1950 the association saw consistently larger amounts of funds raised. The 1950 campaign was able to raise just over $100,000 and by 1973 the campaign raised $500,000. By the year 2000 the campaign had raised 2.7 million dollars.

The mission of working effectively with people and resources to meet the human service needs of the community has not changed since 1927 but the organization has changed over the years. In 1957 the Community Welfare Association became the United Fund of Fargo. In 1958 Moorhead organized a united fund in their community. In 1964 the Moorhead and Fargo United Funds merged to become the United Fund of Fargo-Moorhead. In 1967 the organization became the United Fund of Fargo-Moorhead-Dilworth when Dilworth, Minnesota joined. In 1973 the United Fund changed its name to the United Way and in 1974 West Fargo joined the organization. In 1976 the United Way of Fargo-Moorhead-Dilworth-West Fargo became United Way of Cass-Clay.

As of the year 2000 the funds raised by the United Way of Cass-Clay support fifty-two human service programs through thirty-six member agencies. The continually increasing support of the organization by the Fargo and Moorhead communities reflects their ability to organize volunteers and staff and direct resources to serve the people of Cass and Clay counties. 
 

 United Way Records |  Social Issues | Fargo, North Dakota