History of United Way

On October 16, 1887, in Denver, Colorado, a woman, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi came together with a simple goal: to make their community a better place for everyone through cooperative action. Calling themselves the “Charity Organization Society,” they planned and coordinated local services and conducted a single fundraising campaign to support more than 20 local health and welfare agencies. That first fundraising campaign raised $21,700 (over $700,000 in today’s dollars) and ignited a movement that would become known as “Community Chest,” “United Fund,” and, by 1970, United Way.

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More than 135 years later – true to our founding spirit—whenever there is a need in our communities, United Way is there. Like our founders, we take a cooperative approach to tackling the toughest challenges, actively listening and responding to local needs through the power of partnerships and collective action. And today, our reach across tens of thousands of communities means we can share innovations and scale impact to improve lives around the world.

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From strengthening local resilience to advancing health, youth opportunity, and financial security, we’re working towards a future where every person in every community can thrive. Join us!