Celebrating a Century of Impact

Established as the Community Chest of Rochester in 1925 with a $30,000 budget, our first partner organizations were the Red Cross, Civic League, Salvation Army, Rochester Park Band, Boy Scouts, and the YMCA.

In 1994, CommunityNet launched as a resource and referral network, later merging with United Way of Southeast Minnesota. Today, United Way continues this mission through services like the 211 resource and referral line, which connects over 5,000 local residents with help and information annually.

In 2012, United Way of Southeast Minnesota was entrusted with a legacy gift from the estate of Martha Frey. Martha came to our community for medical treatment and then gave back with a lifetime gift given to use as best seen fit. As a tribute to Martha’s generosity, her gift was placed into a permanent endowment. Earnings from the United Way Endowment Fund continue to help change local lives and provide opportunity for all to thrive. 

During World War II, United Way played a vital role in raising local funds to support the national war efforts. In 1943 our Campaign goal increased by $32,571 to meet a $74,571 target, contributing to the War Fund and Services to Armed Forces.

In the wake of Rochester's devastating floods in July 1978, United Way of Southeast Minnesota led disaster relief efforts alongside the Red Cross and other partners. Together, we raised $373,606 to support recovery efforts – an early testament to our community’s resilience and generosity.

In 2012, United Way of Southeast Minnesota was asked to help participate in drafting a set of potential indicators for a community health needs assessment and improvement plan (CHNA) initiated by Olmsted County Public Health Services, Olmsted Medical Center, and the Mayo Clinic.

During the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way of Southeast Minnesota invested over $1 million into critical community support. We partnered with Rochester Area Foundation and other local organizations to create the TOGETHER Fund to rapidly support Rochester area nonprofits that experienced unforeseen challenges due to the pandemic.

In 1998, United Way of Southeast Minnesota began managing Running Start for School, a program providing free school supplies to local students. In 1998, Running Start provided school supplies to 500 youth; in 2024, it served nearly 3,500 students.

In 2016, Rochester Public Schools and United Way of Southeast Minnesota came together to help local children and youth reach their potential through a new Full-Service Community Schools model. The Rochester Community Schools Partnership began as a two-year pilot in Gage and Riverside Central Elementary Schools. Today, seven unique Rochester Full-Service Community Schools support students holistically from elementary through high school.

In 1980, United Way of Southeast Minnesota appointed its first youth member to the Board for a one-year term, paving the way for the creation of a Youth Advisory Panel. This milestone brought young voices into decision-making and addressed the need for greater youth involvement in an organization that supported 25 youth-focused agencies. 

The Women’s Shelter joined the United Way of Southeast Minnesota as a member agency in 1980, marking the start of a partnership that continues to provide critical support for survivors of domestic violence today. 

United Way of Southeast Minnesota’s CompuSwap program, in partnership with IBM, collected old computers from local governments and businesses, refurbished these computers, and then distributed them to nonprofit organizations in Southeastern Minnesota. In 2009, we distributed 351 computers, 424 monitors, and 14 printers to 59 organizations and 271 individuals.

For decades, United Way has offered free tax preparation services through partnerships with MyFreeTaxes and VITA. Together, we help over 3,000 taxpayers annually access critical refunds and achieve greater financial stability. 

United Way of Southeast Minnesota received a national award from United Way Worldwide for its 2002 Community Impact Study, recognizing its innovative approach to community assessment and impact measurement. The study’s findings highlighted significant disparities in graduation rates among different ethnic groups, prompting a shift in focus towards addressing the needs of the most vulnerable populations. 

Between 2021 and 2023, United Way of Southeast Minnesota implemented a participatory grantmaking process to give Black and African American community members in Olmsted County the space to determine how best to invest in their community. This process resulted in a three-year Youth Empowerment grant to six local Black-led organizations.