The Next Century of Impact Starts with You

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 1938, Rochester Public Schools employees and students donated $847 to United Way - equivalent to $19,087 today. This early act of generosity exemplifies the strong tradition of giving that continues in our schools.

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

United Way was a founding supported of the Family Consultation Center, now Family Service Rochester (FSR). Established in 1964, FSR has grown into a trusted resource for families, and our collaboration and funding support continues to this day.

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

United Way transformed the old Lincoln School into the United Way Services Building in 1984, purchasing it from Independent School District #535 for just $1. This central hub brought together United Way and nine partner agencies to provide easier access to vital services - a vision that continues to shape our operations today.

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

In 1998, United Way 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 2025, it served over 3,500 students.

In the early 2000s, United Way adopted a Community Impact Model, shifting from legacy funding to an outcomes-based grantmaking approach. By conducting a community needs assessment, United Way refocused its efforts on creating measurable and data-driven community impact. This new approach strengthened United Way's effectiveness and ensured our work was rooted in addressing our community's most pressing needs.

United Way began operating Dolly Parton's Imagination Library program in Olmsted County in 2006. This beloved program distributes age-appropriate books monthly to our youngest residents, ages 0-5. Since 2006, we have distributed over 500,000 books.

In 2016, Rochester Public Schools and United Way 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 Elementary Schools. Today, five unique Rochester Full-Service Community Schools support students holistically from elementary through high school.

During the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, United Way 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 unforseen challenges due to the pandemic.

In its centennial year, United Way of Olmsted County has proudly changed its name to United Way of Southeast Minnesota. This new name reflects the organization's expanded regional impact, serving communities across Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted, and Winona Counties.