History
United Way of Becker County was established on November 22, 1983 by a group of area business people and citizens in response to the need of area organizations for funding. The philosophy of the group believed that a single, multifaceted fundraising approach (business, employee, and residential) could best be done in a coordinated
effort to the benefit of area agencies. Its first campaign year was 1984 where the Residential Drive generated the primary source of income. Wayne Benson served as the chair of the community door knocking Residential Drive.
In 1988, the first Employee Drive was held. The original annual goal was $63,000, and has continued to increase. As of 2010, the annual goal is $222,000. The initial campaign helped to provide funding to 9 agencies. In 2010, United Way of Becker County has expanded funding to 36 different agencies.
In the past 26 years, the hundreds of United Way of Becker County volunteers have raised over $3,500,000. Of every dollar raised, 99¢ stays in Becker County. The administrative budget accounts for only 6.9%, showing that United Way of Becker County is a fiscally accountable organization.