United Way of Cass-Clay

What United Way of Cass-Clay does

United Way of Cass-Clay is a 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, serving Cass and Clay counties in the Fargo-Moorhead region. The organization operates as an independent local affiliate of the United Way Worldwide network, governed by a Board of Trustees, with a staff of approximately 11-50 employees led by President & CEO Sandi Piatz. Its programmatic focus is organized around three Bold Goals: preventing hunger and homelessness, preparing children to succeed, and strengthening families. The organization served 2,700+ individuals by preventing or diverting homelessness in the past year, supplied 7,000 backpacks through its annual School Supply Drive, and supported Cass and Clay counties through 40+ Verified Impact Partner nonprofits and 70+ FM Coalition to End Homelessness member organizations.

The organization runs two parallel grant pathways — Community Essentials (1-year safety-net services) and Community Building (3-year strategic partnerships) — reviewed by volunteer-led Community Impact panels. Donation channels include individual annual giving, workplace campaigns via Employee Campaign Coordinators at 650+ partner companies, a Tocqueville major-donor society ($10,000+ annually) with 100+ members generating $750,000+ annually, Landmark Giving for planned gifts and endowments, and a tiered annual subscription structure (Community Builder $300+, Leader in Giving $720+). Technology infrastructure is built on third-party platforms: ePledge for online giving, Salesforce-based donor management, and the FirstLink-powered 2-1-1 community resource helpline.

The business model is donor-funded, with revenue streams across individual giving (7,000+ donors), corporate giving and premier sponsorships (150+ local companies at Platinum, Gold, and Silver tiers), special events (School Supply Drive, golf events, Eat United), and grants and investment income. The organization reports 82% of donations directed to programs and 99% retained locally. Strategic emphasis in 2024-2025 has shifted toward the United to End Homelessness collaborative initiative, a cross-state governance body, and direct service provision, with recognized credentials including Guidestar Candid Platinum Seal and 4-star Charity Navigator rating.

Name

United Way of Cass-Clay

Legal name

United Way of Cass-Clay

Website

https://unitedwaycassclay.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Way of Cass-Clay is a Fargo-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Cass and Clay counties through three Bold Goals: preventing hunger and homelessness, preparing children to succeed, and strengthening families, funded by 7,000+ individual donors and 650+ corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community fundraising
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Poverty alleviation services
• Corporate workplace giving
• Volunteer leadership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Individual Giving: Annual campaign gifts from more than 7,000 individuals participating in workplace and direct giving campaigns. Includes Tocqueville ($10,000+), Legacy UNITED planned giving, and Community Builder/Leader in Giving tiers.
2. Corporate Giving: Investments from more than 150 local companies through workplace campaigns, sponsorships, and premier sponsor partnerships (Platinum, Gold, Silver tiers).
3. Special Events: Revenue from School Supply Drive, UNITED Fore Kids Golf Scramble, UNITED for Impact Women's Luncheon, Eat United food truck event, and corporate-coordinated volunteer events.
4. Grants, Sponsorships and Investment Income: Funds from event partners, foundations, public funding, and investment portfolios supporting specific Bold Goals initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

United Way of Cass-Clay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises charitable donations through individual giving campaigns, corporate workplace giving programs, and major-donor societies, then invests those funds into more than 40 vetted local nonprofit programs aligned to three Bold Goals: preventing hunger and homelessness, preparing children to succeed, and strengthening families in Cass and Clay counties. The organization also operates volunteer leadership programs, an annual School Supply Drive, a 2-1-1 community resource helpline, and the collaborative United to End Homelessness initiative.

Product overview

United Way of Cass-Clay operates as a nonprofit community organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of community programs and services centered around three Bold Goals: preventing hunger and homelessness, preparing children to succeed, and strengthening families. The core offerings include annual fundraising campaigns engaging 7,000+ individual donors and 150+ corporate partners, major giving programs (Community Builder, Leader in Giving, Tocqueville, Landmark Giving), volunteer leadership programs (Lead UNITED, 35 Under 35), and the Verified Impact Partner grant network. Supporting initiatives include the United to End Homelessness collaborative, School Supply Drive serving 7,000 students, and the Community Impact Investment Cycle that distributes grants through volunteer-led review processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legacy UNITED Major Giving Program Comprehensive major giving umbrella program combining annual Tocqueville ($10,000+) and planned Landmark Giving ($5,000+) donations for donors seeking transformative community impact in Cass and Clay counties.
• Tocqueville Society Leadership giving society for individuals investing $10,000 or more annually, with more than 100 members contributing over $750,000 annually and receiving graduated giving plan options.
• Landmark Giving Planned giving and endowment donation program accepting $5,000+ contributions through wills, trusts, IRA qualified charitable distributions (age 70.5+), donor-advised funds, and gifts of stock or other assets; endowments of $50,000+ may be named.
• Community Builder Giving Program Annual donor recognition program for individuals contributing $300 or more per year, providing access to Lead UNITED programming, event announcements, and the equivalent impact of feeding two children every weekend for a year.
• Leader in Giving Program Annual donor recognition tier for individuals contributing $720 or more per year, providing exclusive volunteer opportunities and impact equivalent to preventing one family from becoming homeless or providing one child mental health services for a year.
• Verified Impact Partner Network Vetted network of 40+ local nonprofit programs receiving United Way grants, subject to financial reviews, strategic alignment assessments, and outcomes-based reporting aligned to the three Bold Goals.
• United to End Homelessness Initiative Collaborative initiative co-led with the FM Coalition to End Homelessness that brings together 70+ member organizations to prevent and end homelessness through coordinated entry, shared data systems, and direct service delivery that began August 2025.
• Community Impact Investment Cycle Volunteer-led grant funding process that directs donor dollars to vetted partner programs through two pathways: Community Essentials for one-year safety-net services and Community Building for three-year strategic partnerships addressing systemic issues.
• 35 Under 35 Women's Leadership Program Annual leadership development cohort for women ages 23-35 in Cass and Clay counties, featuring six monthly sessions on leadership topics with $1,000 tuition (most often employer-sponsored, with limited partial scholarships).
• Lead UNITED Volunteer and leadership development experience combining community-leader-led programming with hands-on volunteer opportunities and networking for donors and community members.
• School Supply Drive Annual community drive providing backpacks and school supplies to 7,000 local students, with matching donations up to $40,000 and distribution events at FARGODOME.
• 2-1-1 Community Resource Helpline Free 24/7 community resource helpline powered by FirstLink that connects residents of Cass and Clay counties to resources, support, and intervention services for needs such as housing, food, and mental health.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of donations directed to programs (exceeds 70% charity standard)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Cass-Clay Interagency Council on HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 April 2025Cross-sector advisory group including mayors from Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Horace, and Dilworth; commissioners from Cass and Clay counties. First-of-its-kind in the US spanning state lines to address homelessness through unified leadership.
• FM Coalition to End HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Co-leads the United to End Homelessness initiative, bringing together 70+ member organizations to prevent and end homelessness through collaboration, coordination, and shared accountability. Initiative launched December 2024 with goal of making homelessness brief, rare, and one-time.
• FirstLink (2-1-1 Helpline)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPowers the 2-1-1 resource helpline, a free 24/7 service connecting community members to resources, support, and intervention services.
• Charity NavigatorminorOthersThird-party charity rating organization providing 4-star rating for accountability, transparency, and financial health.
• Candid (GuideStar)minorOthersThird-party nonprofit transparency platform awarding Platinum Seal for nonprofit accountability and transparency.
• Premier Platinum Sponsors (Cardinal, Corwin, Eide Bailly, Flint Group, MasTec, Sanford Health, SCHEELS)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerYear-long investment as Premier Sponsors at Platinum level, highlighting commitment to support work of lifting families out of poverty. Provide financial support, employee engagement, and event sponsorship.
• Premier Gold Sponsors (Alerus, Bell Bank, BCBSND, Border States, Chef's Table, Enclave, 1st International, Light Consulting, Microsoft, Midco, Noridian, OfficeSignCo, RRC, TCCU, Westacres)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerYear-long investment as Premier Sponsors at Gold level, supporting community programs and gaining visibility through United Way marketing channels and events.
• Premier Silver Sponsors (Center for Plastic Surgery, Doosan Bobcat, Happy Harry's, Noridian Healthcare Solutions, Vogel Law Firm)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship support at Silver level for United Way events and campaigns.
• Verified Impact Partners (40+ nonprofits)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVetted nonprofit organizations receiving grant funding through Community Essentials and Community Building pathways. Includes organizations addressing hunger/homelessness, children's education, and family strengthening. Subject to financial reviews, strategic alignment assessments, and outcomes-based reporting.
• United Way WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal United Way network membership providing standards, resources, and collective impact framework for local community work.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Great Plains Food Bank: Regional hunger-relief nonprofit serving North Dakota and western Minnesota including Cass and Clay counties; directly intersects with United Way of Cass-Clay's Bold Goal on hunger prevention and is a likely Verified Impact Partner or peer grantee.
• Dakota Medical Foundation: Fargo-based regional foundation investing in community health and family well-being across North Dakota; competes for charitable dollars and corporate sponsorships in the same Cass-Clay donor market.

Direct peers

• Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region: Regional community foundation in neighboring eastern North Dakota/western Minnesota operating a similar donor-advised fund, grantmaking, and community impact investment model; comparable in mission and regional scale to Cass-Clay.
• Habitat for Humanity of the Red River Valley: Local Habitat affiliate addressing housing stability in the Fargo-Moorhead area, directly aligned with United Way's Bold Goal of preventing homelessness; competes for both donors and corporate sponsors while addressing overlapping beneficiary needs.
• United Way of Minneapolis Area: A larger Minnesota-based United Way affiliate operating a similar federated giving model with workplace campaigns, major donor societies, and a Bold Goals-style impact framework; comparable in structure but operating at significantly greater scale in a metro area.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross - Dakotas Region: Regional arm of the American Red Cross serving North Dakota with disaster response, blood services, and military family support; competes for corporate United Way-style workplace giving campaigns and major donor contributions.
• United Way Worldwide: The global network parent organization of which United Way of Cass-Clay is a certified member affiliate; provides standards, branding, and collective impact framework that local United Ways operate within.
• Salvation Army Northern Division: Large national faith-based social services and fundraising organization operating in the Fargo-Moorhead market; competes with United Way for workplace giving, holiday campaign donations, and government grants for homelessness services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UnitedWayFargo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/kheinuwcc
• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedwayofcassclay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/unitedwayofcassclay

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United Way of Cass-Clay