What United Way Of Bemidji Area does

United Way of Bemidji Area is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in Bemidji, Minnesota. It operates as a local affiliate of United Way Worldwide and coordinates fundraising, volunteer mobilization, and grant-making across Beltrami, Clearwater, and Hubbard counties in northern Minnesota. The organization's mission is organized around four focus areas: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency, with 42% of Beltrami County households classified as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) or in poverty versus a 36% state average.

The organization's portfolio includes direct-service programs (Backpack Buddies weekend food packs, Imagination Library early literacy mailings, Wheels to Work vehicle maintenance, Holiday Gifts for Kids, Coats for the Community, Stuff a Bus school supply drive), crisis response (Disaster Relief Fund launched in 2025), community coalitions (Headwaters Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Child Abuse Prevention Council), and donor/funder engagement vehicles (Forever Fund endowment, 365 Small Business Circle, Women United, LINC, Adopt an Agency, Workplace Campaigns). Funds are also redistributed to vetted local partner non-profits through a 20-member Community Investment Cabinet. Signature fundraising events include the annual Fishing Tournament, Kids Edition Fishing Tournament, Wine and Beer Tasting, and Trap Tournament.

United Way of Bemidji Area employs 1-10 staff members (five named) and is led by Executive Director Denae Alamano. Its 2025 Community Campaign raised $802,175.97 against a $775,000 goal. Revenue is sourced primarily from donations (workplace giving, individual giving, small business memberships), event proceeds, and grants from funders such as Northwest Minnesota Foundation and Otto Bremer Trust. The organization holds annual certification under United Way Worldwide membership standards and is governed by a local Board of Directors.

Name

United Way Of Bemidji Area

Legal name

United Way of Bemidji Area

Website

https://unitedwaybemidji.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Way of Bemidji Area is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1986 that coordinates fundraising, volunteer mobilization, and grant-making for health, youth opportunity, financial stability, and resiliency programs serving Beltrami, Clearwater, and Hubbard counties in northern Minnesota.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services Nonprofit

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Community fundraising services
• Nonprofit grantmaking programs
• Volunteer coordination services
• Disaster relief assistance
• Community impact programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bemidji

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Community Campaign: Annual fundraising campaign targeting workplace giving, individual donors, and small businesses. 2025 campaign exceeded goal of $775,000, raising $802,175.97.
2. 365 Small Business Circle: Annual membership program where local businesses pledge daily ($365/year equivalent) and make referrals to United Way services. Provides marketing exposure and community impact connections for members.
3. Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from events including Fishing Tournament (7th Annual), Wine and Beer Tasting, Trap Tournament, and other community events. Proceeds support local programs.
4. Grants to Partner Agencies: United Way distributes funds raised to local non-profit partner agencies through a Community Investment Cabinet process, investing in programs addressing Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency.
5. Forever Fund (Endowment): Permanent endowment where contributions are invested to grow, providing long-term funding for United Way's work. Accepts direct gifts, bequests, IRA and stock gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Way of Bemidji Area coordinates community fundraising, grant-making, and volunteer engagement to support programs addressing Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency across Beltrami, Clearwater, and Hubbard counties in northern Minnesota. The organization runs direct-service programs (food, literacy, clothing, transportation, disaster relief), distributes grants to vetted partner non-profit agencies, and operates signature community events and workplace-giving campaigns.

Product overview

United Way of Bemidji Area operates as a community services nonprofit organization rather than a technology company. The organization offers a portfolio of social impact programs organized around four focus areas: Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency. Programs include direct service initiatives (Backpack Buddies Food Packs, Holiday Gifts for Kids, Imagination Library early literacy, Wheels to Work transportation assistance, Coats for the Community), crisis response (Disaster Recovery), collective giving vehicles (Forever Fund endowment, 365 Small Business Circle, Workplace Campaigns), volunteer engagement (Week of Caring, Adopt an Agency, LINC young professional program), women-focused programming (Women United with United We Grow mentorship), suicide prevention (Headwaters Alliance for Suicide Prevention/HASP), and community investment (Partner Agencies funding, Community Investment Cabinet grants). The organization also runs signature fundraising events including the Fishing Tournament, Kids Edition Fishing Tournament, and Wine and Beer Tasting social, along with corporate sponsorship opportunities. The organization does not offer a technology product, API, or AI-powered platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LINC (Lead, Impact. Network. Change.): A 6-month professional community impact course that introduces non-profit basics and community impact opportunities for young professionals.
• Women United
• Adopt an Agency

Products and services

• Backpack Buddies Food Packs A food-security program that provides nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food packs to children on weekends and school breaks to combat childhood food insecurity. For school-age children in K-12 across the three-county service area.
• Imagination Library An early-childhood literacy program that mails free age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth until age five in the three-county service area.
• Wheels to Work A transportation-assistance program that provides free car care clinics (oil changes, tire rotations, vehicle inspections) for vetted low-income families referred through partner agencies.
• Holiday Gifts for Kids An annual holiday program that enables parents and guardians to register and shop for gifts for their children ages 0-17, serving over 1,300 children in 2024.
• Disaster Recovery Fund A crisis-response program that operates a Disaster Relief Fund with 100% of funds remaining local to support families and non-profits affected by disasters.
• Forever Fund A permanent endowment that serves as a financial safety net for community crisis; original gifts are invested to grow and support United Way's long-term work.
• Women United A women's leadership group providing mentorship opportunities through the United We Grow program and quarterly Impact Breakfasts focused on leadership and community building.
• 365 Small Business Circle A collective of local businesses making year-round donations to fund community programs; members receive marketing exposure and community-resource referrals.
• Workplace Campaigns A corporate giving program enabling businesses to encourage employee donations through workplace giving campaigns.
• Non-Profit Grant Opportunities Grant funding for local non-profits including Community Response Grants and county-specific annual grants.
• Coats for the Community An annual winter clothing drive that collects and distributes approximately 3,000 coats and winter accessories each October to those in need.
• Stuff a Bus (K-12 School Supply Drive) An annual school-supply drive providing essential learning materials to students in need.
• LINC (Lead, Impact, Network, Change) A 6-month young-professional community-impact course that introduces non-profit basics and community-impact opportunities, with each cohort choosing a community project.
• Headwaters Alliance for Suicide Prevention (HASP) A comprehensive suicide-prevention initiative that coordinates community awareness events including the Walk for Hope.
• Volunteer Bemidji A centralized volunteer-matching platform connecting individuals and groups with agencies, skills, or events, plus in-kind donation coordination.
• Fishing Tournament The 7th Annual Catch, Photo & Release Fishing Tournament held across multiple counties, featuring bass and walleye categories with guaranteed top-3 prizes.
• Kids Edition Fishing Tournament The 2nd Annual youth fishing tournament for anglers ages 0-15, with prizes including lifetime fishing licenses and biggest-catch awards.
• Wine and Beer Tasting An annual fundraising social event featuring wine and beer tastings to support United Way programs.
• Sponsorship Opportunities Corporate sponsorship packages for United Way events at varying contribution levels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 campaign raised $802,175.97, exceeding goal of $775,000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• Lueken's Village FoodscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the 7th Annual United Way Fishing Tournament and Kids Edition Fishing Tournament. Major community partner for fundraising events and Coats for the Community donation drop-off location.
• National Bank of CommercecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts annual Brat Picnic fundraiser for United Way of Bemidji Area at both branch locations. Major corporate supporter for annual campaign.
• Sanford Health BemidjicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCampaign Co-Chairs (Kayla Winkler and Megan Steigauf) from Sanford Health Bemidji lead the 2025 United Way Community Campaign. Sanford staff participate in various United Way initiatives.
• Dondelinger GMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dondelinger GM provides Wheels to Work program with free car care including oil changes, tire rotations, and vehicle inspections for low-income families.
• 365 Small Business Circle Members (49 businesses listed)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal businesses including ABC Seamless, Aircorps Aviation, Ameriprise Financial, Bemidji Brewing, Bernicks, First City Taxi, and 43 others participate in annual membership program supporting United Way through donations and referrals.
• Paul Bunyan BroadcastingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for community events including Business Blitz radio interviews, Someone Special Volunteers recognition program, and campaign announcements across KB101, KZY95.5, Z99, KBUN stations.
• Community Investment Cabinet (20 volunteers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwenty community volunteers serve 3-year terms reviewing funding applications, completing site visits, and making funding recommendations for United Way Board approval across Healthy Community, Youth Opportunity, and Financial Security teams.
• RP Broadcasting / Sanford Center / First National Bank of BemidjimajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsors of Holiday Gifts for Kids program, helping provide gifts to over 1,300 children ages 0-17 annually.
• United Way World WidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing membership standards, brand standards, and network support. Requires annual compliance certification to use United Way name and logo.
• United Way of Northeastern MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Executive Director Denae Alamano at Under One Roof Conference to present on how United Ways can support local crisis and disasters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Northwest Minnesota Foundation: A regional community foundation serving northwest Minnesota. Identified in the data as a direct funder of United Way of Bemidji Area programs (Wheels to Work). Operates a comparable grant-making and community investment model in overlapping geography.
• United Way of Central Minnesota: A regional United Way affiliate serving central Minnesota with the same annual campaign, partner agency funding model, and community focus area structure (education, financial stability, health). Highly comparable operating model and revenue scale for a regional United Way.
• Initiative Foundation: A regional community foundation serving central Minnesota with a comparable model of endowment building, grant-making to local nonprofits, and community impact programs. Represents a comparable nonprofit operating model in an adjacent Minnesota region.
• United Way of Northeastern Minnesota: A nearby United Way affiliate operating in northeastern Minnesota with a similar model of community fundraising, volunteer coordination, and grant-making to local partner agencies. Explicitly identified in the data as a collaborating peer presenting together on crisis and disaster response.
• Salvation Army Northern Minnesota: A faith-based social services nonprofit operating across northern Minnesota with comparable direct-service programs addressing food insecurity, disaster relief, holiday assistance, and family support. Competes for similar donor dollars and serves overlapping populations in the same region.

Broad incumbents

• Minneapolis Foundation: A large community foundation in Minnesota administering endowments, grant-making, and community programs. Operates a similar philanthropic intermediation model but at substantially larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• United Way Worldwide: The parent network organization that sets membership standards, brand requirements, and provides network support to United Way of Bemidji Area. Functions as a broad incumbent governing body for all U.S. United Way affiliates.
• Greater Twin Cities United Way: The largest United Way affiliate in Minnesota serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Operates the same annual campaign and community impact model but at materially greater scale, broader geography, and with a more developed program infrastructure.

Regional players

• Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation: A community foundation serving the Duluth-Superior region with comparable grant-making, donor-advised funds, and community investment programs. Operates a similar nonprofit intermediation model in a different but adjacent Minnesota/Wisconsin geography.

Others

• Otto Bremer Trust: A Minnesota-based philanthropic trust explicitly identified in the data as a funder of United Way of Bemidji Area programs (Wheels to Work). Functions as an institutional funder and ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/unitedwaybemidjiarea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-way-of-bemidji-area

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United Way Of Bemidji Area