United Way of Southwest Minnesota

Our Mission: Uniting people and resources to improve lives and strengthen communities in southwest Minnesota.

Desmond Tutu once said, "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." Our community continues to encounter challenges, and we need to be that shining light in the midst of it all, so we can all succeed and thrive.  Today, we invite you to Raise Your Hand with United Way of Southwest Minnesota and help us create hope and positivity in our community.

Supporting your community is simple and impactful.  Whether you contribute $5, donate your time, or encourage others to volunteer with you, every act of support is significant and valuable.

We invite you to join us, get involved, and Raise Your Hand to create HOPE in our community.  Please consider making a financial contribution this year because change does not happen alone. 

 United Way of Southwest Minnesota is committed to supporting our community's health, education, financial stability, hunger relief, and safety & well-being.  Our support fuels impactful change for every person in the communities we serve. 

With your help, there's hope.

Some of United Way of Southwest Minnesota's Internal Initiatives & Programs Include:

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library  - is a unique initiative for children aged from birth to 5 years in our service area.  Each child receives an age- and developmentally appropriate book in the mail each month, fostering valuable school readiness skills.   Since 2005, over 9,024 local children have graduated from the program, and 533,531 books have been delivered to homes throughout our service area.   Over 2,300 local children receive a book delivered to their home every month.   (Stats as of September 2024).

Here are the results of our 2025 Imagination Library Survey.

• • 98% of respondents are satisfied with and appreciate the Imagination Library book program.
  • 100% of respondents would recommend the Imagination Library book program to families with young children.
  • 97% of respondents agree that receiving Imagination Library books helps prepare their children for kindergarten by getting them ready to read.
  • 95% of respondents agree that receiving Imagination Library books helps them read more to their children.

Stuff the Bus - this successful initiative in 2025 was made possible by the collective efforts of our community.  We provided over 48,000 school supplies to approximately 4,000 students attending 23 area schools.  Engaging volunteers to collect, sort, pack, and distribute supplies to students throughout our service area to ensure that students can learn and develop to their full potential without the worry that they don't have the basic tools needed to reach their academic goals.

Student Emergency Fund Grants - Over $13,000 was distributed in 2025 to 22 local schools that applied for funds.   Funds are to be used at the districts' discretion to support the needs of their students.  Participating schools reported that during the 2025-2 school year, funds were used for items such as: activity fees, support to a family that suffered a home fire, support to a student that lost their only parent, underwear, clothing, socks, and shoes, hygiene items, emergency food support, eyeglasses and vision exams, winter apparel, specialized school supplies, etc.

Disaster Recovery Fund - Launched in July 2025, the Disaster Recovery Fund was created in direct response to the severe storm and major flooding that impacted Marshall, Minnesota.  The goal of this fund is to strengthen our community's ability to respond to and recover from disasters by providing timely, strategic financial support where it's needed most.

Applications for funding are reviewed by a committee that includes board members and community representatives.  Each request is evaluated through an ALICE lens (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) to ensure that support reaches those most vulnerable and disproportionately affected by disaster events.

While we did not have funds set aside for our first disaster funding cycle, we are currently working to raise funds and build a dedicated reserve. Our goal is to reduce delays caused by post-disaster fundraising and ensure that help is available when it’s needed most. The fund is sustained through donations, grants, and strategic budget allocations, with oversight from a designated committee to ensure transparency and accountability.

This initiative reflects our commitment to Community Resilience, emphasizing preparedness, responsiveness, and the well-being of our community—ensuring that when disaster strikes, we are ready to respond.

 We serve people in Minnesota counties: Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine, and portions of Redwood, Cottonwood, Lac qui Parle, and Nobles.  

Questions?  Want more information?

Contact us: 

unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org or 507-929-2273

Source: www.unitedwayswmn.org