United Way of Greater St. Louis is proud to serve 16 counties in Illinois and Missouri with a population of nearly 3 million people. Through our partnerships with over 160 local nonprofits, as well as programs and services such as United Way 2-1-1 and the United Way Volunteer Center, we’ve created a strong network and safety net for our community members, helping 1 in 3 people throughout our region.

The United Fund continues to grow and consolidates with the Health and Welfare Council, becoming United Way of Greater St. Louis, Inc. Over the next few decades, United Way of Greater St. Louis merges with other local United Way affiliates, serving nearby Missouri and Illinois counties.
• In 1978, United Way of St. Clair County, Illinois, becomes the Illinois Division of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. A few years later, Clinton, Monroe and Randolph counties join the Illinois Division service area.
• In 1981, Tri-County area organizes the United Way Auxiliary Board to provide stronger local leadership in St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren counties of Missouri.
• In 1997, United Way of Greater St. Louis celebrates 75 years of leadership in health and human services. Area-wide agreements with the Partnership United Way in Alton, Illinois; the Tri-Cities United Way serving the cities of Granite City, Madison, Pontoon Beach, and Venice, Illinois; and the Washington, Missouri United Fund expand services available to people throughout the region.
• In 2001, United Way Partnership in Alton, Illinois, becomes the Southwest Illinois Division of the United Way of Greater St. Louis. The Washington Missouri United Fund, which continues in an areawide agreement with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, changes its name to the Franklin County Area United Way.

With the proliferation of philanthropic organizations after the war, leaders of Civic Progress, Inc., ask a small committee of influential business leaders to lead efforts to establish the United Fund, which would have exclusive rights to annual campaigns in the workplace as well as employer-administered payroll deductions enabling employees to spread the cost of giving throughout the year. The United Fund restricts its support to agencies meeting health and human service needs.

Following the war, the peacetime successors to the War Chest and United Charities choose the name Community Chest.

Pearl Harbor thrusts the United States into the midst of WWII. The homefront war effort brings together more than 30 distinct campaigns, including United Charities, within the War Chest, which was organized in 1942.

The nonsectarian Community Fund officially unites with Catholic Charities and the Jewish Federation to form United Charities.

During the era of the Great Depression, when tens of thousands of St. Louisans were out of work and in need, the Community Fund joins with other charitable organizations in United Relief campaigns to raise money and match municipal bond revenue to provide economic assistance.

With backing from the business community, St. Louis’ emerging professional social work community launched an organization that would help raise money for the city’s various charities. In November 1922, the Community Fund launched with its board of trustees with an aim to help not only those in need but also the whole community. Promising “philanthropy without waste”, the first drive raised $1,081,684 for 40 local nonprofits.