Verified Impact Partners
Our success as a community relies on collaboration. These Verified Impact Partners work with us, each other, and our community to make lasting social change. When you give to United Way, you invest in dozens of organizations, non-profits, and programs best positioned to make lasting change.
Applying for and receiving a United Way grant means these nonprofits are the best at what they do. These programs stood the test of critical and smart community members, financial reviews, and strategic alignment to our mission and rose to the top – that’s what makes them “verified”. “Impact” is our common goal – we both want to change lives for our neighbors in poverty. And “partner” is because we can only do it together – through shared connections, shared ideas, and shared resources. We are thankful for the work they do and for being our partner to make our community a better place.
Bold Goal 1: Preventing Hunger and Homelessness
CAPLP (Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc.) | Supportive Housing
CAPLP offers supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Housing is paired with case management and services to help households overcome barriers to stability. Through coordinated entry and partnerships, CAPLP ensures neighbors can access safe housing and the support they need to succeed.
Churches United | Dorothy Day Food Pantries
The Dorothy Day Food Pantry provides healthy food to families through a consumer-choice model, allowing neighbors to select what best meets their needs. With no ID or income verification required, the pantry is low-barrier and accessible to anyone seeking help. By combining dignity and choice, Churches United ensures families can put meals on the table.
Churches United | Emergency Shelters & Services
Micah’s Mission offers emergency shelter and support for men, women, families, and veterans in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Guests have access to on-site case management, shelter nursing, and a community center, creating a pathway to stability. With compassion and care, Churches United helps neighbors in crisis find safety and resources to rebuild their lives.
FM Coalition to End Homelessness | Education and Data Support
The FM Coalition unites more than 70 member organizations working to end homelessness. The Coalition supports its partners with training, data collection, and coordinated entry through the CARES system. By fostering collaboration and sharing resources, the Coalition strengthens the community’s collective response to homelessness.
Folkways | SNAP DoubleBucks
The SNAP DoubleBucks program at the Red River Market doubles the purchasing power of families using SNAP benefits. By matching SNAP/EBT purchases, participants can buy more fresh, locally grown food. Folkways also provides outreach and education to ensure more families know about and can access this resource.
Great Plains Food Bank | Ending Hunger Today
Ending Hunger Today ensures families have access to nutritious food right now. Great Plains Food Bank recovers, purchases, and distributes millions of pounds of food each year, while expanding programs that fight childhood hunger. By supporting partner pantries and reducing barriers, they meet urgent needs and help neighbors facing food insecurity.
Great Plains Food Bank | Ending Hunger Tomorrow
Ending Hunger Tomorrow takes a long-term approach to reducing food insecurity across North Dakota and Clay County, Minn. Through healthcare interventions, community-driven initiatives, data and research, SNAP outreach, and advocacy, Great Plains Food Bank works to address the root causes of hunger. By listening to neighbors and piloting innovative solutions, they aim to create lasting systems that prevent hunger and help families thrive.
Presentation Partners in Housing | Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Program
The Homeless Prevention and Diversion Program helps families in Cass and Clay counties stay housed. By assessing housing crises early, staff guide households to resources and solutions that prevent eviction or long-term homelessness. This proactive approach reduces trauma and keeps families stable.
Presentation Partners in Housing | Housing Navigation Program
Housing Navigation helps individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness secure safe, stable housing. Using Housing First, Harm Reduction, and Trauma-Informed Care, Navigators support participants as they transition into permanent homes. Ongoing case management helps families build stability for the long term.
Rural Enrichment and Counseling Headquarters (REACH) | Food Pantry
Rural Enrichment and Counseling Headquarters (REACH) provides food support to families across rural Clay County. With United Way’s support, REACH is expanding its backpack program to new schools and introducing a digital pantry system that allows families to customize orders and schedule pickups. This innovation improves access, promotes healthy eating, and strengthens their ability to serve more neighbors.
SENDCAA (SouthEastern North Dakota Community Action Agency) | Supportive Services for People Experiencing Homelessness
SENDCAA delivers programs that reduce barriers for people experiencing poverty in Cass County. With services like affordable childcare, housing supports, and career and family coaching, they help individuals and families build stability. These proven programs empower neighbors to move out of poverty and toward greater independence.
Youthworks | Street Outreach Program
The Street Outreach Program connects with runaway, homeless, and trafficked youth across Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead. Through street-based and site-based outreach, as well as a welcoming drop-in center, Youthworks helps young people access safety, resources, and hope. Their team builds trust and guides youth toward stable housing and supportive services.
Youthworks | Transitional Living Program
Youthworks’ Transitional Living Program supports young adults ages 18–24 who are experiencing homelessness. Participants receive housing and supportive services while working toward education, employment, and independence. By collaborating with local providers, the program ensures youth have coordinated access to housing and resources.
YWCA Cass Clay | Emergency Shelter & Services
YWCA Cass Clay provides the largest emergency shelter for women and children in North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Families fleeing domestic violence or homelessness find safety, food, clothing, and immediate support in a secure environment. With wraparound services—from childcare to education and employment programs—YWCA empowers women and children to heal, regain stability, and build brighter futures.
YWCA Cass Clay | Supportive Housing Programs
YWCA Supportive Housing prevents homelessness for women and families, many fleeing domestic violence. Transitional, permanent, and domestic violence housing options are paired with individualized case management and supportive services. By combining safe housing with resources like education, employment, and health services, YWCA helps families stabilize and build a strong foundation for the future.
Bold Goal 2: Prepare Children to Succeed
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley | Afterschool & Club Programming
For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Red River Valley have provided afterschool programs that help youth succeed in school, build life skills, and discover new passions. Club programs focus on literacy, 21st-century skills, and positive mentoring relationships that foster confidence and leadership. Families are engaged as partners in their children’s success, and continuous quality improvement ensures high standards of programming.
Fargo Public Schools Fargo Adult Learning Center | Even Start Family Literacy Program
The Even Start Family Literacy Program is a two-generational initiative that supports children’s early learning while advancing adult education. Families participate in early childhood education, adult literacy, parenting education, and interactive activities designed to build skills and strengthen bonds. This holistic approach helps break cycles of poverty, improve family outcomes, and prepare children for kindergarten success.
Friends of the Children | Friends Mentorship Program
Children experiencing poverty are paired with full-time, highly trained mentors who supports them and their caregiver from kindergarten through graduation. Friends of the Children Fargo-Moorhead pairs children facing life’s toughest obstacles with a paid, professional mentor (Friend) to walk alongside them for 12+ years, No Matter What.
Jasmin Child Care and Preschool | Child Care
Jasmin Child Care & Preschool offers innovative, non-traditional child care to meet the needs of working parents. The program provides evening and overnight care for children ages 3–12, making it the only 24/5 licensed child care option in the region. With support from United Way, the program moved from concept to reality and is now working toward a sustainable model with additional state support. This flexible approach ensures families have safe, reliable care no matter their schedule.
Jeremiah Program Fargo-Moorhead | Child Development Center
The Jeremiah Program Child Development Center offers exceptional early learning for children ages six weeks to kindergarten. With small teacher-to-student ratios, trauma-informed practices, and culturally responsive programming, children receive a strong foundation for lifelong learning. The program also provides summer enrichment opportunities, ensuring consistent growth and support for families in the Jeremiah Program.
Moorhead Area Public Schools | Jump Start
Jump Start Preschool provides age-appropriate learning for children ages 3–5 in the Moorhead Area Public Schools district. The program integrates circle time, art, gym, and learning centers, while children with special needs learn alongside their peers with support from teachers and early intervention specialists. Rated four stars by Parent Aware, Jump Start prepares children for kindergarten in an inclusive, high-quality setting.
Northern Cass School District | Career Exploration Programs
Northern Cass is developing flexible Career Exploration Programs that prepare students for high-demand fields while honoring their interests. Four pathways—Agriculture, Business/Marketing, STEM, and Law/Public Safety—each include a series of six-week courses designed around real-world skills and career goals. In partnership with businesses, colleges, and universities, learners gain access to subject matter experts, hands-on experiences, and industry connections. This innovative model equips students with 21st-century skills and serves as a framework for other rural schools to prepare career-ready graduates.
SENDCAA (SouthEastern North Dakota Community Action Agency) | Child Care Center
SENDCAA Child Care Center provides high-quality, affordable childcare for families with low income. The program focuses on age-appropriate activities that build skills to prepare children for kindergarten. Aligned with state and United Way priorities in early childhood education, SENDCAA supports children’s healthy growth and development in a nurturing environment.
UMOJA | Creative Writing and Leadership Development Programs
UMOJA’s Creative Writing and Leadership Development Program is a 16-week writing and leadership program for students. Through storytelling, poetry, and performance, participants explore identity, community issues, and creative expression while earning academic credit. Alongside building public speaking and confidence, students gain access to real-world opportunities such as performances, internships, and funding for youth-led projects. The program develops young leaders ready to turn ideas into action.
https://www.umojaincorporated.com/
YMCA of the Northern Sky | West Fargo Child Care Development Center
The West Fargo Child Care Development Center prepares four-year-old children for school through social, emotional, and academic development. The program partners with the school district to deliver early learning focused on peer interaction, reading, math, and school readiness. Funding also ensures teacher training, educational materials, and financial assistance so all children can participate.
YMCA of the Northern Sky | Child Care Centers Childcare Scholarship
The YMCA Child Care Scholarship helps families cover the cost of child care by providing financial assistance based on household size, income, and need. Families contribute a portion of their child care costs and first apply for county assistance before receiving YMCA support. This program ensures more children have access to safe, reliable care so parents can work and families can thrive.
Bold Goal 3: Strengthen Families
CAPLP (Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc.) | Flourishing Families
Flourishing Families supports caregivers and children together through intensive, coordinated coaching. The program helps adults access education and career opportunities while ensuring children gain the skills they need to succeed. This whole-family approach fosters stability and leaves a lasting legacy of well-being across generations.
CAPLP (Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership, Inc.) | Career Connect
Career Connect links individuals with low income to training in high-demand careers such as healthcare, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Participants receive personalized coaching to overcome barriers and stay on track in their career journey. By connecting people to opportunity, the program helps families build stability and achieve long-term success.
ESHARA | Workforce Development Partnership
ESHARA’s Workforce Development and Care Coordination Program supports New Americans, refugees, and immigrants in Fargo-Moorhead. Multilingual Care Coordinators provide coaching, job placement, ESL access, childcare navigation, and credential training. With culturally responsive services, the program helps families secure and retain employment while building a stronger, more inclusive local workforce.
FirstLink | 211 and 988 Helpline and Crisis Services
FirstLink provides 24/7 support through the 211 Helpline and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained staff offer compassionate listening, crisis de-escalation, and connections to local resources by phone, text, or chat. Follow-up care ensures ongoing safety and support, helping save lives and reduce the strain on emergency services.
Immigrant Development Center (IDC) | Coalition of Women’s Initiatives
The Coalition of Women’s Initiatives unites three organizations to provide workforce development and wraparound services for New American women and their families. Workforce Navigators offer job readiness training, application support, and interview preparation, while also connecting families to resources like childcare, housing, financial literacy, and youth programs. Serving about 200 people annually, the coalition takes a holistic, multigenerational approach to help families achieve stability and self-sufficiency.
Jeremiah Program | Pathways to Family-Sustaining Careers
The Pathways program at Jeremiah Program supports single mothers pursuing college while raising young children. Families receive individualized coaching, career development, and trauma-informed support, alongside childcare and housing assistance. Through community workshops and family engagement, mothers gain the tools to thrive in education, careers, and parenting—building brighter futures for both generations.
Nexus PATH Family Healing | Community-Based Services
Nexus PATH provides school-linked mental health services that help children succeed in school, at home, and in the community. Services include case management, therapy, and resource connections tailored to each child’s needs. By addressing challenges early, the program promotes healing and resilience for children and families.
https://www.nexusfamilyhealing.org/nexus-path-family-healing
Northern Cass School District | Family and Adult Counseling Services
In partnership with The Village and NDSU Counseling, Northern Cass provides year-round family counseling and biannual group sessions. Services focus on strengthening family communication, problem-solving, and overall well-being. Families are also connected to resources for food, housing, and employment, increasing access to mental health care in a region with few other options.
Rape & Abuse Crisis Center | Crisis Intervention
The Crisis Intervention Program offers 24/7 support for survivors of physical, sexual, emotional, or mental abuse. Services include a crisis hotline, safety planning, stabilization assistance, and connections to resources. Survivors and their families can access help in person, virtually, or by phone, ensuring immediate and compassionate care when it is needed most.
Rape & Abuse Crisis Center | Therapeutic Intervention
RACC’s Therapeutic Intervention program provides counseling to youth and adults impacted by abuse. Using evidence-based therapies, counselors help participants process trauma, build coping skills, and strengthen self-esteem. Services are offered individually or in groups at schools, the RACC center, and community locations.
Red River Children’s Advocacy Center | Trauma Focused Mental Health Services
Red River CAC provides trauma-focused mental health care for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Services include evidence-based assessments and therapy for children and their families, ensuring children receive the best possible care to heal. Advocacy staff also guide families through the investigative and judicial process with compassion and support.
SENDCAA (SouthEastern North Dakota Community Action Agency) | Career Coach Program
The Career Coach Program connects unemployed and underemployed individuals with education, training, apprenticeships, and employment. Coaches use a Whole Family Approach, supporting both adults and children as they work toward stability. By addressing barriers and celebrating each family’s strengths, the program empowers households to break cycles of poverty and pursue lasting success.
SENDCAA (SouthEastern North Dakota Community Action Agency) | Whole Family Coach Program
The Whole Family Coach Program helps families move beyond survival toward thriving. Coaches support both parents and children, addressing needs like education, employment, health, housing, childcare, and financial stability. Families are empowered to set goals, overcome barriers, and pursue upward mobility with the guidance of a trusted coach.
The Village Family Service Center | Counseling Services for Children and Families
The Village provides specialized counseling for children and families in Moorhead, with a focus on children under age six. Services include trauma-informed assessments, therapy, and culturally sensitive approaches that strengthen family well-being. Through this partnership, families access care regardless of their ability to pay.
https://www.thevillagefamily.org/content/therapy-and-counseling-children
YWCA Cass Clay | Employment & Education Program
YWCA’s Employment & Education Program equips women with the skills and confidence to secure meaningful work and achieve financial independence. Offerings include job readiness training, financial literacy workshops, and one-on-one coaching. With a focus on family-sustaining income, the program helps women build stability, leave unsafe environments, and create brighter futures for themselves and their children.
YWCA Cass Clay | Lantern Light Survivor and Family Support Program
The Lantern Light Program supports survivors of trauma and their families with case management, community-building, and two-generation services. Participants receive personalized, trauma-informed care while accessing opportunities for healing, social connection, and stability. By fostering safe environments and linking families to resources, YWCA helps survivors rebuild their lives and strengthen futures.