Local businesses play an important role in building a stronger community. Now, a new partnership between United Way of Cass-Clay and the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce is making it easier for small businesses to bring their employees together and make an impact.

Every day, local businesses show up for their employees, customers and neighbors. They create jobs, invest locally and help make our community a place where people can thrive. This new partnership is making it easier for small businesses to come together and give back.

Because United is the way, and it starts with you.

Making It Easier to Give Back

We know small businesses want to give back, but creating and managing a workplace giving campaign can feel like a lot to take on, especially for businesses with limited staff or no dedicated HR team.

This new shared workplace giving campaign is designed to make it easier.

Chamber member businesses with approximately 50 or fewer employees can join a shared campaign rather than having to build one on their own. The Chamber provides the campaign structure, while United Way provides the tools, resources, local stories and support to help businesses engage their employees and make a difference.

Businesses can participate in a way that works for their team, whether they are launching a workplace campaign for the first time or building on an existing commitment to our community.

“Small business are the backbone of our community, and we know they want to make a difference,” said Shannon Full, President & CEO of The Chamber. “This partnership makes it easier for small businesses to engage their employees and give back without having to create a campaign from the ground up. When we come together, we can create an impact that is much bigger than any one business could make alone.”

When We Come Together, We Go Further

When more people have an opportunity to get involved, our entire community benefits.

At United Way, we see what’s possible when individuals, businesses and organizations come together around the challenges facing our community.

Individual gifts, volunteer hours, conversations and acts of kindness may seem small on their own. Together, they help support local solutions that strengthen families, prepare kids to succeed, prevent hunger and homelessness, and create more opportunities for our neighbors.

The spirit of partnership has been part of United Way and The Chamber’s shared history for nearly a century.

“The biggest challenges facing our community cannot be solved by one organization alone,” said Sandi Piatz, President & CEO of United Way of Cass-Clay. “Since our founding in 1927 as the Community Chest, we have worked alongside community and business leaders to strengthen the Fargo-Moorhead region. This partnership continues that tradition by giving small businesses another meaningful way to be part of the work happening in our community.”

The United Way’s partnership with The Chamber dates back to our earliest days, when it was known as the Commercial Club. For nearly a century, both organizations have shared a commitment to bringing people together to advance our community. This partnership gives small businesses another meaningful way to be part of that work by connecting resources where they are needed most and turning generosity into lasting impact.

Building Understanding, Not Just Giving

There’s another opportunity for participating businesses to get involved beyond workplace giving.

Teams can register for United Way’s Poverty Simulation, an interactive 2.5-hour experience that offers a glimpse into the challenges many local families face every day.

Participants take on the role of a family living on a limited budget and navigate situations involving housing, food, transportation, employment and community resources. The experience helps participants better understand the barriers families can face and creates space for meaningful conversations about how our community can respond.

It Starts With You

Community impact can start with something small.

It can be a business owner deciding, “We want to be part of this.”

It can be an employee choosing to give their time, talents or resources.

Or it can be a team spending two and a half hours seeing their community from a different perspective through the Poverty Simulation.

Each of those choices creates an opportunity to learn, connect and contribute. And when more people have the opportunity to take part, our community is stronger for it.

United is the way, and it starts with you.

Chamber member businesses can register to participate in the shared workplace giving campaign by Oct. 21.

Businesses can also register for the United Way of Cass-Clay’s Poverty Simulation by Oct. 9.

Together, we can make it easier for more businesses and their employees to be part of building a community where every neighbor has the opportunity to thrive.