Community Health and Welfare Council of Hennepin County

Organized in 1960 to provide planning and research services to the United Fund of Hennepin County, the Community Health and Welfare Council was absorbed as part of the United Way in 1976.

The Community Health and Welfare Council of Hennepin County was charged with planning and research activities related to private sector social services in Hennepin County Minnesota from 1960 to 1976. From 1919 until 1960, private sector social service planning and fund raising in Hennepin County were combined in a single organization, The Minneapolis Council of Social Agencies. From 1960 through 1976 the functions were divided between the separate, but closely-allied, Community Chest and Council and Community Health and Welfare Council of Hennepin County.

The Community Health and Welfare Council had its origins in the Minneapolis Council of Social Agencies, which was founded in 1915 and incorporated in 1919. It was founded primarily for planning purposes, but soon undertook the task of joint funding-raising, first, in 1919 as the Town Tea Kettle Fund, and then, beginning in 1920, as the Community Fund. During the years 1942-1946 the Community Fund became a part of the War Chest, which supported additional war-related relief and service activities. In 1948, the Council of Social Agencies reorganized as the Community Chest and Council of Hennepin County.

The Community Chest and Council was replaced in 1960 when the fund-raising aspects of the Community Chest were merged with other fund drives to form the new United Fund of Hennepin County. The planning and research activities that had been performed by the Community Welfare Council--a division of the Community Chest and Council --were assumed by a new, separate organization, the Community Health and Welfare Council of Hennepin County. This council drew its financial support from the United Fund and, in turn, provided the Fund with planning and consultation services. However, it was not involved in allocating money raised by the United Fund to Minneapolis agencies and its functions extended beyond services to the United Fund. In another reorganization in 1976, the Community Health and Welfare Council was absorbed once again into the United Fund, which is now the Greater Twin Cities United Way.