Building Stronger Communities Since 1941
Our story began in 1941, when a group of caring neighbors came together to create the Daytona Beach Community Fund—a simple idea with a powerful purpose: to help local people in need.
Over the decades, that spirit of collaboration grew, evolving into today’s Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (CF/UWVFC). Though our name has changed, our mission remains the same—to unite people and resources to build stronger, more resilient communities.
From those early fundraising drives to the coordinated, region-wide impact we deliver today, we’ve always believed that lasting change happens when we work together. By combining more than 50 separate fundraising efforts into one united campaign, we save time, reduce costs, and ensure that every dollar does more good.
Today, we proudly steward nearly 50 unique funds, helping donors make a lasting difference while fueling trusted nonprofits across Volusia and Flagler Counties.
As both a Community Foundation and one of over 1,800 locally independent United Ways around the world, CF/UWVFC continues to carry forward a legacy more than 80 years strong—empowering generosity, solving local challenges, and creating opportunities for all.
A Denver woman, a priest, two ministers and a rabbi recognize the need to work together in new ways to make Denver a better place. Their first effort as the Charity Organization Society raised $21,700 for ten agencies.
The nation’s first modern Community Chest was born in Cleveland, where a program for allocating campaign funds was developed.
Executives of 12 fund-raising federations met in Chicago and formed the American Association for Community Organizations (AACO), the predecessor to United Way of America.
Rochester, New York used the name Community Chest, a name widely adopted by United Way organizations and used until the early 1950s.
On July 22, the Daytona Beach Community Fund was founded to bring together resources in Daytona Beach to help those in need.
Name changed to Daytona Beach Community Chest, per handwritten notes in the 1948 Articles of Incorporation.
United Fund of West Volusia, Inc. is established and is most likely the result of a name change from Daytona Beach Community Chest. Some records indicate the year was 1963 and the name was changed to United Way of Volusia County but Articles of Incorporation are dated 1964 and the name “United Way of Volusia County” isn’t referenced until 1977 when the East and West chapters merge.
Some believe the name United Way was used immediately after Community Chest and, since the West Volusia chapter was called a United Fund and not a United Way, it’s possible this chapter was the successor to the Daytona Beach Community Chest, though the year doesn’t align as well.
United Way of East Volusia County and United Fund of West Volusia County merge and become the United Way of Volusia County, responding to a recommendation from the Volusia Council of Governments that a single community service entry point needed to be created to increase public awareness and enhance access to services when in need. (Based on 1977 Articles of Incorporation.
United Way’s Volunteer Center is created and becomes the largest resource devoted solely to the promotion and nurturing of volunteerism and community service, playing an integral role in the mission to increase the organized capacity of our community to care for its people.
United Way of Flagler County is formed.
Community Foundation established as a resolution by the United Way of Volusia County, Inc. Board of Directors as an Endowment Fund.
United Way of Flagler County merges with United Way of Volusia County to become United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.
Name changed to United Way Community Foundation of Volusia- Flagler Counties and continued as a division of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, Inc.
United Way joined with the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems to successfully petition the Federal Communications Commission to designate 2-1-1 as a health and human services information hotline.
The Foundation completed a branding campaign and the name was changed to Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler.
United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties transitions to the Community Impact model to better serve the local community and invest in long-term, measurable change.
United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties awards 23 grants to 18 organizations totaling $1,237,100.
United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties and Community Foundation moved to a new office location. UWVFC and CF consolidated the board and are now branded as Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia Flagler Counties
Historical timeline:
Community Foundation & United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties
1887
A Denver woman, a priest, two ministers, and a rabbi recognize the need to work together in new ways to make Denver a better place. Their first effort as the Charity Organization Society raises $21,700 for ten agencies.
1913
The nation’s first modern Community Chest is established in Cleveland, introducing a program for allocating campaign funds.
1918
Executives of 12 fund-raising federations meet in Chicago and form the American Association for Community Organizations (AACO), the predecessor to United Way of America.
1919
Rochester, New York adopts the name Community Chest, which becomes widely used by United Way organizations until the early 1950s.
1941
On July 22, the Daytona Beach Community Fund is founded to bring together resources in Daytona Beach to help those in need.
1946
The organization’s name changes to Daytona Beach Community Chest, as noted in the 1948 Articles of Incorporation.
1964
United Fund of West Volusia, Inc. is established, likely as a result of a name change from Daytona Beach Community Chest. Some records indicate the year was 1963 and the name was changed to United Way of Volusia County, but Articles of Incorporation are dated 1964 and the name “United Way of Volusia County” isn’t referenced until 1977 when the East and West chapters merge.
1977
United Way of East Volusia County and United Fund of West Volusia County merge to become United Way of Volusia County, following a recommendation from the Volusia Council of Governments to create a single community service entry point for increased public awareness and enhanced access to services.
United Way’s Volunteer Center is created, becoming the largest resource devoted solely to the promotion and nurturing of volunteerism and community service.
1978
United Way of Flagler County is formed.
1983
Community Foundation is established as a resolution by the United Way of Volusia County, Inc. Board of Directors as an Endowment Fund.
1996
United Way of Flagler County merges with United Way of Volusia County to become United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties.
The name changes to United Way Community Foundation of Volusia-Flagler Counties, continuing as a division of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, Inc.
2000
United Way joins with the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems to successfully petition the Federal Communications Commission to designate 2-1-1 as a health and human services information hotline.
2009
The Foundation completes a branding campaign and changes its name to Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler.
2017
United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties transitions to the Community Impact model to better serve the local community and invest in long-term, measurable change.
2021
United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties awards 23 grants to 18 organizations, totaling $1,237,100.
2023
United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties and Community Foundation move to a new office location. The organizations consolidate the board and are now branded as Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia Flagler Counties.
2024
In 2024–2025, Community Foundation/United Way of Volusia Flagler Counties (CF/UWVFC) invests $2.4 million across 112 nonprofit partners and currently stewards 47 unique funds.