The first recognized federated fund-raising organization was started in Denver, Colorado, in 1887 and was called the Associated Charities.

The Associated Charities of Winston met for the first time in March 1905 at the Brown-Rogers Hardware store. This organization was initiated primarily by the untiring efforts of Mrs. R. D. Moseley and her Whatsoever Circle of Kings Daughters. The new association gained momentum and during the early years of the 1900s did "great and lasting work" among the poor and underprivileged of the community.

The sum of $1,200 was set for the first year's goal. The association had a committee which made house-to-house canvass with the results of $1,080.60 pledged. The first annual report shows that a total of $1,170.76 was raised including $40 in wood and merchandise.

The Associated Charities became the organization around which other agencies developed. Contemporary with the movement in the United States to consolidate fund raising solicitations, the Community Chest of Forsyth County was organized in 1923. The Chest federated the finances of twenty local health and welfare organizations, raising the money in one campaign and distributing it according to need among its member organizations. The Community Chest's campaigns were called Red Feather drives. The first Community Chest goal was $28,000 with $36,000 actually raised.

By the mid-1940s there were 23 separate agencies conducting seventeen fund drives under the umbrella of the Community Chest. In 1946 the Forsyth County Public Solicitations Committee was established to review the budgets of charitable agencies and with the urging of Mayor Marshall Kurfees, appointed a committee to investigate the possibility of a consolidated fund drive.

In 1951, with much fanfare and publicity, the Community Chest became the United Fund of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The 1951 Campaign Kickoff, held at the Carolina Theater (now the Stevens Center), included an appearance by radio personality Spike Jones who directed comic barbs at Mayor Marshall Kurfees. Under the leadership of Mrs. James DeHart, the newly named organization raised more than $500,076, more than $75,000 above its goal. By 1953, the campaign total soared to more than $600,000.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, as the number of agencies funded by the United Fund grew, community leaders and concerned citizens joined in campaigns to meet the ever-increasing budget needs. In 1961, the campaign raised over one million dollars for the first time. During the period, the United Fund continued to enjoy strong community involvement and extended its remarkable record of making goal after goal.

The United Fund became the United Way of Forsyth County in 1974. That year, over $1,925,000 was raised to meet community needs. Tremendous growth was experienced in the 1980s. Dr. Thomas K. Hearn, Jr., president of Wake Forest University, initiated the Leadership Circle in 1986. His goal was to increase the involvement of professionals, especially corporate leaders, physicians and attorneys, in addressing human service needs through United Way of Forsyth County. In its first year, the Leadership Circle had 400 members and gave $550,000 through United Way.

In 1987, Paul Fulton initiated the local chapter of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society for individuals contributing $10,000 a year or more to the United Way of Forsyth County. The Alexis de Tocqueville Society is named for the French historian and author who came to America in 1831 and praised the Americans for voluntarily assisting their neighbors in times of need. The desire to recognize individuals who exemplify this spirit of volunteerism for the common good prompted United Way of America to create the national Alexis de Tocqueville Society in 1972 and name it after the young French aristocrat.

The early 1990s were turbulent times for all United Ways across the country in the aftermath of a scandal involving a handful of leaders at United Way of America, the national service organization. In 1992, for the first time in its 69-year history, the United Way of Forsyth County fell short of its goal. In 1993, contributions fell further. By 1994, however, local supporters had witnessed the indictment and prosecution of those responsible for the scandal as well as a major restructuring at United Way of America that allowed for higher levels of local representation and precluded any possibility of the mismanagement that had occurred previously. The net effect was restored confidence in and support of local United Ways across the country. In 1994, the United Way of Forsyth County met its goal of $11,000,000.

Campaigns have grown steadily since 1994. Beginning with the 1995 effort, United Way of Forsyth County campaigns have led the nation's larger United Ways in per capita giving. They include:

1995: Murray C. Greason, Jr./Chair, Partner in Charge/Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice - $11,511,928

1996: Andrew J. Schindler/Chair, President and CEO of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company - $12,012,393

1997: J. Walter McDowell/Chair, President of North Carolina Banking, Wachovia Bank -$13,507,155

1998: John A. Piazza/Chair, Corporate Vice President of Sara Lee Corporation - $15,200,777

1999: Robert E. Greene/Chair, President of Branch Bank and Trust of North Carolina - $16,721,450

2000: Gregory J. Beier/Chair, President of Novant Heath Triad Region - $17,280,000

2001: Dr. James N. Thompson/Chair, VP/Dean, WFU School of Medicine - $17,500,000

2002: Brenda B. Diggs/Chair, Senior Vice President, Wachovia Bank - $17,033,581

2003: Steve Lineberger/Chair, President and CEO, Sara Lee Underwear - $16,201,017.

2004: J. Allen Joines/Chair, Mayor of Winston-Salem - $16,354,525

2005: Edwin L. Welch, Jr./Chair, I. L. Long Construction Company - $16,376,152

2006: R. Michael Wells/Chair, Well Jenkins Lucas & Jenkins - $17,423,596

2007: Susan M. Ivey, Reynolds American - $18,305,019 

2008: Steve Wiggs, BB&T - Goal TBD