Today’s podcast is with Brian Gallagher, CEO of the United Way of America. In the interview, Brian discusses how United Way is transitioning from a fundraising organization to having a focus on community impact. He comments on the prediction I made in the Chronicle of Philanthropy that the nonprofit field would adopt a United Way impact statement as a potential reporting replacement for the 990. And he explains the way he thinks the changes at the United Way will affect nonprofits.
Sean Stannard-Stockton: Hello and welcome to the Tactical Philanthropy podcast. I’m Sean Stannard-Stockton, author of the Tactical Philanthropy blog and principal and director of tactical philanthropy at Ensemble Capital. My guest today is Brian Gallagher. Brian is the Chief Executive Officer of the United Way of America. United Way of America is the national organization charged with leading the 1,300 local United Ways. Brian has spent his entire career, going back to 1981, at the United Way, and as chief executive since 2002, has been busy redefining the role of the organization. In May of this year, the United Way announced a new 10-year plan that focused the organization on a specific set of new goals. Brian thanks for being here today.
Brian Gallagher: Sean, it’s great to be with you. Thanks.
Sean Stannard-Stockton: Why don’t you begin by talking about the transition of the United Way from a fundraising conduit to an organization focused on community impact and explain the role of your new 10-year plan, titled “Goals for the Common Good” in that shift.
Brian Gallagher: Sure. You know, we really started – local United Ways started this shift 10 or 12 years ago, probably, to get to the real beginning. As a United Way movement, we started it formally just before I came into the CEO role. And fundamentally, it was because of the economic shift in the country. As we move from an industrial to a service to a global knowledge economy…





