As Vanessa Whiting concludes her three-year term as Board Chair of United Way of Greater Cleveland this September, we celebrate a leader whose commitment and unwavering belief in the power of community have helped shape our organization and position us for the future.
BUILDING A STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE
Working closely with President and CEO Sharon Sobol Jordan, our United Way sharpened its strategic focus on upward mobility during her tenure, particularly for working families still struggling to make ends meet. Having spent years running her own business, Vanessa understood firsthand the importance of standing by hardworking people doing essential jobs we all count on and yet still living paycheck to paycheck. That perspective shaped her board leadership as we leaned into our annual ALICE report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) and real-time data from our 211 helpline to ground our work and shift our strategy to better align with the realities of working families.
One of the most significant undertakings of Vanessa’s tenure was the development of our United Way’s new strategic plan, our first in six years. The year-long process challenged us to look closely at where we can have the greatest impact and how our organization must evolve to meet the changing needs of Greater Cleveland.
Vanessa also strengthened how our United Way uses its voice. Recognizing that issues affecting the people we serve can be complex, emotional and fast-moving, she led an effort to establish a thoughtful decision-making framework to guide when and how our organization speaks out. The resulting methodology and core criteria give United Way a clearer process for making timely, informed and principled decisions when difficult issues arise.
TURNING STRATEGY INTO ACTION
Vanessa’s leadership has been equally evident in her willingness to personally help move the work forward.
As United Way looked for new opportunities to strengthen and diversify support, she made engaging Greater Cleveland’s Middle Market companies a priority. Vanessa helped build the strategy from the ground up, personally recruiting fellow Board members to join the task force she now leads and using her own network to bring new business leaders into the conversation.
True to Vanessa’s leadership style, she has paired that outreach with a deep personal commitment to our United Way and the community we serve. As a member of our Red Feather Society, Vanessa leads by example, generously investing in the work she so passionately champions and inspiring others to do the same.
Her energy has also helped reinvigorate United Way’s annual campaign. Vanessa championed the return of Campaign Co-Chairs. And after three years leading our Board, she is stepping into the role herself, serving as a Campaign Co-Chair and continuing to personally champion United Way throughout the community.
She also helped bring back a beloved campaign tradition: our annual pancake breakfast, reimagined as Breakfast on the Plaza. What began as a United Way tradition has once again become a joyful, highly visible way to bring people together and build excitement around the start of campaign season.
A LEGACY THAT CONTINUES
Across all of these efforts, a common thread defines Vanessa’s leadership: she does not simply identify an opportunity – she gets involved, brings others to the table and helps turn an idea into action.
We are deeply grateful for Vanessa’s leadership, partnership and service as Board Chair. She has helped United Way sharpen its focus, strengthen its governance, deepen its connection to Greater Cleveland’s business community and position our organization to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
And while her tenure as Board Chair is coming to a close, her work with United Way is far from finished. For Vanessa, leadership is not simply about setting a direction. It is about showing up, bringing others with you and staying committed to the work
