President & CEO

United Way of the Bluegrass (UWBG) is a long-standing nonprofit leader in Central Kentucky focused on advancing the common good across basic needs, student success, school readiness, and financial stability. The President & CEO leads UWBG’s strategy and operations, serving as chief mobilizer and ambassador to drive community impact and grow diversified resources. The role partners closely with the Board, staff, volunteers, and regional leaders across business, government, and nonprofit sectors.

• Lead UWBG’s overall community impact agenda; craft, adapt, and execute strategy with the Board and senior leadership.
• Build and maintain high-level relationships with community leaders in business, government, foundations, and nonprofit sectors.
• Drive fundraising results by identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major donors and corporate partners; promote a culture of fundraising across staff and board.
• Diversify mission-driven revenue through grants, contracts, and other sources.
• Serve as principal resource to the Board and committees; provide direction on policy formulation and interpretation.
• Set organizational goals and ensure alignment and coordination of activities across community impact, resource development, and staff alignment.
• Build and lead high-performing teams; directly supervise senior leadership and establish performance goals.
• Ensure operational and fiscal integrity; partner with finance leadership to manage spending, monitor budget compliance, and mitigate financial risk.
• Assess organizational capacity, identify system and staffing gaps, and implement improvements.
• Advance inclusiveness and diversity among staff and volunteers; steward and protect the UWBG brand and community trust.

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university (advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive nonprofit leadership experience (or comparable leadership experience).
• Proven fundraising success securing significant philanthropic, corporate, and institutional support.
• Experience with strategic planning and implementation.
• Demonstrated fiscal management, budget oversight, and compliance experience.
• Proficiency in data analytics and impact measurement in the nonprofit sector.
• Public advocacy experience at local, state, and federal levels.
• Successful grant writing and grant management experience.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to engage donors, executives, government officials, media, and other stakeholders.
• Open and participative management style; ability to work effectively with diverse groups and across generations.
• Demonstrated integrity, accountability, sound judgment, flexibility, and strong relationship-building skills.
• Expertise/experience in finance, HR, contracts, and organizational management.

• Location: On-site role in Lexington, Kentucky.
• Schedule: Flexibility required, including early mornings, evenings, and occasional weekends.
• Compensation: Competitive annual salary range stated as $160,000–$190,000; opportunity for performance-based bonus.
• Benefits: Health insurance, retirement plan, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.
• Relocation: Relocation assistance available.
• Hiring process: Apply via United Way Worldwide careers page; position open until filled; projected timeline includes March–April 3, 2026 application period and tentative May 2026 start.