Great people, poorly run - Anonymous employee United Way Employee Review

3.0
Nov 22, 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are some great people here, and they're all really passionate about their work. The work-life balance is pretty good, with flexible schedules, WFH policy, and compressed work week options. You get 2 hours of volunteer time per week, as well. The office is right in old town Alexandria, by the water, which is pretty hard to beat.

Cons

Everything moves very slowly here, as it's a big company that's been around for a long time. The benefits aren't great other than some of the work-life balance stuff, and the HR department leaves a lot to be desired. C-level execs seem out of touch with the needs of their employees as well as the needs of the field. In fact, I saw the CEO for the first time after 6 months of working here, making an appearance at our internal fundraising campaign. Your typical non-profit downside of lower salaries applies. High turnover makes it tough to keep projects moving.

Explore other reviews about United Way

5.0
Apr 10, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

People were very nice and cooperative

Cons

Not any that I would speak of

2.0
Jun 18, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The mission is meaningful and the work itself can be deeply rewarding. Colleagues are talented, dedicated, and genuinely care about the community they serve. For the right person, that camaraderie carries a lot of weight.

Cons

Over the past two years, this organization has undergone significant and painful change. A revolving door of senior leadership, including the abrupt loss of key executives, created instability that trickled down to every level of staff. Layoffs followed, and then a steady stream of voluntary departures that leadership appeared either unable or unwilling to address meaningfully. Under new leadership, nearly every quality-of-life benefit that made nonprofit-level salaries feel worth it has been reduced or eliminated: fewer sick days, increased healthcare costs, loss of Summer Fridays, loss of Thanksgiving week, and a shift to more required in-office days. The cumulative effect is an organization that asks a great deal of its staff, in salary sacrifice and mission commitment, while systematically withdrawing what made that trade-off feel fair.

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