Making a difference, inside and out - Anonymous employee United Way Employee Review

4.0
Jul 6, 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This is an organization that tries really hard to walk its talk. While no company can get it right all the time, it is impressive to see how much effort the CEO puts into communicating--even the hard news--and into listening. The work itself is rewarding and seeing the impact of UWBA's efforts to cut poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area is really gratifying. It makes coming to work easy. Lots of organizations talk about being transparent and committed to diversity. Few do as much to achieve both. The benefits, the work/life balance, and the salaries are good by nonprofit standards. Telecommuting and alternative schedule options are a plus.

Cons

The United Way system as a whole is facing challenges. The workplace campaign, so long a main stay of its impressive fundraising achievements, is running down. Longer term employees--and there are many of them--have trouble accepting that fact.This is a defining moment for the United Way system and for the United Way of the Bay Area in particular. If rapid change and evolving ways of doing business make you nervous, this is not the place for you. If being a change agent is appealing, than look closely at this organization, because there is plenty of change being made.

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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