The mission of United Way is to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the common good.
United Way is a national network of nearly 1,150 local organizations that work to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. These are the building blocks for a good life: a quality education that leads to a stable job, enough income to support a family through retirement, and good health.
Our work is fueled by the passion of 2.8 million volunteers and 9.8 million donors who give their time, their money and their voice to improve the lives of others.
Every day, our volunteers, donors and advocates are making a lasting difference in so many ways. That can mean helping a child learn to read, donating money to make sure people have access to quality medical care, speaking out in support of policies that provide training for in-demand jobs and so much more.
ROSIE ALLEN-HERRING, INTERIM PRESIDENT & CEO
Rosie Allen-Herring is the Interim President and CEO of United Way Worldwide (UWW), leading a global network serving 48 million people in 1,100 communities in over 30 countries.
Allen-Herring brings more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, strategic leadership, partnerships, philanthropy, and business strategy to the role. With deep institutional knowledge from her service on the United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees and in multiple national advisory positions, she has led transformative initiatives at UWW as well as at the United Way of the National Capital Area to reduce health, education, and economic disparities. In 2020, her local United Way became one of the 384 U.S. organizations to secure a transformational investment from venture philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
Allen-Herring serves in board and leadership roles with numerous organizations including MedStar Health, WesBanco, Pepco Holdings – An Exelon Company, Greater Washington Partnership, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and the Urban Institute. Her extensive contributions have earned her prestigious recognitions including induction into the Washington Business Hall of Fame (2024), multiple appearances on Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 Leaders list (2013-2025), Washingtonian Magazine’s Most Powerful Women (2013-2025), CEO of the Year (2017), The Network Journal’s 25 Most Influential Women in Business (2019), and the Greater Washington Community Foundation Civic Leader Award (2022).
Before joining United Way, Allen-Herring held various executive leadership positions at Fannie Mae, including Managing Director of the Community Investment and Engagement Division. In her role, she managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios and developed business strategies resulting in investments exceeding $2 billion.
Allen-Herring earned a B.A. in Economics from Howard University and an M.B.A. from Strayer University. She is an International Fellow of the United States-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values at the University of Cape Town (SA) Graduate School of Business and Duke University Graduate School of Public Policy. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management Program and a member of the International Women’s Forum.