New President Named For United Way Of Snohomish County

Back in June, United Way of Snohomish County President and CEO Dennis Smith announced his intention to resign at the end of this year. Since that time there’s been a nationwide search for a new President. On Friday the United Way named Smith’s successor. Here’s their announcement…

Allison Warren-Barbour comes from United Way of the Greater Triangle in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. There, she served as senior vice president of resource development & engagement. She led her team in developing innovative approaches to engage local problem-solvers around the Triangle’s most complex social issues that families with young children face.

She directed strategies around individual and corporate engagement, major gifts and grants, and social innovation. Allison’s nonprofit career started in Atlanta, where she worked for a financial literacy nonprofit, Operation HOPE, and then joined United Way of Greater Atlanta in 2009. Over the course of her career, Allison has raised over $100 million in community investments. She recently launched a 2-year, $1.5 million, “Innovate United” incubator fund to help create an ecosystem of social entrepreneurs with investable ideas. Allison has also been integral in moving United Way of the Greater Triangle to a collective impact model, which approaches solving complex social issues through building collaborative partnerships.  She feels strongly that this new model requires innovative approaches to tapping capital markets. Allison has worked diligently to align fundraising and impact by reorganizing internal resources around individual engagement and corporate partnerships.

“The United Way system is in a time of transformation as we work to deepen the relevance of the organization, both for the people we serve and for our stakeholders. I am honored to be selected, and look forward to bringing my experience in North Carolina where we successfully implemented a collective impact strategy, which has already begun to shift lives of vulnerable families,” said Warren-Barbour, future United Way of Snohomish County President & CEO.

She added, “Snohomish County has always held a special place in my heart and I am delighted to now call it ‘home.’ I am honored to serve alongside passionate staff, board, and community members who understand the complexity of poverty and the bold, collaborative work required to break the cycle.”

Dr. Gary Cohn, chair of the United Way of Snohomish County Board of Directors, praised Warren-Barbour’s leadership experience and preparation for the role saying, “Allison clearly demonstrated that she understands the challenges facing United Ways across the country, and our United Way in Snohomish County. She impressed board members, staff, and community partners with her knowledge of our collective impact strategy, breaking the cycle of poverty, and her creative approaches to transforming United Way’s role in resource development in a digital age.” Cohn expressed his thanks to the dozens of board members, staff, partner agencies, and community members who participated in the extensive national search that resulted in Warren-Barbour’s selection.

Allison holds a bachelor of science degree in Business: Change Management & Organizational Behavior, as well as a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Kevin, have two daughters, Anya (5) and Isla (3).

For more information about career opportunities at United Way of Snohomish County, please visit http://www.uwsc.org/careers