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C E O P r o f i l e P a g e | 1 


United Way of Marathon County 705 × S. 24th Avenue, Suite 400B × Wausau, WI 54403 848-2927(715) × 


Executive Director / Chief Executive Officer 
 
 
 

The Opportunity 
 
United Way of Marathon County is seeking a high energy and compassionate individual to make a 
difference and join a progressive team that is dedicated to achieve ambitious community and 
organization-wide goals. The organization is highly successful and regarded as a leader in supporting 
the needs of our community. The success is attributed to strong staff and volunteer leadership and a 
history of program excellence, innovation, and collaboration to advance the mission and goals of the 
organization. 
 
The United Way of Marathon County has a total budget of $3.7 million and includes a staff of 17. It 
operates an eight county 211 call center, promotes volunteer engagement, maintains the Community 
Closet, and spearheads the Marathon County Hunger Coalition and Housing Taskforce. Roughly 
$900,000 of the revenue is raised outside of the annual campaign. The United Way also has an 
endowment that is maintained at the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin. 
 
To position itself for the future, United Way of Marathon County conducts regular strategic planning 
processes to set strategy and direction. In 2022 our organization elected to change our Mission to 
“Uniting to Thrive” with our Bold Goal of Lifting 10,000 Community Members to Financial Stability by 
2033. The organization is focused on impacting our ALICE population, convening the community 
around common goals, investing in best practices and engaging donors and stakeholders in its work. 
Examples of progress and accomplishments include: 

 • As of March 2025, we have achieved helping 4,443 community members to reach financial 
stability. 

 • The Community Closet served 1,550 unique households since re-opening in July 2023. 

 • Along with our funded partners we have served 16,288 community members since we 
changed our Mission and referred 7,289 members to other services in the community. 

 • The 211 Call Center is accredited and receives more than twice the national average number 
of calls as a % of population. 

 • Dedicated volunteers contribute approximately 7,400 hours in support of United Way each 
year, demonstrating a strong commitment to community engagement. 

 
This profile is based on the direction set in the 2022 Strategic Plan and further conversations about 
our progress and challenges. 
 


 C E O P r o f i l e P a g e | 2 


United Way of Marathon County 705 × S. 24th Avenue, Suite 400B × Wausau, WI 54403 848-2927(715) × 

The Organization 
 

Mission: Uniting to Thrive! 
 

Bold Goal: Lifting 10,000 Community Members to Financial Stability by 2033. 
 
Values: United Way of Marathon County believes in: 

 • Respecting and showing compassion for all people. 

 • Providing excellence in customer service. 

 • Engaging volunteers that reflect the county’s diversity and expands our capacity to address 
our mission. 

 • Being a great partner to create positive community change. 

 • Embracing change to be a relevant and visionary leader. 

 • Pursuing growth through evaluation, continuous improvement, and learning. 

 • Communicating often and clearly with different messages appropriate to our various 
stakeholders to build relationships and increase understanding. 

 • Having the highest standards of accountability, integrity, transparency, and ethics. 

 • Measuring and reporting impact results that relate to our community agenda. 
 

The strategic planning process recognized that there are numerous institutional initiatives. 
 They are: 

1. Evaluator of Community Needs: With the community, collect and analyze data and input to 
collectively set priorities and monitor results. (LIFE and ALICE reports) 

2. A single-issue focus. 
3. Grow and diversify revenue to serve our community. 
4. Engage and motivate our community through communications to emphasize the relevance 

and impart of our work. 
5. Deliver outstanding service to ensure every community member can be stable, by Uniting to 

Thrive. 
 

United Way Is the organization leader for these coalitions: 
 • Marathon County Hunger Coalition 

 • Housing Taskforce 

 • Marathon County Early Years Coalition 

 • United Way Partnership for Youth 
 

Key Opportunities and Challenges for the next CEO: 
 
Be a leader in innovation, strategy implementation and a reputation for delivering 
value. The Board is actively engaged in setting direction and overseeing the performance of United 
Way to ensure it grows and stays relevant to make an impact in the community. The challenge for the 
future is to sustain this momentum and reputation for being a leader and delivering on expectations. 

 
Grow financial and other resources. Fundraising growth is a challenge and relies on expanding 
effective strategies and deepening individual relationships especially with leadership donors, and 
corporate and local foundation leaders. No single strategy exists to grow both traditional and non-
traditional revenue. We operate in an increasingly competitive environment for growing resources. 
The key to future success will be to tap into connecting people who want to make a difference and 
care about their community with United Way. Increased community engagement and leadership 
giving groups to help United Way connect to more individuals and help to increase donor retention. 


 C E O P r o f i l e P a g e | 3 


United Way of Marathon County 705 × S. 24th Avenue, Suite 400B × Wausau, WI 54403 848-2927(715) × 

United Way story is difficult to understand and share in a short concise way, yet critical for attracting 
and expanding the donor base. Utilizing technology and social media to connect and communicate 
will be an ongoing opportunity as will segmenting our audiences and our message along with the 
approaches used. 
 

Show measurable results for the collaborations and investments of United Way. The 
organization understands its unique value in aligning community resources to create positive change 
and that no one organization can impact these issues alone. Collaborative partnerships are required 
which include public, private and non-profit organizations who are motivated to work together on 
improving community around common goals. People are coming together, and United Way is seeing 
some success with the coalitions. The opportunity is to continue to assist in skillfully supporting and 
driving focused work plans that help set measurable results and make progress on the issue. 
 

Excel at governance and operations and retain and attract top staff and volunteer 
talent. United Way has an active and engaged Board of Directors and committees. Bringing the right 
people together with the support they need is critical to success. One of the top attributes of this 
United Way is the exceptional reputation and dedication of volunteers and staff for delivering quality 
services and support. The opportunity for United Way is to retain and develop staff and increase 
volunteerism, resulting in a greater impact on our key areas of focus. 
 

Continue the Visionary Leadership. This position’s responsibility is to be constantly and 
proactively envisioning where we are going, then prepare and present those ideas to the Board. The 
Executive Director needs to lead us to achieve our current bold goal but also have reasoned sense for 
what our next bold goal might be based on the LIFE and ALICE reports, relationships with our 
partners, staff, and donors. 


 C E O P r o f i l e P a g e | 4 


United Way of Marathon County 705 × S. 24th Avenue, Suite 400B × Wausau, WI 54403 848-2927(715) × 

The Job Description 
 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: 
 
The CEO is the leader of the organization, executing a framework of community impact 
towards the organization’s Bold Goal, fostering collaboration between the Board of Directors, 
community leaders, partner organizations, volunteers, and staff by: 
 

 • Supporting the Board of Directors and its Committees in recruitment and training and in the 
development of policies, procedures, budgets, and programs that fulfill the mission of United 
Way of Marathon County. 
 

 • Ensuring the Board is engaged in regular strategic planning discussions or processes to 
identify needed changes in strategy, governance, and direction for the long-term health of the 
organization. 
 

 • Facilitating the process which brings community leaders together to provide coordinated 
evaluation, planning, assessment, and response to the community's needs. 
 

 • Serving as the chief spokesperson to inspire and grow the commitment of others to support 
United Way of Marathon County, championing the organizations mission, vision, programs, 
and services. 
 

 • Dedicating time to identifying and involving a diverse group of volunteers to assist in carrying 
out the work of United Way and who serve as ambassadors in the community. 
 

 • Hiring, inspiring, aligning and leading a high performing team with focused efforts on 
succession and capacity building. 
 

 • Developing a culture of action and outcomes by facilitating cooperation and teamwork, 
supporting constructive resolution of conflicts, and providing opportunities to generate and 
assess innovative ideas. 
 

 • Actively engaging in resource development planning and execution, including: 
o Developing diverse funding sources through a clear resource development strategy. 
o Growing individual and corporate giving. 
o Connecting to individuals and organizations for planned or major gifts. 
o Seeking donors outside the workplace in new ways that engages and connects them to 

United Way. 
 

 • Developing relationships with government organizations, community agencies and other 
groups to work collaboratively to implement best practices and partnerships that lead to the 
achievement of the Bold Goal. Setting measures, evaluating progress, and adjusting strategies 
as needed to achieve success. 
 

 • Managing an efficient and effective operation and structure guided by strong best practice 
policies that ensure good data management practices, fiscal accountability, transparency, and 
appropriate use of resources. 
 

 • Actively seek and nurture new relationships with diverse range of organizations and individuals 
to increase United Way’s knowledge of community. 


 C E O P r o f i l e P a g e | 5 


United Way of Marathon County 705 × S. 24th Avenue, Suite 400B × Wausau, WI 54403 848-2927(715) × 


 • Ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and quality of data that is collected and reported by the 
organization, especially as it related to the Boal Goal. 
 

 • Staying connected to state, regional, and national United Way efforts that result in professional 
contacts and brings knowledge, ideas, and information back to our community to assist in 
implementing ongoing continuous improvement practices. 
 
 

Experience and Attributes: 
 

 • Demonstrated leadership and organizational skills in achieving results. Experience can include 
work in a non-profit, for-profit, or government organization. 
 

 • Personable and a good listener who is able to build connections with others easily. 
 

 • Experience managing and leading a staff that work together as a team. 
 

 • Record of success in providing operational and financial oversight to meet the multiple needs 
of an organization. 
 

 • Demonstrated success in securing gifts and leading a fundraising campaign. 
 

 • Ability to facilitate a group process of decision making that invites multiple perspectives. 
 

 • Have a track record of working with groups such as a board, staff, agency partners, elected 
officials, or the larger community. 
 

 • Acts with integrity and strong ethics to foster trust at all levels. 
 

 • Ability to communicate effectively in various settings, displaying clarity, confidence, and 
passion. 
 

 • A leader who is both visible and approachable; and portrays enthusiasm and a strong work 
ethic. 
 

 • Skillful at leading and “being led” by board -- accepting board direction and group decisions. 
 

 • Has shown willingness to innovate, seek change and take risks. 
 

 • Sincere and passionate about the mission of United Way. 
 

The Position: 
Hiring range: $83,000 – $130,000 
Moving expenses: Negotiable 
Questions and contact information sent to: <a href="mailto:mbeese@unitedwaymc.org" target="_blank">mbeese@unitedwaymc.org</a> 


The Requirements 
 • Bachelor’s degree required, graduate degree preferred. 


 C E O P r o f i l e P a g e | 6 


United Way of Marathon County 705 × S. 24th Avenue, Suite 400B × Wausau, WI 54403 848-2927(715) × 

 • 5 years or more of progressively responsible experience in the leadership and management of 
an organization 

 • Experience in implementing traditional and innovative resource development strategies. 

 • Demonstrated and proven history of dedicated commitment to community by involvement in 
roles on a committee or board member of community organization. 

 • Prefer prior experience working in or with a non-profit organization of comparable size and 
similar mission. United Way experience is desirable but not required. 

 • Knowledge of non-profits and human services agencies and their role in the community. 
 

How to Apply: 
The United Way of Marathon County Board has appointed a search committee. 
 
Qualified individuals interested in being considered for the position are invited to apply by submitting a 
cover letter and resume electronically with salary expectations. 
 
Inquiries can be submitted to <a href="mailto:mbeese@unitedwaymc.org" target="_blank">mbeese@unitedwaymc.org</a> and someone from the committee will 
contact you. 
 

Job Location 
 
Marathon County offers an abundance of diversity in culture, recreation, natural beauty, seasons, 
economic activity, and residential options. With a full complement of the four seasons, you will find 
recreational opportunities for skiing (downhill and cross country), fishing, boating, snowmobiling, 
biking, hiking, and kayaking to name a few. Many would consider us an outdoor focused culture in 
Central Wisconsin. We host world class kayaking competitions, Badger State Olympic style winter 
games to name a few. Granite Peak in the center of our community is a burst with color in the fall and 
bustling with out-of-state visitors and locals during the downhill ski season. Our arts community is 
second to none. The Grand Theater offers a venue of entertainment that one would expect to find only 
in larger metropolitan areas. If an artistic venue is more to your liking, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art 
Museum is a must see, especially the internationally renowned Birds in Art annual exhibit. Throughout 
the county our communities offer a variety of farmers’ markets, ethnic festivals, and fairs. 
 
Marathon County offers a variety of residential options and employment as it does in ethnicity, 
recreation, natural beauty, and culture. Our metropolitan area consists of several communities 
centrally located at the intersections of I-39/US 51 and Hwy 29. The Wausau metro area serves as 
the health care, retail and professional services hub for Central Wisconsin that also extends to the 
Michigan border in northern Wisconsin. Our regional airport is easily accessible to the business or 
vacation traveler. 
 
Our economy is comprised of a strong health care industry, professional services, manufacturing, 
agri-business, and a strong commitment to entrepreneurship. Many of these organizations have a 
national and global footprint. Whether you are looking for a metropolitan setting or the benefits of rural 
small town living it can be found in Marathon County. 
 
A great way to learn more about the quality of life and the key leadership role that United Way plays in 
the community is best seen in the LIFE Report. The broad community comes together to compile 
information and data to evaluate strengths and weaknesses and identify priorities for action. This 
process has been led by United Way every other year for the past 25 years. The report is available at 

this link: Marathon County Pulse. 

<a href="https://www.marathoncountypulse.org/" target="_blank">https://www.marathoncountypulse.org/</a>

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