United Way Suncoast mobilizes communities to action so all can thrive. Our focus on Educational Opportunity, Financial Security, and Community Resiliency creates an interconnected path that empowers individuals with the Freedom to Rise and the ability to create the life they envision for themselves, their families and their communities. Founded in 1924, we enter our second century of service with a decided focus on uniting the region to generate support for hard-working families that stand one unexpected expense away from crisis.
Jessica Muroff,
Chief Executive Officer
Jessica is CEO for United Way Suncoast, one of Florida’s largest United Ways, ensuring connections are made that cultivate growth, increase community impact and optimize delivery of the organization’s strategic priorities that fight for the education and financial stability of every person in the community through educational programs that give children the skills to succeed, helping adults achieve long-term financial stability and activating caring individuals through volunteerism. Proudly serving the people of DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties by operating and funding services and programs to help create a stronger, more vibrant community.
As an active member of the community, Jessica currently serves on the boards of directors for the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay and the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the CEO Council of Tampa Bay, the Athena Society and USF Women in Leadership and Philanthropy. In addition, she has served as a board member for Frameworks of Tampa Bay and is a founding member of Emerge Tampa Bay, a networking and volunteer organization for young professionals, a graduate of Leadership Tampa Class of 2015 and graduate of Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVI.
Q&A with Jessica Muroff:
Why does United Way Suncoast invest in the Tampa Bay EDC?
As one of the region’s leading nonprofits, we value the critical role the EDC plays in our ecosystem. United Way Suncoast brings infrastructure, scale, and long-term systems impact to the community. The EDC contributes to the region’s vitality in its own unique way. Together, we’re working to make a difference.
How does United Way Suncoast and its community partners come together to create a more resilient Tampa Bay region?
Our resiliency efforts focus on developing more impactful and effective disaster-resilience strategies. We want to create lasting community improvements and build relationships, provide leadership, and efficiently mobilize the efforts of organizations active in disaster. By helping residents tap into a sustained network of support, technology, and partnerships, we aim to help the community not just recover from disaster but permanently disrupt the cycle of vulnerability.
What will United Way Suncoast look like a decade from now?
Data informs our current mission, but every day we push to use research to develop a picture of the future. We’re using predictive analytics in a way that helps inform the needs of our community so we can get in front of trends and issues. We want to be proactive instead of reactive. We also have two other goals: improve the continuum of social services for community members and inspire philanthropy in the new generation. What we can say for certain is that we will continue to grow and evolve, so we will be positioned to address the region’s biggest challenges. This community will always need a thriving United Way Suncoast, and United Way Suncoast will always need community members that help it thrive.
What would you consider the greatest reward for fulfilling United Way Suncoast’s vision of eternally leading, convening and collaborating with its communities – as it has done for more than 100 years – to meet the most pressing issues of the day, creating better tomorrows?
One of United Way Suncoast’s greatest rewards revolves around its longevity. As an organization, we take great pride in the success found in our history, rising from the fledgling Tampa Welfare League, overcoming the Great Depression and eventually emerging as regional leader serving five counties. The knowledge and stability developed over these many decades gives us the expertise today to elevate early learning and education, empower families and enhance our nonprofit partners.
