TAUW President and CEO Alison Anthony has been at the helm of the organization since 2017. As TAUW celebrates its centennial, TulsaPeople asked Anthony to contemplate what’s next for the organization as it navigates the next 100 years.
What are the biggest strengths you see in TAUW as it heads into its next 100 years?
The 360-degree lens of past, present, and future: our work is grounded in respect for our history of impact, but equally committed to innovation and transformation, taking on challenges for the future. One of our core values is that we solve problems with innovation, energy, and belief in a better future. We have had many opportunities to evolve and pivot to address the community’s needs over the last century, and we’ll continue to do that in the next century, grounded in a spirit of collaboration, hope and compassion.
Other strengths I want to highlight:
Our proven processes and trusted leadership mobilizes the caring power of our community. Thousands of United Way volunteers across our six-county region come together to do great work.
Providing a pathway for hands-on impact with our Days of Caring means 5,000-plus people keep our nonprofit community strong and infuse resources, making improvements that organizations wouldn’t have the time or funds to do without those volunteers. Last year alone, our Days of Caring volunteer impact was over $2 million.
Our trusted relationships developed over the last century with nearly 1,000 businesses, nonprofit partners and municipalities means TAUW canbring the community together to raise the necessary funds and get the work done. Most people don’t realize that our grant-making and fundraising processes are led by trained community volunteers — volunteers raise and invest our dollars. We have a great staff that guides the work, of course, but each year, more than 180 volunteers ensure transparency and a community-led stewardship of community dollars. A campaign cabinet of more than 40 leaders work with hundreds of employee campaign teams across the business community to raise the dollars.
Finally, we hold ourselves to the highest level of governance and nonprofit standards: we are certified with the national standards of excellence accreditation, the first nonprofit in the state to partner with the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits to gain that honor. We want to make sure we hold ourselves just as accountable as we hold the partners we invest in.
We also have an incredible board of directors representing the best business minds in our community — including QuikTrip, Williams, ONEOK and more. They keep us looking to the future because they are also working to stay at the cusp of transformation. They know for us to be effective in solving community issues, we need to be right there with them, modernizing to be as effective as possible.
What are some of the challenges TAUW faces in the upcoming years?
One major challenge currently is that families are struggling to earn a living wage. We’re working hard to communicate and educate about the financial challenges of working families in our community and make our research available on our website.
I think a lot about how to bring people and resources together with eyes wide open to acknowledge the challenges with compassion and innovation solutions rather than retreating to opposite sides of political division. To be working — sometimes more than one job — and still not be able to provide your family with secure and safe housing, enough food, or a good quality of life is a very isolated and exhausting place to be. Most of the families who call 211 or text “HELP” to 877-836-2111 to find help are working but still often need support to cover utilities, rent and food costs. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to earn a living that can sustain a family and build security for future generations. That’s why we’re helping hardworking families make ends meet while connecting them with the opportunities they need to ensure a better financial future. Many of the programs we administer, or fund, are aimed at supporting the needs of families today, while helping build pathways to better financial security in the future.
For example, we know our schools are facing chronic absenteeism. Rates of homelessness and eviction are high. So many are isolated and suffer from mental health challenges and addiction. One in five Oklahoma kids doesn’t have food security. According to Hunger Free Oklahoma, more than 1 in 5 Oklahoma children don’t get the food they need. Instead of letting these challenges get us down, we’re working with community partners to articulate bold outcomes for our second-century strategy. We’ll make data-informed investments and ongoing system improvements, setting metrics for our next five years to significantly support families in achieving educational, housing and income stability. While we do that work, we’ll ensure a safety net is in place, but at the end of the day, we want more families earning a livable wage, more families in stable, quality housing and more young people improving academic achievement and participation. We strive for these outcomes for our community, no matter what zip code you live in, or what race or ethnicity you are. We have a beautiful tapestry of diversity in this region, and the best ideas always come from diverse teams. We have to listen to each other.
When you think about Tulsa in the next few decades, where do you see new or growing areas of need?
The truth is that no one really knows the answer to that question. But I know we must be agile, willing to adapt and face forward with courage. I sometimes reflect on the dramatic changes we’ve experienced in a short time. The first iPhone didn’t come out until 2007. Now we take for granted that we hold information in the palm of our hands that we couldn’t have imagined only two decades ago. While technology and artificial intelligence can be great tools, we have also seen the impact of isolation and a lack of connection if we lean too far away from the ways we connect as humans. That’s what I love about the United Way — we come together as people shoulder to shoulder to improve the lives of our neighbors. We see the need firsthand and together we work on solutions. I know the community needs Tulsa Area United Way strong long beyond my tenure as CEO, but I’m confident we have a great team of staff, board members, volunteers, donors and community partners working together to be compassionate and bold, whatever the future holds.
Please share anything else you’d like about the centennial, or the future of TAUW.
Despite any current or future challenge, I believe in the smarts and the inherent goodness of people in our community. I’m so blessed to be in a role where I see evidence of that over and over — neighbors responding during floods, pandemics and windstorms just in the past few years alone.
I’ve seen volunteers build a wheelchair ramp in an afternoon when someone can’t get into their home. I’ve seen someone overcome their fear of fundraising because they see the need and find the courage to make a big ask that results in a donation to ease suffering. I’ve seen us forgive each other for past wrongs and literally rise with resilience from the ashes of violence.
Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative, data-driven approach. At Tulsa Area United Way, we are committed to leveraging our robust data collection and analysis capabilities through initiatives like 211 Eastern Oklahoma and our data and research arm. This allows us to identify emerging needs and recommend strategic investments to support our community effectively. Our focus on innovation, collaboration, and compassion will guide us as we work to meet these challenges head-on.
I recognize that we have a lot of work to do and that the challenges won’t stop, but because I’ve witnessed so much innovation and collaboration in my six years as CEO at United Way, because I know the history of this 100 year old organization, because I’ve witnessedincredible generosity that has resulted in Tulsa Area United Way raising $926 million since 1924 — I have great hope that tomorrow will be better than today.
As we embark on our second century of service, we are filled with optimism and determination. The challenges ahead are significant, but with the unwavering support of our community, volunteers and partners, we are confident in our ability to make a lasting impact. We are grateful for the charitable spirit that defines Tulsa and for the opportunity to continue serving and strengthening our community. We want to thank everyone involved for being part of this incredible journey with us. Here’s to the next 100 years of living united.
