In early June, more than 1,000 United Ways from around the world met for the annual United Way Worldwide conference: ‘Together We Thrive.’

Representing 38 countries and all corners of the United States, colleagues came together to learn, network, and collaborate. Attendees also had early access to the ‘United Way Transformation,’ a collective multi-year initiative to ensure that our organization is impactful, relevant, and sustainable for our next century of service.

United Way of King County’s Chief Impact Officer and CEO Deisgnee Regina Maveaux attended the conference. She stressed the vital role that every staff member and board volunteer has in shaping the future of United Way and that staff’s presence at the conference matters.

“We experienced how United Way local associations are leaning into the power of community,” Malveau continued. “We were reminded that it’s in the moments we show up for each other that we realize we’re building something bigger than ourselves and stronger than any challenge.
We’re creating a future where everyone, in every community, has the chance to thrive.“

Over the course of three days, staff met for general sessions, education breakouts, and networking meals. The general sessions featured addresses from United Way Worldwide President Angela Williams (who spoke on the multi-year transformation), a keynote speech from Kindra Hall (who stressed the importance of storytelling), and a Q&A session with American actress, dancer, and nonprofit founder Debbie Allen.

Five staff members (pictured above) attended the conference on behalf of United Way of King County. From left to right: Tristan Brunetti represented donor relations and major gifts, Kayla Dunn represented communications and storytelling, Chief Impact Officer and CEO Designee Regina Malveaux represented senior leadership, Sofia Austin represented information technology, and Tamarack Randall represented our community services work with housing stability.

“My favorite experience came from an education session with Trabien Shorters about the psychological effect of asset framing,” said Dunn. “Over 90 minutes, he walked the classroom through the intersection of the unconscious mind, bias, stigma, and storytelling. Although I had heard much of what he presented in different ways over the years, this interactive educational session lit a fire in me.”

Brunetti echoed Dunn’s sentiment about powerful education sessions, emphasizing the meaningful connections and inspiration from seeing communities doing incredible work around the globe.

“I feel deeply grateful to have been there representing our amazing team at United Way King County and even more grateful to come back with new friendships, sharpened skills, and a renewed sense of purpose,” Brunetti said.

Key Takeaways with Tristan Brunetti

The Power of Unity: Achieving a shared vision of a more equitable, just, and prosperous world requires coming together and sharing knowledge, passion, and purpose whenever we can.

Storytelling that Moves People: I was reminded of the immense power of storytelling—not just stories with statistics, but narratives that engage hearts and minds. Truly effective stories have characters, emotional resonance, and a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Authentic Connection: Whether it’s with colleagues, community members, or donors, deep, intentional relationships matter. There are tangible ways we can foster more of these connections through meaningful communication and presence in our everyday work.

Mid-Level Giving as a Bridge: I attended a compelling session on strengthening the pipeline from workplace donors to mid-level and eventually major giving. With shifts in WPG, we also explored the critical importance of clean and consistent donor data—and how we can partner with workplaces to help them understand why personal donor data matters to both mission delivery and donor experience.

The Potential of Asset-Based Giving: I gained even more insight into the transformative potential of asset gifts and the importance of both stewarding and inviting donors to consider this powerful way of investing in community change. I’m looking forward to more conversations with donors around this.

To learn more about the framework for the future of United Way click here: