Q & A: Retiring CEO Sally Zive talks about the work of United Way of Treasure Valley
BY ANNA WEBB
Copyright: © 2010 Idaho Statesman
Published: 01/10/10
Sally Zive will leave the post she's held since 1999 and begin treatment in February for ovarian cancer.
What's an especially exciting project for United Way right now?
The Allumbaugh House (a 16-bed detox and mental health crisis center) will open in March.
It's a perfect example of the special power of collaboration that we are focused on now. It takes all of us, the nonprofit organizations and all levels of the government to "move the needle" on big issues like this.
Substance abuse is a root cause of so many community problems. The Allumbaugh House isn't a treatment facility, but it's a place to start to build a system of care to keep folks on track.
The project has taken a while, but it was a remarkable effort from so many groups in the community who stayed at the table together to see it through.
How has United Way of Treasure Valley changed since you took over leadership in 1999?
The biggest change has been in the community in the business landscape.
Historically, our primary relationships were with businesses. We would help people learn about local needs and how they could do something about it.
Now, we need to figure out how to reach the self-employed, the professionals in smaller businesses in a cost-effective way that engages them.
A well-known local CEO told me that not that long ago, he could bring 15 or 20 CEOs together to discuss a community issue, and they would represent 80 percent of the Valley's employed people. It was easy to get things done.
Now, it would take hundreds of CEOs to get that kind of coverage to make that kind of an impact.
What this means for everybody is that we need to know more people, talk to more people and find more ways people can contribute - because they do want to contribute.
How did the organization decide to focus its giving on three areas: education, income and health?
It comes from the national United Way's research, and essentially means we want to help people be healthy, wealthy and wise.
For me, it seems education trumps everything. If you get an education, you'll have fewer problems with everything else, and studies have shown that this is true.
I think there are all kinds of forces coming together now, from United Way to the Idaho Statesman's Vision for the Valley project to the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation, to change the local culture of the importance of education at the early and secondary levels. This excites me.
United Way designed Born Learning, a program that focuses on early education. What else is the organization doing?
This quarter, we'll release a study we started last summer to look at the graduation rate, and college attendance, as well as the educational resources we have and which we don't, specifically in the Treasure Valley.
The study will help United Way and other organizations identify the kinds of projects the community needs, and what collaborative efforts can improve college attendance rates.
What project was the hardest to sell to your staff and donors?
Investing in the education research took some doing.
My contention is that if we want to be a credible voice in education, we need to partner with the university and use the research talents there to help us know what we don't know.
There's always tension between the various compelling needs for money, but periodic research can help make sure we're investing our time and financial resources wisely.
We need to be able to tell people about the scope of an issue if we are trying to solve it.
How do you counter those who say United Way is a "middle man," and that it's better to give directly to charities?
That old model, where we were a fundraiser for a static list of beneficiaries is long gone. Unfortunately, the memory lives on.
We're in a unique position - between businesses, government, individuals and nonprofit organizations.
Most nonprofits are focused on the important work they do every day. We have the advantage of knowing a lot about the good results they are achieving.
We want to help "connect the dots" among all these groups to come up with a more coordinated and cohesive approach to issues.
After my medical issues are taken care of, I hope to continue to be involved with these problem solving activities in our community. It has been such an honor to serve with United Way these many years.
Anna Webb: 377-6431
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