United Way for Greater Austin Welcomes
Ingrid K. Taylor as New CEO
Austin, Texas – Following an extensive national search, United Way for Greater Austin is proud to announce Ingrid Taylor as its new Chief Executive Officer.
“I am honored to join United Way for Greater Austin and continue the work United Way does best and uniquely, which is to expand access to affordable, high-quality early care and education, and connect mothers and families to social services that improve their health,” Taylor said. “Driving meaningful change is always a result of collective effort, and I am eager to collaborate with our team, partners and community members to create lasting impact. Together, we can ensure every child, family and individual in Central Texas has the opportunity to thrive.”
Taylor’s extensive experience includes more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership with roles at Ascension Texas and The University of Texas at Austin, as well as the Texas Comptroller’s Office and the United States Senate. She also served as an elected member of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees for four years.
Taylor has degrees from The University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is married to James S. Taylor, a partner at Vianovo, and they have lived in Austin for 30 years. They have two grown children, both of whom also live in Austin.
“Ingrid (Taylor) brings a wealth of leadership experience, a proven track record of impact and a deep passion for building a stronger, more connected community,” Kristin Marcum, Board Chair, United Way for Greater Austin, said. “Her career is marked by a dedication to addressing significant challenges in education and health. As United Way for Greater Austin enters its second century of service, we are confident Ingrid is the right leader at the right time.”
Taylor succeeds David C. Smith, who has served as CEO for the past nine years. Taylor and Smith will make the official leadership transition on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the organization’s annual “A Night United” event.
Smith led United Way as CEO for nine years. His leadership helped expand early childhood education, launch impactful community initiatives and foster partnerships that transformed the organization’s ability to serve. In 2024, he led United Way’s efforts around Affordable Childcare Now, a successful Travis County ballot initiative for sustainable funding for high-quality, affordable child care.
United Way for Greater Austin serves Travis and Williamson Counties. It has a staff of 109 individuals in Central Texas.
United Way aims to break the cycle of poverty and give individuals and families an opportunity to thrive by providing high quality early care and education, as well as equitable access to pivotal resources. Within these two pillars, the organization works in four areas:
Services: Providing direct services when United Way is uniquely positioned to do so. One notable service is the 2-1-1 Navigation Center that takes over 400,000 requests for assistance each year.
Data: Serving as an established source of research-based insights for the community, cultivating subject matter expertise on the state of poverty in Greater Austin.
Coalitions: Guiding collective impact in collaboration with community members and partners. United Way for Greater Austin’s most established coalition is Success by Six.
Advocacy: Working with coalitions, coordinating efforts to influence public policy at the school district, city, county and state levels.