VIProfile: Matthew Marshall
/President & CEO of United Way of West Tennessee
Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady. Photography by Woody Woodard.
Matthew Marshall serves as President and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee. He was formerly Executive Director and Head of School at Hands Up! Preschool, a non-profit Early Childhood Education program in Jackson, TN. Before that, he spent eight years in higher education at his alma mater, Union University, where he did undergraduate work in Christian Ethics and then earned a Masters in Education.
During his time at Union, Matt served as the Director of the Center for Racial Reconciliation and the Director of Service & Diversity Initiatives. He also held the position of Director of Student Success after getting his start in Admissions.
He is passionate about the West Tennessee area, and he longs to see the day when every West Tennessean has access to an equitable and healthy life, a quality education, and a financially stable home.
He is the chair of the Anti-Poverty Task Force for the City of Jackson; the Chair of the Jackson-Madison County Equity Project; Chair-Elect for the United Ways of Tennessee State Association; as well as a team member of the City of Jackson Recovery Court and the Jackson-Madison County School System Parent Council. He also serves as the Young Adult Pastor at the Historic First Baptist Church in Jackson.
Matt is the recipient of the David Hallock Award for Outstanding Nonprofit Leadership, The William H. Graves Humanitarian Award, and the Broadman & Holman Ministerial Award, among others.
He is a native Jacksonian, but when not serving in the community he enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and extended family. His hobbies include reading, building computers, watching movies and sports, and listening to jazz.
“At United Way, we advocate for Equity through partnering agencies in ways that improve every person’s access to Health, Education, and Financial Stability.”
VIP: Share with our readers a brief history of United Way.
Matthew Marshall: We were founded in the fall of 1941 in West Tennessee as the Jackson Community Chest. We officially changed our name to United Way in 1958. Over the course of many years, we began to expand into surrounding counties in West Tennessee as we assumed many of their United Way offices. We now operate in 14 counties across West Tennessee.
United Way fights for equity in West Tennessee generally centered around education, financial stability and health. Those are the issues that we are most concerned with to make sure that every citizen has access to these things. Typically I travel a lot with my job, primarily in our 14 counties, visiting with leaders in those communities to advocate on behalf of the community and those in need. I travel to companies to support our United Way campaigns and to various towns around the region to connect with our over 60 agency partners that we support.
VIP: What appealed to you about the United Way position of President/CEO?
MM: Ultimately it was the ability and opportunity to be able to serve this community in such a vast way. Because we touch on some of the most vital issues in West Tennessee, I really was excited about the opportunity to have a greater amount of positive influence. To be able to give back to the community that gave so much to me was really important.
VIP: What is the chief focus or mission of United Way? Do you have an annual project or fundraising campaign? If so, how are the funds used?
MM: We have an annual fundraising campaign. We will celebrate our 80th anniversary in 2021. Annual fundraising campaigns are held across West Tennessee. This is still a central focus of our work as we raise support for the 62 agencies and 80 programs that we support. All are equally important, but they have to line up with education, health or financial stability in some way. Supporting West Tennessee is our primary focus. Last year we toured West Tennessee and gave presentations and provided time for feedback and input. Everyone was very clear on their needs in their community. Across West Tennessee about half of the population is a flat tire away from being in financial trouble. So many families are living paycheck to paycheck. The median household salary in West Tennessee falls behind the rest of our state. We try our best to work closely with communities. Several mayors are on our United Way board, and we have great communication with them.
One of the things I would like United Way to focus on is how to tell each community story and bring honor to each of these communities. We want to celebrate the uniqueness of West Tennessee.
VIP: What sets United Way of West Tennessee apart from other non-profit organizations?
MM: What sets us apart is that our primary goal is to unite the work of the non-profits of our region, and our goal is to advocate and fundraise on their behalf. United Way operates as a central hub for non-profits in West Tennessee. We encourage their work and tell their stories. A handful of local organizations like the Carl Perkins Child Abuse Center and the American Red Cross are also regional non-profits. WRAP helps vulnerable women who have faced abuse. But each key in on a particular issue. We support each of these organizations and our community more broadly. United Way looks at the broader issues, thereby allowing us to support a wide range of agencies.
VIP: Talk about the annual United Way fundraising campaign.
MM: Our fundraising campaign starts in July and ends in March. We visit companies, give presentations, and invite employees to participate in the campaign through payroll deductions: $1.00 or $20.00 every check, whatever they can do, or to give one-time gifts. Most do payroll deductions over the course of a year. We have a virtual campaign this year. The funds may go into the general campaign fund, which is then split up in their county among the various agencies, or the donors may designate their funds to a specific agency. We try to make sure that every dollar raised in a county stays in that county.
VIP: How is United Way funded?
MM: It is funded through corporations and plants, small businesses, and individuals in the community.
VIP: What are the top priorities of United Way of West Tennessee at present?
MM: Our chief aim is to help our community rebuild as we work through this pandemic. We never shut our doors. It is for moments like this that United Way exists. When the pandemic first began in Madison County, we helped with food distribution efforts because so many children depend on the schools' meals. We collectively raised over $150,000 through a 24-hour Giving Day, and we have helped people who are facing financial difficulties and homelessness. We’ve spent $60,000 putting people up in motels and paying for emergency assistance. We’ve also helped various school systems around the region with technology equipment for their virtual classroom sessions.
VIP: Looking ahead, what would you like to see happen at United Way in the next five years?
MM: I have a number of dreams for United Way. First and foremost, I would like us to do a better job of operating as the central hub of all things non-profit in West Tennessee and supporting our agency partners more effectively. I would like to see a Center for Community Impact to support and provide training and other resources in our community. Additionally, I would like to see us raise more funds to support non-profits in the work that they do every day. As we look ahead, there is great opportunity in West Tennessee. It is important to seize that opportunity!
VIP: What are your hobbies?
MM: My wife, Rachel, and I love to do mission trips, and we have led various trips over the years. I spent a lot of time in California growing up, so it’s a favorite place to go. I hope to return to Ethiopia in the next two years for another mission trip. My wife grew up in Southeast Asia. She was born in New Orleans, but her parents are missionaries and she lived in several countries, including Taiwan and China. So, it would be fun to take the kids on a trip there soon.
