Organizational Leadership Analysis: United Way Of America

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Organizational Leadership Analysis: United Way of America
Melna K. Wilson
Western Kentucky University
Dr. Stacy Edds-Ellis
LEAD 500 Effective Leadership Studies
November 30, 2014

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Organizational Leadership Analysis: The United Way
Introduction
This paper examines the organizational leadership of the United Way of America. The questions answered include an identification of the values of the organization, the vision, the mission statement, the leadership style, the authenticity of the senior leaders, the leadership model, the ethical climate, and the effects of diversity on the organization. The values, vision, and mission statement of the UWA organization and local United Way organizations are similar;
leadership
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Volunteerism: change won’t happen without you.

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Impact: to have a direct effect on the improvement in the quality of life for others.

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Community Leadership: a sense of responsibility and contribution to society that defines existence (http://www.unitedway.org/).

In response to allegations of inappropriate use of funds and criminal behavior on the part of an existing president, in January of 2002, Brain A. Gallagher was appointed president and
CEO of the United Way of America. He called for an overhaul of the Standards of Excellence and validated the organization’s confirmation to its stated values. As a result of the overhaul, more than 50 United Way organizations were disaffiliated. For each agency that remained, the values of transparency, accountability and disclosure through compliance were reaffirmed with

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UNITED WAY OF AMERICA the new standards. Gallagher stated, “The United Way needed a wakeup call and we have taken the necessary steps to restore trust” (Baltimore Sun, 1992).
Vision
One of the most important jobs of a leader is to navigate the direction of the group by establishing a vision. It is the principle that determines where an organization would like to
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The story of Aramony caught lying, cheating, and stealing is at odds with how charitable organizations and those who lead and manage them (Kellerman, 2010). As a result of this scandal, the UWA appointed an ethics committee and established a Code of Ethics in order to restore public trust to the organization. Many of the ideas outlined in the code were developed by a joint force of volunteers and employees of the UWA and local United Way organizations.
Leadership of the UWA believes that the organization has a responsibility to uphold the highest of ethical standards for themselves as well as the communities they serve. They help to establish and reinforce organizational values within an ethical climate. It is through the actions of member volunteers, staff and representatives setting examples for one another as they work to achieve excellence in high standards of performance and ethical conduct. The Code of Ethics was developed as a way of connecting the values and ideals with the work the UWA does