Kaiser will lead United Way’s strategic priority to partner with Valley companies and their employees to deepen their relationships with nonprofits, achieve their CSR objectives and help to solve the Valley’s most pressing issues.

PHOENIX, AZ, September 28, 2021 -- Valley of the Sun United Way has named Phoenix native Laura Kaiser as Chief Corporate Relations and Brand Officer after an extensive national and local search process. Kaiser will oversee United Way’s relationships with more than 500 companies and thousands of their employees to achieve the seven goals set out in the areas of Housing and Homelessness, Health, Education and Workforce Development in MC2026, a five-year plan for Mighty Change, and to help those companies reach their corporate social responsibility objectives.

Kaiser, who joined United Way in 2008 and has led a variety of initiatives, will manage the Corporate Relations and Brand team, which includes corporate relations and fundraising, corporate social responsibility innovation, marketing and volunteerism, and she will join United Way’s four-person executive team. She will also lead the MC2026 Cabinet of community and corporate volunteers focused on leveraging the leadership, generosity and expertise in our business community to solve Maricopa County’s pressing community issues.

“For nearly 100 years, the unique relationship between Valley companies, their employees and United Way has brought much-needed support to our local nonprofits, schools and most importantly to people in our community who need it the most,” said Valley of the Sun President & CEO Carla Vargas Jasa. “As needs intensify, especially in light of the ongoing health, economic and educational impacts of COVID-19, Laura’s passion and creativity, as well as her deep community and corporate relationships, will make an impact on United Way and the entire Valley.”

Most recently, Kaiser led United Way’s Corporate Relations team which partners with businesses to raise more than $20 million annually and engage employees through volunteerism and affinity groups. She led corporate engagement in the United for the Valley COVID-19 Response Fund which raised and distributed $3 million for local nonprofits on the front lines of the pandemic. Throughout her tenure, Kaiser has been essential in building United Way’s affinity groups and volunteer programs, and led the organization’s shift to digital marketing and donor communications.

In her new role, Kaiser will lead United Way’s focus on helping businesses achieve their social responsibility goals, while achieving community goals tied to the MC2026 priority areas of Health, Housing and Homelessness, Education and Workforce Development.

“Businesses and their employees play such vital roles in our community and, as United Way has experienced for decades, they truly impact people’s lives. I look forward to growing these relationships, and to see the benefits for families, students and individuals in the Valley,” Kaiser said.

Kaiser was raised in Phoenix, graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Public Management, and returned to the Valley to build her career and family. She is a Valley Leadership alumni and is active with the Eller School of Management. Prior to joining United Way, Laura worked with the Foundation for Senior Living and A New Leaf.

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Valley of the Sun United Way envisions a community where every child, family and individual is healthy, has a safe place to live, and has every opportunity to succeed in school, in life and in work. As we work with our community, corporate and nonprofit partners to implement MC2026, our five-year plan for Mighty Change, we will put all of our efforts toward reaching bold goals for Maricopa County in Health, Housing and Homelessness, Education and Workforce Development. We invite you to join us. www.vsuw.org