When Erica Mitchell talks about the work of United Way of Greater Nashville, she rarely begins with statistics or strategic plans. Instead, she talks about children.
She talks about the kindergartner carrying a brand-new backpack into school on the first day. The struggling parent trying to earn a better wage through workforce training. A family facing an unexpected crisis after a storm. The volunteers who show up, ready to lend a hand.
For Mitchell, these aren’t isolated stories—they’re all connected. As president and CEO of United Way of Greater Nashville, Mitchell leads one of the state’s largest nonprofit organizations, serving nine counties and supporting more than 180 partner agencies. After more than 14 years with the organization, she stepped into the role of CEO in January 2025, bringing with her a passion for education, community collaboration, and helping families overcome barriers so they can flourish.
A Legacy of Generosity
Mitchell didn’t always dream of working in nonprofits but looking back she realizes that her parents’ example of service made a deep impression on her.
“I had never thought of a career in the nonprofit space,” Mitchell said. “It wasn’t on my radar, and it wasn’t part of my formal upbringing.” Yet looking back, she can clearly see where the seeds were planted. “The way my parents carried themselves, engaged with other people—they were and are very generous.”
Her parents owned a small real estate business, but for them, selling houses was about far more than closing deals. “They did what they could to ensure that people could afford a home,” Mitchell recalled. “They would walk them through those steps and change their mentality about becoming homeowners.”
Those early lessons in generosity and compassion would eventually shape the way Mitchell views leadership today. She initially studied business at North Carolina State University and after college, she worked in education policy before joining United Way of Greater Nashville more than 14 years ago.
And then unexpectedly homeschooling her children gave Mitchell a front-row seat to the challenges and opportunities within education. “I really fell in love with education and realized that in my community the education experience was failing in some ways. The system was off the tracks, and kids weren’t soaring,” she said.
Returning to graduate school introduced her to the possibilities within nonprofit leadership. “I realized there was something that aligned with my passions,” she said. “I wanted to make a difference on a larger scale, especially for children and education. I realized I could do that in a way that’s led by both the heart and head.”
Building Stronger Communities
Education remains Mitchell’s greatest professional passion. “Education is why I came to United Way in the first place,” she said. “I consider it the most important aspect of what we do. It’s the cornerstone for everything else.”
Alongside education, the United Way’s work also focuses on economic mobility by helping adults gain workforce skills, certifications, and career opportunities that can lead to higher-paying jobs and long-term financial stability.
“If we can focus on those two areas—education and the workforce—we’ve got plenty of team members and community partners who can help support,” Mitchell said. The United Way serves as a connector throughout Middle Tennessee, partnering with more than 180 nonprofit organizations that address everything from hunger and housing to disaster relief and family services. The organization also manages the 211 helpline connecting residents with resources when they need help most.
In all of its endeavors, Mitchell believes collaboration is the key to lasting change. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned through philanthropy is that real change doesn’t happen in silos,” she has said. “It takes listening deeply, collaborating boldly, and staying committed for the long haul.”
Mitchell often returns to the organization’s mission statement when describing its work. “We unite the community and mobilize resources so that every child, individual, and family thrives,” she emphasized. That mission is broad, treating the whole person.
“From cradle to career and beyond,” she said, United Way is there. That includes supporting the youngest learners in early childhood education, providing tutoring and educational support for students, helping adults overcome literacy challenges, expanding workforce opportunities, and responding during times of crisis.
“Ultimately our goal is to remove any barriers,” Mitchell said. “We want people to thrive. We want every child to become an adult who can reach their full potential. And for adults, we want to remove barriers that keep them from reaching their potential.”
The Power of Volunteers
One of the most visible expressions of United Way’s work happens each summer as thousands of volunteers prepare children for a new school year. Stuff the Bus, held each July at Nissan Stadium, brings together hundreds of volunteers to fill approximately 15,000 backpacks with school supplies. The event is one part of the work the United Way does ahead of the school year.
United Way volunteers also participate in first-day-of-school events at high-need schools, welcoming students and helping families feel supported as a new school year begins. As Thanksgiving approaches, the organization launches Season of Sharing, partnering with school districts and nonprofit agencies to provide food, gifts, and essential resources for families during the holidays. “We have school districts who send us lists of families who need help during the holidays, and our nonprofit partners step in,” Mitchell explained.
For Mitchell, volunteering is about much more than completing a project. “It’s the on-ramp to engaging with the community,” she said. “Volunteering is a way to pull the curtain back on what the needs are and allow people to realize how they can help.” Whether serving individually, as a family, or with a corporate team, she believes everyone has something valuable to contribute.
Mitchell herself stays connected to such events and activities; she wants to be sure to experience what’s happening on the ground floor of the work. In fact, she likes to call herself a “connector.” One work day may include board meetings and conversations with major donors. The next could find her packing backpacks alongside volunteers at Nissan Stadium. “It’s important to stay connected in practical, hands-on ways,” she said. “It reminds me of the good work we’re doing and also shows me how much work there is to do.”
Those experiences reinforce why collaboration matters. United Way’s impact depends not only on its own staff but also on hundreds of companies, thousands of volunteers, and countless nonprofit partners working together to strengthen the greater Nashville area.
Faith and Family
Although United Way itself is not a faith-based organization, Mitchell said that its values align with the Gospel; as a Christian, that’s especially important to her. “The principles—caring for neighbors and making sure people have what they need—are so much rooted in biblical philosophy,” she said.
Mitchell was raised in a Christian home where church attendance was simply part of life. “My parents raised us that way,” she recalled. “Church every Sunday, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, singing in the choir—all those things.” Faith became more personal as she grew.
“My faith became personal when I was about 22 and ready to graduate from college,” she said. “I had an understanding of what the Gospel was, but it became real and personal at that age.”
Today, that faith quietly guides her work. “It’s now part of my life every single day,” she stressed. “What a gift to connect those two things in my work—to do what I’m passionate about and connect it with my faith.” Mitchell’s faith extends to her family, as she and her husband do their best to model Christ-like love and service.
Originally from Knoxville, she and her husband eventually settled in Nashville after spending time in North Carolina. They’ve now called Nashville home for nearly three decades, raising their three children there. Today, one daughter and their youngest son live in Nashville, while their oldest son lives in New York City. The family is also celebrating an exciting new season as Mitchell and her husband prepare to welcome their first grandchild.
As both a mother and soon-to-be grandmother, Mitchell understands that thriving communities begin with thriving families. And that’s exactly what motivates her every day.
Whether helping a child walk confidently into a classroom with a backpack full of supplies, connecting a parent to a better-paying job, or mobilizing volunteers after a natural disaster, Mitchell sees each act of service as part of something much larger. A stronger Nashville, she believes, is built one family at a time. “It starts with each of us,” she said. “Anyone can serve others.”
—Cheryl Wray
cherylswray@gmail.com
Author, Freelance Writer, Speaker
