United Way of the National Capital Area President and CEO Rosie Allen-Herring has been appointed Interim President and CEO of United Way Worldwide (UWW), based in Alexandria, Va., effective February 2, 2026.
UWW President & CEO Angela Williams announced her plan to retire this past December.
“Serving families and forging partnerships across sectors in the Washington market and beyond with international impact is an opportunity not taken for granted and I am honored,” said Allen-Herring. “Our mission is stronger when we work together, ensuring continuity of operations and strengthening the partnership between the more than 1,100 local agencies and United Way Worldwide.”
It has been a busy past 18 months for Allen-Herring. She has served as one of the first local United Way CEOs elected to the United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees, bringing a perspective that bridges local and global priorities. She also has co‑chaired the United Way Worldwide Network Advisory Council, a forum that amplifies the voices of local United Ways and helps shape UWW’s global strategic direction.
United Way NCA has been a significant partner of United Way Worldwide, serving as the local United Way for the national capital area and an early adopter of initiatives that have become best practices across the entire network. United Way of the National Capital Area has hosted international delegations, seeking to benchmark best-in-class solutions that have been replicated in other countries.
Allen‑Herring brings a “hyper‑local, global” perspective to her new role, drawing on more than three decades of experience in corporate finance, strategic leadership, partnerships, philanthropy and business strategy with local and international organizations.
“We are incredibly proud of Rosie and thrilled that she has been named Interim President and CEO of United Way Worldwide,” Steve Proctor, board chair, United Way of National Capital Area and CEO, G.S. Proctor & Associates, said via a statement. “Her phenomenal leadership has already transformed our local market, and now the world will see the same dedication, focus and results-driven leadership we have experienced. Rosie’s stature and commitment align perfectly with United Way’s mission, and we look forward to the continued positive ripple effect she will create for the communities we all serve.”
Allen-Herring has led United Way NCA for nearly 13 years, through transformative initiatives that target health, education and economic disparities. She is a leading voice on issues affecting the region’s ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population and the national capital region. In 2020, her organization was one of 384 U.S. nonprofits to secure a transformational investment from venture philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
“M&T Bank has been a proud and trusted partner of United Way of the National Capital Area, and over the years, we have seen Rosie Allen-Herring’s leadership shape a stronger, more inclusive region with clarity, purpose, and impact,” said Cecilia Hodges, Regional President for Greater Washington at M&T Bank. “As a longtime collaborator across multiple markets, we are especially proud to see our local champion positioned to expand this partnership on a global stage. Rosie’s leadership will continue to unite the business and nonprofit communities and drive sustainable growth that advances our shared mission and benefits all those we serve.”
Before joining United Way NCA, Allen-Herring held various executive leadership positions at Fannie Mae, including Managing Director of the Community Investment and Engagement Division. In her role, she managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios and developed business strategies that resulted in investments exceeding $2 billion.
Allen-Herring serves on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including MedStar Health, WesBanco (NASDAQ: WSBC), Pepco Holdings, Greater Washington Partnership, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, and the Urban Institute.
She has received numerous recognitions, including induction into the Washington Business Hall of Fame (2024), multiple appearances on Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 Leaders list (2013-2025), Washingtonian Magazine’s Most Powerful Women (2013-2025), DEI Champion of the Year (2023), CEO of the Year (2017), the Greater Washington Community Foundation Civic Leader Award (2022), Board Chair, Greater Washington Board of Trade (2021) and The Network Journals Top 25 Women Leaders Across the Country (2019).
Allen-Herring earned a B.A. in Economics from Howard University and an M.B.A. from Strayer University. She is an International Fellow of the United States-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values at the University of Cape Town (SA) Graduate School of Business and Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. She is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management Program and a member of the International Women’s Forum.
“To have the opportunity to do this work and offer my business acumen with an international perspective means so much,” Allen-Herring said via a statement.
