New executive director outlines goals at United Way

UTICA — It’s been a little over a month since Susan Litera began her new role as executive director of United Way of the Mohawk Valley, and she’s rolling her sleeves up and getting right to work.

Now that she’s had time to settle in, the first task on her list is a big one — developing a strategic plan to guide the organization through the next three to five years. The goal is to identify the region’s most critical needs and determine how to fund them. Litera hopes to complete the plan within the year.

The job is not one she takes lightly. The organization, through the funding it provides to organizations and government entities as well as its own programs, reaches about one in three people in the Mohawk Valley.

“Right now, we are fortunate we are able to support about 100,000 people,” Litera says.

One way it does so is through its 211 program, which helps connect people with the services they need including housing, food, legal help, and more. “211 does give us the ability to touch many people,” Litera says.

Another program is Ride United, a ride service in partnership with Lyft to provide free transportation to medical appointments.

United Way also funds more than two dozen organizations and programs that provide services in areas including domestic violence, food security, literacy, youth services, and homelessness.

“When you support the United Way, you’re supporting the partners in the community,” Litera notes.

She brings more than 25 years of nonprofit experience with her to United Way. Most recently, Litera served as director of development and communication at The Arc Madison Cortland before starting at the United Way on Dec. 11.

Litera even founded her own nonprofit, Bill’s Brigade, a nonprofit that supported families in crisis by helping out with their day-to-day needs until the pandemic hit.

“It was a great experience,” Litera says. “It was a labor of love.” 

Litera is putting all her experience to work in her new role. The United Way raises the majority of its funding through its workplace campaign and conducts several other fundraising campaigns throughout the year.

It’s a balancing act between reaching out enough and also being aware of donor fatigue, Litera says. That’s where her previous development experience comes in handy, along with an excellent staff and board.

She’s excited to helm the organization after a bit of leadership turnover and hopes to help foster partnerships between programs in the community to provide the best support to the most people.

“I want people to look at us as the clearinghouse for providing support for the greatest needs in the community,” Litera says. “I want us to be the leader in that realm, and I want us to be a collaborator in that realm.”