Marcus T. Coleman

About Marcus T. Coleman

Many companies, nonprofits, foundations, and major donors have millions ready to invest in communities, yet their partnerships often fail to scale and sustain.Why? Most people understand either the business side or the community side, but rarely both.The business side focuses on ROI, risk mitigation, and measurable outcomes, while the community side prioritizes trust, relationships, and lived experience. Without a common language, funding fails to reach its potential, and communities don’t receive the support they need.I\'ve spent 15 years becoming fluent in both languages.What this actually means- Achieved over $15 million in revenue in just 20 months at United Way Worldwide- Secured $11.5 million in deals to empower and uplift local communities- Expanded programs that welcomed more than organizations across the nation- Grew our stakeholder platform from to members, showcasing an impressive 133% growth- Served as spokesperson through 60+ media placements and 100+ public engagements, knowing that one wrong word can create an issue for the national news cycle or with key audiences. My background: I am an executive with substantial experience leading teams in the federal government, management consulting, and the nonprofit sector. Through each of these roles, I have gained a deep understanding of how various sectors effectively allocate and deploy capital, identify the critical factors that drive successful partnerships, and create compelling messaging that powerfully resonates with clients, funders, customers, and community leaders.What makes me different: Most people choose a path: they become either \"the business person\" or \"the community person.\" I have intentionally merged effective business practices with the wisdom of funders and community leaders, tackling the most challenging problems head-on. After years of growth and reflection, I\'ve discovered that this unique approach is my greatest strength.My greatest contribution is when the organization needs someone to generate revenue or expand reach and influence through effective partnerships.If you\'re looking to deploy capital effectively in communities or helping them access institutional capital, let\'s connect and make it happen.

Experience

1. Vice President of Community Resilience Strategy

   United Way

   Jul 2024 — Present · US

   I was recruited to build United Way Worldwide\'s Community Resilience pillar from the ground up: designing the strategy, operating model, partnership architecture, and field infrastructure that now define how one of the world\'s largest charities strengthens resilience and responds to crisis.What made this role distinctive wasn\'t just its scope. It was the translation work. Bridging government systems, Fortune 100 corporate partners, philanthropic interests, and a growing network of national partners working alongside 350+ organizations\' grassroots required fluency across all sectors simultaneously — and the judgment to know which language to speak and when.Systems built- Designed a network-wide resilience model now deployed across 78+ communities, 40 of which were disaster-affected — creating replicable infrastructure that local United Ways could implement without heavy external support- Developed grant management procedures, impact tracking systems, and knowledge transfer protocols built for continuity beyond any individual leader or funder- Built a crisis response framework used across human-caused and natural disaster incidents — from the LA wildfires and Hurricane Melissa to plane crashes and active shooter events — disbursing $2.2M+ to community organizationsCapital and partnerships mobilized:Secured $13M+ in new funding from Fortune 500 partners, philanthropic organizations and individual donors by translating community resilience outcomes into business- and other funder relevant metrics. Field positioned:Grew United Way\'s thought leadership in community resilience through 18 national events, partnerships with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Crisis Response Journal, and 10+ media placements (MSNBC, NPR, Fox Weather), shifting perception from reactive crisis responder to proactive resilience leader.

Education

• American University

  Graduate Certificate, Leadership for Organizational Change

  2009 — 2011

• American University

  Master, Public Administration

  2009 — 2011

• Howard University

  BBA, Management

  2004 — 2008

• Harvard University

  National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Executive Education Program

  2014 — 2015

Skills

• Strategic Communications
• Fundraising
• Sustainability
• Strategy
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Community Organizing
• Program Development
• Management
• Workshop Facilitation
• Leadership
• Grant Writing
• Project Planning
• Capacity Building
• Public Speaking
• Budgeting
• Non-Profits
• Economic Development
• Strategic Planning
• Policy
• Project Management
• Emergency Management
• Analysis
• Public Relations
• Training
• Volunteer Management
• Budgets
• Proposal Writing
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Public Policy
• Policy Analysis
• Program Evaluation
• Research
• Negotiation
• Politics
• Program Management
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Federal Government
• Grants