Ann Murtlow, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, announces retirement

INDIANAPOLIS – After nearly nine years of service, President and CEO Ann Murtlow will retire from United Way of Central Indiana later this year.  

Murtlow announced her retirement Wednesday. She came from the private sector in 2013 to lead United Way, one of central Indiana’s most prominent nonprofits. She will leave her role June 30, 2022.  The Board of Directors has launched a search for a new president and CEO in partnership with the executive search firm Koya Partners.  

“Leading United Way of Central Indiana has been one of the greatest honors of my professional career,” said Murtlow. “We have focused our mission and built an exceptionally strong team, one that any organization and community would be grateful to have working on our community’s most pressing social challenges. United Way is well positioned to help those who need us most in the coming years.” 

Since joining United Way, Murtlow is credited with significantly realigning the nonprofit’s business and impact models. Under her leadership, the organization focused its mission, diversified its revenue sources and updated its grantmaking process.  

Most notably, United Way adopted the Two Generational Approach (2Gen) model – one aimed at reducing generational poverty by providing integrated services for children and the adults who care for them. United Way’s impact work is now centered on six pillars: Advocacy and Public Policy, Capacity Building and Engagement, Data and Research, Grantmaking and Community Investments, Programs and Initiatives, and Thought Leadership and Convening. Its community investments are focused on Basic Needs (stabilization), Family Opportunity (multi-generational work designed for economic growth) and Social Innovation (unearthing new, transformational and incremental ways to solve old problems).  

“Ann’s leadership through a critical time in United Way and our community’s evolution has been a true blessing and a gift to our community,” said Rafael Sanchez, United Way’s board chair. “I had the privilege of witnessing firsthand how Ann’s transformational leadership has paved the way for continued success in combating some of our community’s toughest challenges. United Way’s ability to quickly convene donors and advocate for those in need was essential as our community navigated the pandemic. The organization has been recognized as a leader among the 1,800 local United Ways globally for helping to advance a new and promising model for serving individuals and families with comprehensive supports across health, education and financial stability.” 

Throughout Murtlow’s tenure, United Way has played a leadership role in many community initiatives, including the Central Indiana COVID-19 Community Economic Relief Fund (C-CERF), Great Families 2020, the Indianapolis Preschool Scholarship Program and Indy Summer Learning Labs.  

“Ann’s ability to execute on short-term goals while keeping her eye on long-term priorities has been critical to our mission of helping Central Indiana residents break the cycle of poverty,” said Deborah Daniels, United Way’s vice chair. “We will sorely miss her leadership, but her legacy lives on in the solid foundation she has built. Ann has re-created United Way of Central Indiana and will leave behind an organization with a proven track record for making a real and positive difference in the lives of families throughout our community.” 

Leading the search process are Sanchez, president of Private Banking at Old National Bank, and Daniels, incoming board chair and of counsel at Krieg DeVault LLP.  

Additional members of the search committee include current and former board leaders: 

• Bryan Mills, immediate past chair and CEO of Community Health Network;  

• Connie Bond Stuart, past chair and regional president for Central & Southern Indiana at PNC Bank;  

• Sam Odle, past chair and senior policy advisor at Bose Public Affairs;  

• Ann Merkel, governance committee chair and senior vice president and chief market development officer at National Bank of Indianapolis;  

• Jeffrey Harrison, immediate past community engagement chair and president and CEO of Citizens Energy Group;  

• Lauren Peterson, co-chair of community engagement and vice president of Stakeholder Engagement at TechPoint; 

• Michael O’Connor, past community engagement chair and senior director of state government affairs at Eli Lilly and Company. 

Koya and the search committee will begin talking with community leaders and constituents to develop a position profile. Individuals interested in the opportunity can email uwciceo@koyapartners.com. 

“We are dedicated to identifying and recruiting exceptional leaders to mission-driven clients that are committed to transformational change and building stronger, more equitable communities,” said search co-leads Tiara Muse and Alison Ranney of Koya Partners. “We are honored to work with the search committee to identify a leader who will ensure that United Way continues to be at the epicenter of philanthropy in Central Indiana.”