Alyssa Whitacre joined United Way of Champaign County in spring 2026 as the Associate Director of Engagement. In this role, she focuses on building meaningful relationships with new donors by creating engaging opportunities through events and strategic outreach. She is passionate about connecting community members to United Way’s mission of bringing people together to build a stronger, more connected Champaign County.
Alyssa graduated from Monmouth College with a BA in Public Relations and Communication Studies. She began her career working at a small nonprofit history museum in Western Illinois, where she developed a strong foundation in community engagement, storytelling, and nonprofit work. She later spent several years in corporate marketing, where she earned the Rising Star award in the 2025 Legal Marketing and Business Development Awards and contributed articles to the Legal Marketing Association. While she valued that experience, Alyssa found herself drawn back to nonprofit work. She is a proud 2025 Emerging Community Leaders graduate, and encourages all young people in the area to experience the program.
Alyssa has lived in Champaign County for the past three years and enjoys spending her free time exploring all that the community has to offer with her son. You can often find them trying local restaurants, visiting one of the many beautiful parks, or stopping by area libraries.