Sally Davis Ellwein is the chief program and policy officer at United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. She leads efforts to enhance United Way’s strategic goals, which include helping individuals and families in the region meet their basic needs, move to greater financial stability and build for success in school and life. Working in collaboration with corporate and civic leaders, foundations, service providers and United Way staff, Sally shapes and advances United Way’s Community Impact priorities and advocates for systems-level and legislative solutions to critical issues in our region. Sally’s work with United Way began in 2019. Prior to her current role she served as director of meeting basic needs. Sally serves on the Community Services Advisory Council for Allegheny County.
Sally attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she majored in American studies with a concentration in women’s studies. She received her master’s degree in social work from Columbia University School of Social Work, specializing in generalist practice and program development. She received her master’s in public health from Columbia University’s Joseph P. Mailman School of Public Health in the division of socio-medical sciences, with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention. Throughout her career, she has worked to advance equity among diverse populations that have historically experienced disinvestment. She has done this work in a variety of settings- from an elementary school in Oakland, California to an historic community-based organization in New York City to the largest HIV care center in New York State. She brings almost 20 years of nonprofit experience in direct service and administration to her role at United Way.