Vanecia Kerr serves as President and CEO of United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, where she leads the organization’s mission to improve lives and strengthen the community through education, financial wellness, housing stability and health initiatives. She oversees strategic direction, builds cross-sector partnerships, and drives lasting, measurable impact across Southern Arizona.

Previously, Vanecia was Chief Impact Officer at Mile High United Way in Denver, Colorado. She led a portfolio of six programs serving over 12,000 individuals annually and managed grants to more than 400 nonprofits and small businesses, while cultivating high-level community, government, and corporate relationships to ensure effective, data-driven outcomes.

Earlier, she served as Regional Executive Director of College Track Colorado, supporting more than 500 students in achieving four-year college degrees. At City Year Denver, she was instrumental in launching the site and expanding its reach to serve thousands of K–12 students as Managing Director of Marketing, Communications, and Development.

Vanecia’s corporate background spans more than two decades in senior leadership, including roles in business development and relationship management for institutional clients with assets ranging from $200 million to $800 million. At TIAA-CREF, she served as Regional Director of Community Affairs, where her work in corporate social responsibility inspired her full transition to nonprofit leadership.

Her accolades include 9News Leader of the Year (Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, 2023), Woman of Impact (American Heart Association, 2022), Top 25 Most Powerful Women (Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, 2018), and Outstanding Women in Business (Denver Business Journal, 2018).

A dynamic speaker, Vanecia has delivered over 300 engagements nationwide, including keynotes, panels, and moderating roles for organizations such as the Clinton Global Initiative and Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship. She has also been featured across major media platforms as a leading voice on equity, education, and community innovation.

She has served on a variety of prestigious boards, including Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Hope Communities, Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, Denver Public Schools Foundation, and Denver Academy.

Vanecia is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Incorporated, the International Women’s Forum of Colorado, and a Life Member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.

She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Hampton University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College (CUNY).

In her personal time, she enjoys volunteering, serving in her church, watching films, and spending time outdoors with her husband and 23-year-old son.