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City Connect Detroit: Bio
Michael J. Brennan
President and CEO
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Michael J. Brennan is President and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan, an organization dedicated to improving lives and communities across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties each day, with the assistance of more than 20,000 volunteers and supporters.
Mr. Brennan was appointed to his current post in October 2003 (when the organization was known as United Way Community Services). He is the youngest executive ever to lead the metropolitan Detroit area United Way, and he has guided the organization through a period of unprecedented change.
Under Mr. Brennan’s leadership, United Way Community Services and United Way of Oakland County agreed to join forces in April 2005 and form United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM). The newly formed organization began a comprehensive community outreach and subject matter research, the results of which became the basis for the Agenda For Change. The Agenda focuses on three impact areas: educational preparedness, financial stability, and basic needs. UWSEM recently joined five other civic leadership groups to form One D: Transforming Regional Detroit, a unique, collaborative effort aimed at revitalizing southeast Michigan using the shared resources of the partnership.
In terms of fundraising, Mr. Brennan has guided the organization through strong annual campaigns for three consecutive years, despite serious economic challenges affecting the region. In fact, the 2006 Torch Drive generated more than $61 million, making UWSEM one of the largest United Ways nationally, based on dollars raised. Those funds support a diverse array of partners and programs that work each day to create lasting change for children, families, neighborhoods and health conditions across the region.
Mr. Brennan is a native of southeast Michigan, and came back to metro Detroit from United Way of America (UWA), the national organization serving approximately 1,400 United Ways nationwide. As that organization’s executive vice president, he oversaw Community Impact, Public Policy, Research Services and Resource Development operations.
Prior to his tenure at UWA, Mr. Brennan spent 10 years at Heart of West Michigan United Way in Grand Rapids (MI) from 1992 to 2002, including seven years as president. He was recruited to Grand Rapids from the Greater Kalamazoo (MI) United Way, where he managed fundraising efforts from 1988 to 1992.
Mr. Brennan began his United Way career in Detroit as a fundraiser in1985, after graduating from Michigan State University. Additionally, he has completed executive programs at both the Harvard Business School and the Center for Creative Leadership.
Active in a number of regional causes over the years, Mr. Brennan currently sits on the boards of New Detroit Inc., St. John Health System, Wayne State University School of Social Work Advisory Board, and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). He also chaired the Volunteer Recruitment Advisory Committee of Super Bowl XL Host Committee.
He is married to Joan, an educator and active community volunteer. They have three children, Sam, Pat and Meg.
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