We’re thrilled to introduce someone many of you already know and admire, Carli Freidel, as United Way of Dane County’s new Vice President of Resource Development. Carli officially stepped into this role on June 2 after several years managing our workplace development team. She brings more than a decade of experience, strategy and heart to this position, which will shape the future of our collective philanthropic efforts. Carli brings a leadership style grounded in transparency, empathy and trust. She’s known for mentoring high-performing teams, building lasting relationships and creating space for donors and volunteers to lead boldly. 

Carli’s journey with United Way began, as she puts it, “by chance.” A recent UW-Madison graduate with a strong interest in building community, Carli had been working in residence life, supporting first-year students and helping them find connection and purpose. That focus on belonging and change led her to a temporary position at United Way. Soon, a permanent position became available, and she never looked back. 

“I knew community was important to me early in life,” she says. “United Way introduced me to a strategic way of making change, asking not just how we help people today, but how we ensure our community is thriving for everyone tomorrow.” 

In each of her five roles within Resource Development at United Way, she’s stayed anchored by one question: “How do we approach this work from a place of equity and collaboration to ensure dollars are well-spent and real change is made?” 

For Carli, Tocqueville Society members are key to answering that question. “Seeing the growth of the Tocqueville Society, what stands out most is the commitment,” she says. “Tocqueville members give so much more than their annual contributions. They’re at the table creating solutions, inspiring others to give and championing initiatives that move the needle.” 

As she steps into her new role, Carli sees the important role Tocqueville plays in our community. She points to pivotal efforts in United Way’s history such as the HIRE Initiative and the Affordable Housing Fund that were seeded and scaled by Tocqueville leadership. “When I learn the story of a key United Way milestone, there’s usually a Tocqueville member right at the center of it making the first investment or rallying others to act.” Carli knows that Tocqueville is about more than raising dollars; it’s about growing impact. “I hope every Tocqueville member walks away this year knowing: your gift matters. It’s being invested strategically and is actively reducing poverty and building well-being in our community.” 

We’re so excited to have Carli leading us into this next chapter. We hope you’ll take a moment to say hello and get to know her at our upcoming events!