Sunny C. Reed is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for United Way for Southeastern Michigan. She brings a powerful combination of executive financial strategy and real-life understanding to the role. Sunny’s work is directly linked to United Way’s mission of supporting ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households across Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
Sunny’s leadership story is built on grit, determination and a fierce commitment to equity. She is a first-generation college graduate who completed her bachelor’s degree in business at Newman University in her hometown of Wichita, Kansas as a non-traditional student and working single mother. Sunny later went on to earn a master’s degree in accounting in 2016, graduating with academic honors. This journey gives her a profound, personal understanding of the financial hurdles many families in our community face every day.
As a veteran executive with over a decade of finance and administration leadership of nonprofits, Sunny understands that her work isn’t just about the balance sheet; it’s about using resources ethically to create social good. She recently served as the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Arts in Indianapolis, where she was instrumental in strategic transformations of the finance and human resources functions, improved operational efficiency and implemented sustainable funding strategies for continued mission work.
For Sunny, financial empowerment is inextricably linked to youth impact and economic equity. Her dedication extends beyond her title, as seen in her volunteer work supporting Indianapolis nonprofit organizations like the Center for Victim and Human Rights, VOICES Corp and Circles Indy. She’s focused on breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering marginalized voices, a mission which makes her a truly dedicated partner in driving United Way’s impact.