With United Way’s 720 Second Avenue offices closed, we’ve been grateful to use downtown spaces offered in-kind by local businesses. Stop by Fourth & Madison, and you might see us there, holding Giving Communities events, staff retreats, and end-of-fiscal-year celebrations.

“Many of United Way’s networking events have taken place at companies, but this year, we unexpectedly needed to source meeting space for several internal staff, board members, and committee meetings,” said Samantha Anderson, United Way corporate stewardship manager. “Since we’ve owned the building, finding places to meet in person went from a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’ if we want to work in person with our colleagues.”

United Way turned to its corporate partners for space earlier this year when our offices closed due to flooding. Several local partners stepped up. 

United Way’s Institutional Giving Team used Slalom Consulting’s Rainier Conference room to execute an in-person retreat. On the same day, Seattle-based Slalom allowed our entire Engagement Team to use its patio and open working space to host our end-of-fiscal-year celebration. 

The office space at Slalom

On several occasions, United Ways has used spaces at the Hines’ real estate investment company in the Fourth & Madison professional building. Hines’ spaces housed all the 2024 Project LEAD classroom sessions, our board of directors’ meeting, and our Emerging Leaders 365 committee meetings. In addition, a partner of United Way’s Racial Equity Coalition utilized Hines space as well. 

“Hines is one of the largest privately held real estate investors and managers in the world and endeavors to use that knowledge to benefit our communities by partnering with non-profits,” said United Way corporate partnerships manager Jenn Seva about the Houston-based company. 

 “Under its recently created Project Caritas program, Hines offers pro bono services to non-profit organizations. Its resources include not just gathering spaces but also expertise.” 

“The benefit of spending time together in person is invaluable; we are a team of individuals who brainstorm, plan, and celebrate best when we are face-to-face. Not only do we need a space to meet, but we need technology to support our hybrid work model. We also get to be out in the community we serve and build relationships with our corporate partners in a new way.” 

Samantha Anderson, United Way of King County corporate stewardship manager

Then there’s Alaska Airlines, which has provided us space at the Hub, its 128,000-square-foot corporate office in SeaTac. Our next Happy Hour and Hellos event will be on October 15 at the Hub. 

United Way thanks its corporate partners for their generosity and for recognizing the benefit of local businesses serving communities via in-kind donations. 

“The benefit of spending time together in person is invaluable; we are a team of individuals who brainstorm, plan, and celebrate best when we are face-to-face,” said Anderson. “Not only do we need a space to meet, but we need technology to support our hybrid work model. We also get to be out in the community we serve and build relationships with our corporate partners in a new way.”