Samuel Rudd Of United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) On 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully Lead A Nonprofit Organization
…Measure Your Impact: Like any business, you need to measure what’s working and adjust accordingly. At UWSN, we use performance metrics to guide our efforts, ensuring that our resources are aligned with the most pressing needs in the community. This data-driven approach ensures we’re making a tangible difference. Metrics are tools that can help you see where you are and where you want to go. I have found that when I provide my team with clear goals and ways to measure impact, that is when change and momentum happen…
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Samuel Rudd. As President and CEO of United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN), Samuel Rudd has been a successful leader in the nonprofit industry, offering valuable insights into how to effectively lead an organization. With over 30 years of experience in business and nonprofit management across diverse industries, Rudd has made a substantial impact at UWSN, driving organizational efficiency, implementing data-driven performance measures, and enhancing collaboration among staff and stakeholders. With a genuine passion for people, Samuel remains unwavering in his dedication to fostering a collaborative culture within the workplace and creating meaningful change throughout Southern Nevada.
Thank you so much for doing this with us. Before we begin our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”?
Thank you for having me. Over the past 30 years, my career has taken me through a unique blend of experiences in both the nonprofit and financial sectors. I began my journey in Las Vegas with U.S. Bank, where I developed a strong foundation in financial management and lending. That path led me to Oregon and Texas, where I stepped into leadership roles in commercial real estate portfolio management.
In 2010, I followed a calling to serve more directly, becoming the Senior Pastor and Administrator at Katy Foursquare — a role that deepened my commitment to community service and broadened my leadership perspective. Returning to Las Vegas in 2020, I joined Sun Commercial Real Estate as VP of Operations and Managing Broker, continuing to apply my expertise in business operations.
In 2023, I was honored to become the COO and CFO at UWSN, where I worked to strengthen our internal systems and expand our impact. Today, as President and CEO, I’m focused on driving meaningful, lasting change and ensuring UWSN remains a powerful force for good in Southern Nevada.
Outside of my professional life, I’m proud to share life with my incredible wife of 29 years, four children and ten grandchildren. I enjoy listening to music and playing guitar, as well as attending theater and sporting events.
Can you tell us the story behind why you decided to start or join your nonprofit?
I joined UWSN because I saw an incredible opportunity to bring together my background in operations and finance with a lifelong passion for serving the community.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working in roles that allowed me to build strong teams, improve systems, and deliver meaningful results. But it was my time leading in the nonprofit sector that truly sparked my commitment to making a direct impact in people’s lives.
At UWSN, I saw the opportunity to join a dedicated team focused on advancing student success, expanding workforce development, and strengthening community supports — and I knew this was where I could make the greatest difference.
Can you describe how you or your organization aims to make a significant social impact?
At UWSN, we unite the community to improve people’s lives by focusing on student success, workforce development, and community supports programs. We invest in initiatives that help students thrive in the classroom, connect individuals with career opportunities, and ensure families have access to food, housing, and health resources.
In 2024, UWSN-funded programs supported over 9,700 students, helped more than 2,700 jobseekers, and provided emergency services to 69,200 individuals. We serve as a hub for financial assistance, community partnerships, grant-making, preschool scholarships, language access services, and emergency support.
What sets UWSN apart is our collaborative approach. We bring together nonprofits, businesses, and public agencies to address local challenges — because no one organization can do it alone. By connecting people who want to help with those who need it, we’re building stronger outcomes for Southern Nevada. United is the way we improve lives.
Without saying any names, can you share a story about an individual who was helped by your idea so far?
After a devastating house fire left a local senior with nothing, she found herself struggling to make ends meet. With mounting financial challenges and past-due utility bills, she was overwhelmed. That’s when I saw the power of UWSN’s Project REACH in action. Through this vital program, which provides utility assistance to seniors 62+ who are experiencing economic hardship, we were able to step in and help her catch up on her bills, giving her the support she needed to begin rebuilding her life. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we helped this local senior regain her footing during one of the toughest times she’s ever faced. Last year, UWSN assisted 2,483 senior households through Project REACH, providing a lifeline to those who need it most.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
- Increase Support for Nonprofits: State and federal funding is crucial for supporting essential programs in Southern Nevada. Improving the efficiency of these funding processes will ensure that resources reach nonprofits faster, enabling them to respond to emerging needs without delay. We are championing an advanced payment and prompt payment bill in the Nevada State Legislature at this time to help support this initiative. Additionally, nonprofits must diversify their funding through corporate partnerships, foundations, and individual donations to strengthen their financial stability.
- Foster Collaboration Across Sectors: Tackling the complex challenges facing our community requires cooperation across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. By fostering deeper partnerships and encouraging ongoing communication between these sectors, we can combine strengths, optimize resources, and develop innovative solutions. When these sectors work together, we can address critical issues more effectively, creating lasting, positive change that benefits the entire community.
- Cultivate a Stronger Volunteer Culture: To address the root causes of community challenges, we need to increase volunteer participation across our state. Nevada’s volunteer rate is currently low, but when Nevadans share their time and talents, they make a direct impact on nonprofits and help create lasting change. UWSN has focused on partnering with corporations to boost team volunteerism, mobilizing 6,200 volunteers to assemble 19,806 food, hygiene, housing, veteran, and school supply kits last year. Our 9th annual Day of Caring, which united nearly 900 volunteers to complete 44 community projects, further demonstrates the impact we can make when we come together. Expanding volunteer engagement can help raise Nevada’s volunteerism rates and create lasting benefits for our communities.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is serving, serving those who are on your team and together serving the community. Authenticity, transparency, empathy and consistency are important leadership traits. A leader is willing to take risks, to not get it right all the time, to take ownership, and to learn and celebrate along the way. Empowering others to thrive and creating an environment where everyone feels supported and equipped to reach their full potential. It’s not just about setting a direction or making decisions, but about listening, collaborating, and fostering a culture where people feel valued and heard. An example of leadership is how we work with our community partners. We’re not just guiding initiatives but building relationships that elevate others. By sharing resources and expertise, we help nonprofits grow, and together, we can create lasting impact for the Southern Nevada community.
Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things A Person Should Know Before They Decide To Start A Non Profit”. Please share a story or example for each.
1. Identify the Need: With so many amazing ideas and solutions, it is important that your idea or solution addresses a real need. Nonprofits exist to serve the good of a community, not just support a cause you care about. During Hurricane Harvey, the nonprofit team I lead at the time instinctively knew that we needed to use our facility to provide shelter for families in need. It was a tangible need, and we had the resource. It aligned with who we were as an organization and while the effort was enormous, it was one of the most fulfilling opportunities I had ever experienced to provide a solution that changed lives.
2. Find your People: You cannot do this work alone; you need to find people who are committed and passionate about the mission. Success in the nonprofit sector depends on the strength of the team behind it. A dedicated, passionate team can overcome challenges and make the mission thrive. Also, don’t limit where you find your people. During Hurricane Harvey, we reached out to the local community around us and within 4 hours received the additional resources needed to provide shelter for over 100 families. This also created new relationships with people we had not worked with before. At UWSN, we focus on hiring individuals who share our vision and ensuring that they are empowered to contribute their best work, which strengthens our overall impact. We also partner with other organizations to address issues together.
3. Sustainability is Key: Nonprofits must think long-term. Building a sustainable organization means focusing on reliable revenue streams, diversifying funding sources, and creating lasting partnerships. Establish and maintain strong financial standards and data-informed operational efficiency as you build the new organization. UWSN works toward sustainability by fostering community support, strategic grant-making, and ensuring that every dollar invested makes a lasting difference. I personally am committed to longevity and creating healthy succession plans in the roles I commit to and look for staff and board members with those same values.
4. Nonprofits Are a Business Too: Like any business, nonprofits require strategic planning, sound financial management, and a sustainable revenue model. I’ve seen how important it is to approach nonprofit work with the same level of business discipline. At UWSN, we’ve implemented data-driven strategies and financial stewardship to maximize our impact, which parallels the business approach of ROI. This can be a challenge because as a founder of a nonprofit, you are passionate about the mission. But for any organization to thrive it must be managed with sound business principles. It is important to know your strengths and bring in team members who can complement the areas you are not as passionate about.
5. Measure Your Impact: Like any business, you need to measure what’s working and adjust accordingly. At UWSN, we use performance metrics to guide our efforts, ensuring that our resources are aligned with the most pressing needs in the community. This data-driven approach ensures we’re making a tangible difference. Metrics are tools that can help you see where you are and where you want to go. I have found that when I provide my team with clear goals and ways to measure impact, that is when change and momentum happen.
We are very blessed that very prominent leaders read this column. Is there a person in the world who you would like to talk to, to share the idea behind your nonprofit? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
I would like to talk to Warren Buffett, because I believe that he is an inspirational figure who has done a lot in his career. On top of being a successful entrepreneur, he has made generous contributions to a variety of nonprofit organizations, such as the Gates Foundation and his family’s foundations, as well as pledging to donate a large portion of his wealth to philanthropy.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson” Quote? How is that relevant to you in your life?
My favorite quote is one by Marcus Aurelius. The quote is often paraphrased as “The Obstacle Is the Way,” but the full quote reads “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” The quote means that obstacles and challenges can actually be opportunities for growth and progress.
I’ve discovered that this principle holds true in every aspect of my life. When I choose to perceive obstacles as opportunities, adversity and pain become teachers and in that I find the path forward.
How can our readers follow you online?
Readers can follow me and United Way of Southern Nevada through our social media channels:
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This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success in your mission.
Samuel Rudd Of United Way of Southern Nevada (UWSN) On 5 Things You Need To Know To Successfully… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.