United Way of Northwest Vermont — an organization dedicated to improving lives and advancing the common good in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties – has hired Liz Gamache as director of business development and donor relations.

In her role, Liz will oversee business development, individual and workplace giving strategies and marketing and communications under a newly reorganized department, working to:

• Strengthen relationships through individual and major gift philanthropy that will support the organization’s strategic priorities and overall impact in the community.

• Enhance and expand United Way’s relationships with the business community to support both their employees and the community at large, including United Way’s Working Bridges program.

• Further the organization’s mission by generating new revenue through grants and public/private partnerships.

Liz comes to United Way with an extensive leadership background. She was most recently the interim director of the Preservation Trust of Vermont and the mayor of the City of St. Albans from 2012 to 2018 while simultaneously serving as vice president for grants and community investments of the Vermont Community Foundation. Before that, she was executive director of Efficiency Vermont and manager of corporate services for the Vermont Electric Co-op. Liz has a history of extensive service as a volunteer director on many nonprofit boards in Vermont.

Liz is no stranger to Vermont United Ways. She has worked for Franklin-Grand Isle United Way (now United Way of Northwest Vermont) and has also worked with current United Way leadership to develop a business plan for United Way’s Working Bridges Initiative, an initiative that helps stabilize Vermont workers by bringing resources and financial stability programs to the workplace to help solve complicated life issues.

 “As we recover from the pandemic, United Way’s community-driven approach is more relevant than ever. Together, we can address the most pressing unmet needs, while advocating for long-term changes that improve the social and economic systems in our region,” said Gamache. “I’m thrilled to be working with United Way’s dedicated volunteers, donors, partners and staff to work for strong, healthy and vibrant communities in Northwest Vermont.”

“As a leader in community and economic development, Liz understands both the power of multi-sector partnership and the strategic impact of relationship-based philanthropy. We are thrilled for her to join our team in the year ahead as we continue to mobilize our community around an inclusive and just recovery from COVID-19. The problems we face are not new, they are all only exacerbated by the pandemic. Adding Liz to our team will help guide our innovative and systemic approach to addressing our communities most complex problems,” said Jesse Bridges, CEO of United Way of Northwest Vermont.

Liz was born in Binghamton, NY and graduated from Burlington High School. She has a bachelor’s in business administration from the University of Vermont. She lives in St. Albans with her husband, Ted, and their two rescue dogs. Together they share five adult children and a few grandchildren.