Caring in Common: A Customer Spotlight on Zachary Beasley

How long have you been working for your organization?

Four years.

What’s a typical day in your role like?

Here at the River Region United Way (RRUW), I work with over 100 volunteers to respond to immediate needs, assess the needs of the community, and advocate on their behalf.

My day varies based on the time of year. Daily, I receive requests for immediate assistance for disaster relief/emergency assistance (i.e., house fire, eviction, or even relocation due to domestic violence). During the Fall, I work closely with our Community Impact Council (CIC) to identify the greatest needs in our Five County Region (Autauga, Elmore, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery). Once these needs are identified, the Allocations Committee (AC) calls for grant/agency applications to address these needs which are hosted through Andar.

In the Spring, I work alongside our volunteers to allocate funds to address the needs that were identified by the CIC in the annual needs assessment and provide accountability to those agencies through measuring outcomes they report.

During the summer months, I work closely with community leaders to encourage summer reading amongst elementary students. We improve the quality of life of our community through addressing the health, education, financial stability, and basic needs of the youth we work with through our Days of Action project. This year, our program is designed to teach children how food is grown, the importance of proper diet and nutrition through reading and activities.

Then there is a short break before the Fall, and we gear up to assess the needs of the community.

Above: Zachary participating in the 2019 Days of Action.

What motivates you to come to work every day?

I wake up every morning, ready to come to work, knowing that the work I do today creates a better future for the next generation.

What’s your favourite aspect of your job?

The thing I love most about my job is knowing that what I do directly impacts our community in a meaningful way!

What are your biggest professional challenges?

My biggest professional challenge is knowing that the needs always outweigh the resources.

Above: Many United Way events wouldn't be possible without the participation of community partners. Seen here, Zachary thanking the Learning Table Community Education Partners.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor? Can you tell us why?

If I could choose anyone as a mentor, I would select Dave Ramsey. Dave is a Christian, financial counselor, businessman, and radio host who encourages his listeners to “dump their debt, take control of their money, and learn new behaviors around money that are founded on commitment and accountability.” By following Dave’s principles, my family and I have greatly benefited from his advice.

What’s your personal mantra?

Serving is not what I do; it’s who I am.

Do you have hobbies outside of work? What are they?

From an early age, I took a great interest in architecture. Paired with a passion to serve, I purchase old houses, renovate them, and offer them back to the community at a subsidized rate via leasing/buying.

Above: Another hobby of Zachary's is kayaking.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure is Haribo’s Gummy Dinosaurs.

Caring in Common is a spotlight series that showcases different nonprofit professionals on the last Friday of each month. The goal is to highlight Andar Software customers from all walks of life, levels of experience, and areas of expertise. Their answers will inspire you, give you insight about the nonprofit industry, and motivate you on both a professional and personal level.