Mike K. Durkin, President and Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley

Mike Durkin is a humble man. Durkin is President and CEO of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, a post he’s held for 8 years in an organization he’s been a part of for nearly 40 years. Though he has spent his entire career making a positive impact on the world, what he’s most proud of is carving out the opportunity for others to make a difference. “We’re giving a lot of people the opportunity to take heroic acts,” says Durkin of his work at the country’s largest charity, “To extend themselves even further than they thought they could, and in doing so, to help transform lives.”

A lifelong devotee to community service, Durkin joined the United Way after graduating from Boston College, drawn to the prospect of paying off his college loans by doing fulfilling work. He’s been described by colleagues as “someone who is as comfortable in a homeless shelter as in a corporate boardroom,” and insists his job has never been just a job, but rather a fortunate place from which to help the less fortunate.

As a leader, Durkin exudes passion—not the fist-on-the-podium kind, but the kind that makes people lean in and listen. He regularly creates opportunities for staff (especially more junior staff) to come close to the work through volunteering or taking a tour of a United Way–supported organization. Durkin believes that seeing their impact firsthand helps his staff understand what the organization is really trying to achieve. “If I can line up our organization to do its best work,” he says, “We have an incredible capacity to affect the lives of people who need help.”

To Durkin, even small but significant acts can have great impact. A poignant example is a decision he made during his 14-year tenure as CEO of Mile High United Way in Denver, Colorado. The city was spearheading a community-wide effort to end homelessness and needed additional shelters for homeless men. Durkin and his team transformed their own boardroom into a temporary shelter, setting up cots and providing a safe place for 60 to 80 men to sleep at night. It stayed that way for eight months. Durkin recalls that neighbors responded in kind—one hosted a cookout for the men, another held a sock and coat drive. He is proud of the unorthodox decision because it inspired others to take action.  Says Durkin, “We just knew it was the right thing to do.”

We encourage you to join us in supporting the United Way by making a donation or volunteering through the United Way.