JESSICA MUROFF

CEO, UNITED WAY SUNCOAST, TAMPA

Muroff left a career at Raymond James a decade ago to join the nonprofit sector, later becoming CEO of United Way Suncoast in 2019. Employing 65, the organization serves DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota counties by focusing on early learning, youth success and financial stability. It partners with more than 400 nonprofits across the region to answer more than 500,000 service requests annually. In 2024, following Hurricanes Milton and Helene, it invested $1.2 million in recovery efforts.

EDUCATION: University of South Florida (BA, MA)

FIRST JOB: Serving as Student Body President at the University of South Florida, where I acted as CEO of a $4.6-million organization, managing four agencies and over 150 student and staff employees.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I’ve always had a deep love for animals — I grew up surrounded by just about every creature you can imagine: horses, goats, snakes, hedgehogs, even African jungle cats! ... These days, I have three cats and two dogs who keep things lively and constantly remind me what compassion and love looks like.

INDUSTRY TREND: The increasing use of technology and data to drive decision-making, improve outcomes, and scale impact. From leveraging real-time data to inform strategy, to using digital tools for community engagement and service delivery, nonprofits are embracing innovation like never before. This shift is transforming how we measure success and deepen trust, enabling more targeted, equitable, and transparent solutions.