President and CEO
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County | Milwaukee
Amy Lindner is the president and CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. During Lindner’s tenure, the organization has raised more than $300 million through its annual community campaigns and prioritized the initiatives of ending family homelessness, reducing barriers to employment and advancement, ensuring digital equity and improving mental wellness among teens. Previously, Lindner was president and CEO of Milwaukee-based nonprofit Meta House and a partner at Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; J.D., University of Notre Dame
Highlights from the past 12 months: “In December 2023, we announced that as part of our Safe and Stable Homes work, we have met all of the criteria from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to be able to say we’ve ended family homelessness in both Milwaukee and Ozaukee Counties.”
What would you do if you could choose another career: “I have the best job in town. But I do think I would have loved to be a Foreign Service Officer for the State Department.”
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Like everywhere, we’d be closer to solutions if we leaned in on solving real problems in our community instead of looking at who to blame for where we are.”
Your secret talent: “I’m learning how to rhythm roller dance – basically dancing on roller skates. But I can’t seem to stop talking about it, so maybe it doesn’t count as a secret?”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Nonprofits and Education
President and CEO
United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
Attorney and nonprofit leader Amy Lindner was selected in 2018 to succeed Mary Lou Young as United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County’s president and CEO. Since then, Lindner has overseen the organization’s ambitious plan to end family homelessness in metro Milwaukee and has leveraged a $25 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott to advance United Way’s racial equity efforts.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; J.D., University of Notre Dame
First job: “Murf’s Frozen Custard on West Avenue in Waukesha. Importantly, I learned I do best in a fast-paced environment with lots of new challenges. Less vitally, I learned a ‘Black Cow’ made with orange soda is a ‘Florida Cow,’ and it’s delicious.”
How would you spend a one-year sabbatical: “Six months of travel to new places, six months on a great beach with a never-ending stack of books.”
Nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you: “It feels like cheating to answer this one, but yes, the work of United Way and the incredible people who choose to support our work both help to ensure that tens of thousands of people across our region have the day-to-day help they might need today and that we’re collectively working to solve big problems that we need and deserve solutions for.”
As you enter your office, what would you choose to be your walk-up or theme song: “Bill Withers, ‘Lovely Day.’ Because whatever else is happening, every day has beauty and is a gift.”
