'An incredible honor to be chosen’: Women United's Rebecca Lynch to serve on global council

Rebecca Lynch (contributed photo)

It’s a staggering statistic.  

In Indiana, 75% of households headed by single mothers are in poverty or considered ALICE, meaning they earn above the Federal Poverty Level but not enough to afford a basic household budget. That’s the highest rate of financial hardship of any demographic group in the state, according to United Way data.  

The number strikes Rebecca Lynch. A single mom herself, this is her demographic.  

Lynch said she’s fortunate: She hasn’t needed assistance to get by. But the data serves as a calling to lend a hand.  

“For me, that’s a huge driving factor to give back, when I realize that so many other people in my position are in need,” Lynch said.  

For nearly 30 years, Lynch has served the community as an advocate, ambassador, committee chair, board member, donor and volunteer with United Way of Central Indiana.  

Now, she’ll add a new role to the list: member of the Women United Global Leadership Council.  

In July, Lynch was appointed to a three-year term with the council, an advisory body with United Way Worldwide that seeks to advance opportunities for women – including gender equity and affordable, quality education and child care – in nearly 200 communities around the world.  

“It was an incredible honor to be chosen ... and to serve alongside these women that have done so much in their own communities,” Lynch said. “I just was absolutely humbled and excited to be part of that.”   

Volunteerism and philanthropy have been part of Lynch’s life since she was 19. Then in college, she volunteered at a soup kitchen as part of a campus ministry, and she spoke with those she served.  

“Being able to sit down and talk to someone who’s on the receiving end of services like that is really humbling and eye-opening to the needs of the community. I was hooked from there,” Lynch said. 

Her journey with United Way began in 1997, when she moved to Indianapolis and began working for Eli Lilly and Company. A turning point came in 2011, when Lynch became a United Way ambassador for Lilly’s workplace fundraising campaign: She saw the inner-workings of the organization, visited nonprofits funded by United Way and saw firsthand where donors’ dollars were going.  

She’s made a point since to bring others to those agencies, including Children’s TherAplay, Little Red Door Cancer Agency and Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. The visits are among her most memorable experiences with United Way.  

At Mary Rigg, she learned of a survey of local children, who were asked: If you could have one thing to help you do better in school, what would it be?  

The answer? Dinner.  

“When I heard that story, it was very emotional to me,” Lynch said. “That to me just touched my heart.” 

Lynch led the United Way engagement committee for Lilly. And in 2021, she became chair of Women United, a position she held for three years, along with a board seat.  

The local Women United chapter has two signature causes, early childhood education and gender equity, and three signature partners with whom they volunteer: DayStar Childcare and Infant Learning Center, St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center and Visually Impaired Preschool Services.  

Another highlight of Lynch’s service with United Way came in 2022, when the nonprofit brought Stephanie Land, bestselling author of the memoir “Maid,” to speak in Indianapolis. Leading up to Land’s keynote, United Way and Women United hosted a free, three-part educational series on the “benefits cliff,” early childhood education and domestic violence survivorship, three topics covered in Land’s book and the Netflix miniseries adapted from it.  

In the years to come, Lynch hopes to increase engagement and visibility for Women United and the work it does – including building a bigger pipeline for philanthropists to join the group. Lynch would like to see a statewide alliance connecting Women United groups from across Indiana, particularly around advocacy efforts. Women United advocates for affordable, accessible pre-K for Hoosier children. 

Looking ahead to her work on the Women United Global Leadership Council, Lynch thinks of her favorite part of the Women United value statement: “At its core, Women United provides its members connection – connection to the community, connection to each other and connection to self.” 

Serving in her new role will allow her those connections: A chance to make a bigger impact and bring back what she learns. A chance to discover what else she can do to advance the causes she loves. And a chance to build relationships with other philanthropic women.  

The friendships she’s made with Women United members locally have been invaluable, she said: “These are women that are incredible leaders in the community. I’ve learned so much from them.” 

“I feel like my life is better because of them.”  

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