Michael Wilkos is Vice President of Community Engagement at United Way of Central Ohio. His works
with a team that develops effective strategies to improve our community and invests in programs
provided by more than 65 funded nonprofit partners to implement these strategies. The work of United
Way of Central Ohio is focused on supporting the most vulnerable people in our community through
investments in meeting basic needs for families and supporting children to achieve Success by Third
Grade, the organization’s main goal.
Prior to joining United Way, Michael held serve as a Senior Grants Officer and Director of Community
Research at The Columbus Foundation. During his tenure at the foundation he initiated, led, and managed
competitive grant-making to support holistic community revitalization in Weinland Park, an effort to
stabilize and revitalize a mixed-income community near The Ohio State University where he has resided
since 2008. Additionally, he provided direction and management for many categories of grantmaking at
The Columbus Foundation and affiliated funds including The Joseph A. Jeffrey Fund, The Columbus
Youth Foundation and the Ingram-White Castle Foundation.
Prior to joining The Columbus Foundation, Michael served as Senior Impact Director and Director of
Neighborhood Development at United Way of Central Ohio. In that position he managed program
allocations supporting neighborhood development strategies. Among many other duties, he also directed
volunteer involvement in developing and implementing strategies supporting housing and community
safety programs.
Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and a Master of City and Regional Planning
degree from The Ohio State University. He has served on many boards including: Columbus and Franklin
County Continuum of Care which oversees program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development to respond to homelessness, Franklin County Community Economic Development Advisory
Board, United Neighborhood Centers of America, Columbus Landmarks Foundation and Columbus
Neighborhood Design Center, Converge Columbus, Emergency Food and Shelter Board, Economic
Mobility Coalition, The Buckeye Flame, SID Public Services and has served as a commissioner for both
Italian Village and the University District.
He is a sought after presenter on topics ranging from neighborhood revitalization, poverty, economic
mobility, segregation, redlining, gentrification, history and demographics.
