Barbara Couto Sipe

President & CEO

Meet our President & CEO

Barbara Couto Sipe serves as the President and CEO of United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg, bringing a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership and community impact. Prior to this role, she led NextUp RVA, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting Richmond Public School and City teens with high-quality afterschool enrichment programs. Barbara also previously served as Vice President of Community Impact and Director of Smart Beginnings Greater Richmond at United Way. A proud graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, she holds a Bachelor of Social Work and remains deeply committed to driving meaningful change for individuals, families and communities across the region.