Barry Tyler Jr. brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, education, and public service to his role on United Way Northwest Indiana’s executive leadership team. As a leader of community impact strategy, he works to align resources, strengthen partnerships, and advance solutions that improve the well-being of individuals and families across Lake, Porter, Jasper, Newton, and Starke counties.
His work encompasses community investment and grantmaking, program development and evaluation, and collaboration with nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, and community leaders. Through this work, Tyler helps advance United Way Northwest Indiana’s focus areas of financial stability, youth opportunity, healthy communities, and community resiliency.
Prior to joining United Way Northwest Indiana, Tyler worked at The Chicago Public Education Fund, focusing on education policy, stakeholder engagement, and strategies to strengthen school leadership and student outcomes. His previous leadership roles include Indiana Director for Empower Schools, Director of Regional Impact for Leadership for Educational Equity, and Senior Director of Secondary Partnerships for OneGoal Chicago.
Tyler has deep roots in Northwest Indiana philanthropy and youth development. As a program officer at Legacy Foundation, he managed a $20 million initiative to improve high school graduation rates and strengthened accountability systems for grant recipients. As Director of Northwest Indiana for Teach For America, he raised more than $2 million over four years while building partnerships with schools and community organizations. He also served as Executive Director of The First Tee of Hammond, expanding access to youth programming, academic enrichment, and mentoring.
In addition to his professional work, Tyler has served as Hammond’s Third District Councilman since 2020 and has contributed to United Way Northwest Indiana through committee service. His community leadership has been recognized with The Times’ “20 Under 40” honor and the Clarence Collins “Keeper of the Dream Award.”
Tyler is a graduate of Wabash College, where he studied speech and political science. He lives in Hammond with his wife, Erin, and their twin sons, Barry III and Bryant.