The Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit for 2024

Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit for 2024. These inspiring women are at the helm of organizations and initiatives dedicated to making a positive impact on communities, families, and individuals around the world. Their work spans a range of causes, including healthcare, education, the environment, and social justice. As nonprofit leaders, they balance mission-driven work with team building, leadership, and growth all while demonstrating empathy, emotional intelligence, and a deep commitment to their causes. 

First, we honor Isis Dallis, Executive Director of Climate Nexus. With over 20 years of experience in building teams, leading companies, and transforming organizational cultures, Dallis is deeply committed to climate action, solutions, and justice.

We also honor Shane Woods, Executive Director of Girlstart, a nonprofit organization that engages girls in informal educational opportunities in STEM fields. Woods began her career as a middle school science teacher, and after 17 years on the job, rising to the level of assistant principal, she made the transition to nonprofit leadership.

We also honor Shane Woods, Executive Director of Girlstart, a women-led nonprofit organization that offers year-round out-of-school STEM programs for girls in grades 4-8. Under Woods’ leadership, Girlstart recently celebrated 25 years of empowering girls through informal educational opportunities in STEM fields.

Finally, we celebrate the accomplishments of Iara Peng, the Founder and CEO of JustFund. After 25 years of startup experience, Peng launched JustFund.us, an innovative online portal that connects grantmakers directly to organizations to help move resources more quickly while facilitating greater trust, transparency, and accountability across funder communities.

Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders in Non-Profit for 2024.

1. Candance Patel-Taylor
VP, Communications & Marketing, Concern Worldwide US

Today, Candance Patel-Taylor is the Vice President of Communications and Marketing at Concern Worldwide US, an international humanitarian organization committed to the relief, assistance, and advancement of the poorest people in the least developed countries of the world. Patel-Taylor leads a team of passionate storytellers responsible for communicating Concern’s mission of ending extreme poverty.

With over 16 years of marketing and fundraising experience, Patel-Taylor started her career at Concern as the regional development manager for the Midwest Office. In that role, she was responsible for individual giving and event activities, including major donor stewardship, regional public awareness, corporate relationship management, and new donor engagement. One year and a global pandemic later, Patel-Taylor spearheaded the transformation of Concern’s special events into exciting virtual engagement opportunities, such as Women of Concern presents WORK OF ART and the Concern Global Gala: Unite to Fight Hunger.

Patel-Taylor brings a celebration of culture, traditions, and diversity to everything she creates. For her, there is no greater joy than supporting their programming team and participants in telling their stories to garner support, policy change, and awareness for those experiencing extreme poverty. Patel-Taylor holds a BA in Marketing Communications, Public Relations, and Black World Studies from Columbia College Chicago. She hails from Wisconsin and is a former resident of Accra, Ghana, and London, UK. She now calls Chicago home with her husband and two children. 

3. Janice Hurtado Aeppli
Senior VP, Chapter Operations, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 

Janice Hurtado Aeppli joined the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in 2006 as the Midwest regional director, where she worked with the Illinois Chapter to grow the Chicago community walk to be the number one fundraising walk in the country. She was the first to serve as a division director when AFSP’s division structure was first implemented in 2008 and then became senior director for the Central Division in 2015. In her current role as Senior Vice President of Chapter Operations, she is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic management, growth, and development of AFSP’s national chapter structure.

Before joining AFSP, Aeppli worked for United Way placing and training corporate women and people of color to serve on nonprofit boards of directors. She has worked and volunteered on the board level with national nonprofit organizations, such as United Way, the YWCA, AIDSWalk, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Her expertise includes work in board development, capacity building, diversity inclusion, volunteer recruitment, conflict resolution, fundraising, marketing and communications, event planning, and nonprofit management. 

Aeppli attended Binghamton University, where she received a degree in political science, and she holds a Master’s degree in Public Relations from Syracuse University. She also has an executive certificate for diversity and inclusion from Cornell University.

Colleen Ridenhour is the Chief Growth and Strategy Officer of Feed the Children. Established in 1979,  Feed the Children is committed to ending childhood hunger. It is one of the leading anti-hunger organizations and provides children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive. In addition to food, the organization distributes household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, Feed the Children expands access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene, and training in sustainable living.  

In her role, Ridenhour is responsible for leading Feed the Children's new five-year strategic plan to advance the organization's mission, growth strategy, and impact as the nonprofit approaches its 50th-year milestone anniversary. She is committed to driving the organization to pursue innovative, holistic,  and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty. A key pillar of the new strategy is a comprehensive brand refresh grounded in over a year of donor and consumer research led by Ridenhour. In addition to her oversight of strategy and marketing, Colleen is charged with scaling Feed the Children’s fundraising programs and transforming US program development and implementation to ensure the organization's increased contribution to eliminating childhood hunger.  

Before joining Feed the Children, Ridenhour was a chief development officer at Habitat for Humanity  International, and before that held positions at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and City of Hope  Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to entering the nonprofit sector, Colleen served in several roles in advertising and entertainment marketing including DMB&B Advertising (Mediavest), In Demand, E!  Entertainment Television, and The Style Network. Ridenhour graduated from Wake Forest University with an undergraduate degree in health and sports science.

7. Deborah Gokie
VP, Consumer Health & Ease of Use, Arthritis Foundation

Deborah Gokie is the Vice President of Consumer Health and Ease of Use at the Arthritis Foundation, leading innovative collaborative partnerships for the foundation, overseeing the licensing program, and focusing on easy-to-use design elements for packages and products in the market today. More than 60 million Americans and many children live with arthritis, and the Arthritis Foundation is boldly pursuing a cure for America's number one cause of disability while championing the fight to conquer arthritis with life-changing science, resources, advocacy, and community connections. 

With over 25 years in the nonprofit industry, Gokie is a mission-centered, innovative strategic fundraising leader who drives outcomes through integrated strategies. She can identify opportunities, foresee barriers, and implement plans to complete company objectives. Her proven ability to cultivate and sustain relationships at the highest levels with corporate partners, donors, staff, volunteers, and community members has led to successful long-lasting partnerships throughout her career. 

Gokie is a successful leader and strategic visionary who drives cross-functional collaborations resulting in the achievement and growth of organizational goals. She has presented at several leadership workshops for women and has had the fortunate experience of being supported by many women in her career. Gokie attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney with a focus on business, management, and marketing.

10. Rita Gardner
President & CEO, Melmark 

Rita Gardner is the President and CEO of Melmark, where she leads operations and management of the service divisions in New England, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas. She previously served as the executive director of Melmark New England, which she co-founded in 1998. She also founded Melmark Carolinas in 2018 and a second New England day school in 2022. Gardner and Melmark New England were honored to be named on The Women’s Edge list of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts for six consecutive years from 2018 to 2023. She was honored with the CBIZ National Women Transforming Business Financial Strength Award, as well as the CBIZ Overall Winner Award, in 2022. She received the Excellence in Autism Award presented by Mental Health News Education in 2024.

Gardner is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and a trained public health professional who has devoted over 40 years of her professional career to the field of community-based services for children and adults with the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), intellectual and developmental disabilities, acquired brain injuries, severe challenging behaviors, and medical fragility. She is an accomplished and persistent legislative advocate. Her public policy work has positively impacted services for individuals diagnosed with autism and developmental disabilities throughout the US. She advocates for professional behavior analysts, being one of the citizen writers of the Massachusetts Behavior Analyst licensing legislation. Gardner also serves on advisory committees with the Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) and Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM). She is a founding board member of the National Council of Autism Providers (CASP), and she serves on the advisory board of the Virginia Institute of Autism. She was on the Governor’s Autism Commission under two Governors in Massachusetts and is a past president of the board of directors for the Massachusetts Association of Approved Private Schools (MAAPS). She serves on the Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability Board of Directors.

Gardner has co-authored numerous books, written book chapters, and peer-reviewed articles for professional journals, and she’s made several presentations on women’s leadership, women in behavior analysis, program expansion, organizational behavior management, special education, adult services, board development, and more recently managing programs during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading COVID-19 vaccine education program town halls at local, regional, and national levels. She is considered an organizational behavior management expert in applied human service settings. Gardner earned her Master of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences and Health Services Administration from Boston University’s School of Public Health in the School of Medicine.

11. Beth Alexander
VP, Development, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

Beth Alexander is the Vice President of Development at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. She is a tireless, results-driven leader with more than 25 years of leadership in sectors from nonprofits to media to public companies. For more than 60 years, the locally operated nonprofit organization Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee has provided job training and job placement free of charge to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment through the sale of donated items. 

A former contributing editor for the Nashville Scene, Alexander was an editor and publisher at Nfocus magazine for eight years, increasing circulation by 50% and ad sales by 30% year-over-year for more than four consecutive years. A skilled editor and writer, she has led marketing and communications for a full-service financial institution, directed and executed internal and external communications; developed collateral materials for sales teams; and created internal and external campaign management, communications briefs, and messaging as needed for the founding CEO. 

A committed volunteer nationally and locally, Alexander has served as president of the Leadership Nashville Alumni Association and nine other nonprofit boards. A national public speaker for voluntarism and trainer in communications, group growth and dynamics, motivation, and fundraising, Alexander designed and conducted training around the US in communications and motivation. She has led diversity training and development as an Association of Junior Leagues international board member and served on the boards of Family Service America and the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, advocating for children on local, regional, and national levels. Her community fundraising record consistently includes sold-out events with typical results 33% higher than the prior year. Alexander earned an undergraduate degree in marketing management from the ABA School of Bank Marketing.

14. Catherine Milone
Chief Development Officer, Junior Achievement USA

Catherine Milone joined Junior Achievement USA in 2022, after 18 years as president of the organization’s statewide operation in NJ. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as Chief Development Officer, Milone leads JA USA’s development strategies that support the organization’s transformational goals and operational objectives. 

Before JA USA, Milone was president of JA New Jersey, where she managed statewide operations impacting one million New Jersey youth during her tenure. Since 2004, she and her team expanded JA NJ by 455% and have been awarded five national Peak Performance Team Awards and the coveted Charles R. Hook Award, JA USA’s most prestigious honor recognizing an area president and staff for their outstanding performance. 

Milone serves as an independent director for the KearnyBank Foundation and is a member of the board of trustees for Focus NJ, Inc. She was appointed to the NJ State Employment and Training Commission in 2016 and is chair of their Youth Vision Council. Her acknowledgments include NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business; NJBIA Leonard C. Johnson Award; African American Chamber of Commerce NJ 2022 Women Who Empower; YWCA Princeton Tribute to Women; and Muriel Siebert Financial Literacy Partnership Award. She is a graduate of Lead New Jersey, Class of 2011. Milone has a BS in Business and Marketing.


View the complete list of awardees.

15. Tyese Lawyer
President & CEO, Our House, Inc.

Tyese Lawyer is the President and CEO of Our House, Inc. At Our House, they provide a pathway to stability and independence for families experiencing homelessness through access to health care, early childhood education, housing, and employment. Their interrelated programs address the root causes of homelessness and ensure every family that leaves Our House has the tools needed to achieve lasting self-sufficiency.

Before stepping into her current role in 2004, Lawyer served as the deputy executive director for Northwest Settlement House in Washington DC. Before that, she was the social services director and head start program director at Bright Beginnings, Inc. in DC. Earlier in her career, she served the New York Council on Adoptable Children in New York City as the family care coordinator.

Lawyer holds a Master’s degree in Psychology. She has worked with vulnerable and at-risk populations for more than two decades with over 20 years of experience in managing nonprofit programs for homeless and low-income families. She has also served as a NAEYC Validator and presently serves as chair of the DeKalb County Continuum of Care Board of Directors.

16. Nina Longino
Executive Director, iMentor

Nina Longino is an Executive Director of iMentor. Since 1999, iMentor has connected more than 30,000 students with mentors. It builds mentoring relationships that empower students to graduate high school, succeed in college, and achieve their ambitions. 

In this role, Longino leads all aspects of the iMentor 1:1 mentoring program in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), building on the team’s successes with their five CPS partner schools and navigating opportunities to grow and better serve the city. She came to iMentor Chicago in 2018 from Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community (WCPC), a South Side Chicago nonprofit modeled on the Harlem Children’s Zone. She spent eight years at WCPC, the last two as executive director.

Before coming to Chicago, Longino worked in higher education as the assistant dean for multicultural affairs at Fordham University. She is a graduate of Tufts University and is a past fellow of the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy.

18. Jennifer Harris
Senior VP, Philanthropy, National Park Foundation 

As the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy for the National Park Foundation (NPF), Jennifer Harris oversees a team of more than 20 philanthropy experts, supporting NPF's campaign team, planned and annual giving efforts, donor relations, strategic services, and prospect research and portfolio management. Her team annually generates over $30 million a year to support the national parks. Working with her team and other NPF colleagues, Harris focuses on strategic, systematic growth. 

Specializing in research-driven solutions for nonprofit organizations throughout her career, she has a proven record of developing and harnessing strategic plans, community partnerships, board networks, strong teams, and relationships to drive significant fundraising outcomes. Before the National Park Foundation, Harris was a senior vice president at Graham-Pelton, where she worked with national and global nonprofits to drive fundraising outcomes and operational excellence. She also previously worked at Northwestern Memorial Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Northwestern Medicine. While there, she developed and launched a comprehensive community granting program. She created a strategic plan and strategy, which helped secure the largest historic gift at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage. 

Harris has served in numerous advancement roles, including executive director of advancement at National Louis University (NLU), where she led the team to secure its most significant historical grants. Under her leadership at NLU, the organization more than tripled fundraising in four years. She is also the volunteer publisher and editorial director of JackLeg Press. She and her family are often out and about in DC, hiking in Rock Creek Park or riding bikes around the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

19. Stacey Masson
VP, Marketing & Communications, The YMCAs of Québec

Stacey is a natural-born entrepreneur who identifies the needs of an organization and then uses her creativity to design and implement effective solutions to address them. Her exceptional leadership ability, strategic savvy, and work ethic underpin her mandate at the YMCAs of Québec. As the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, she’s responsible for building integrated marketing communications strategies and awareness around the charity's social impact. She is an impassioned supporter of people who excel as a coach or mentors, challenging team members to achieve their highest potential. 

Over her more than 20-year career, Masson has created and carried out powerful strategies across regions, languages, and cultures while holding prestigious roles at organizations like Cossette, TELUS, Hydro-Québec, Germain Hôtels, and the YMCAs of Québec. These roles have allowed her to hone her skills in marketing and communications, customer experience, corporate social responsibility, public affairs, equity, diversity, and inclusion. She is an alumna of the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. Masson was named among Concordia University’s 50 Under 50 Shaping Tomorrow and among the Top 50 Women Leaders of Montreal by Women We Admire. 

Masson is actively engaged in the community and currently sits on the board of directors for ART Souterrain, an organization that aims to make contemporary art more accessible, as well as on the YMCA of Québec’s Alternative Suspension Social Impact Bond Board and the Communications Committee for Mission Inclusion. She has led a mission for Public Relations Without Borders in Bolivia and volunteered for MU, an organization that works to beautify Montréal through mural art. She’s been an ambassador for La Ruche, a crowdfunding platform that promotes projects with a positive impact on local economies through citizen engagement. Masson holds an undergraduate degree in communications studies and studied photography at Concordia University. She is fluent in English, French, and Spanish and splits most of her time between Montréal and Gatineau, Québec.

21. Christian Nunes
National President, National Organization for Women

Christian Nunes became the National Organization for Women’s National President in August 2020. She was previously appointed vice president by the board in May 2019. As the second African-American president in the organization’s history, the youngest person of color, and the youngest president in more than 40 years, Nunes is leading the organization through an intersectional lens, bringing a diverse coalition of grassroots activists to work against structural sexism and racism. She is a former NOW board member and committee chair, as well as a licensed clinical social worker, consultant, and woman-minority business owner.  She is an active community organizer and public speaker, regularly featured at events, such as the March for Black Women, and Women’s March Events, and rallies around the country in support of the Equal Rights Amendment and immigration rights.  

Along with her activism for mental health, Nunes has more than 20 years of experience advocating for children’s and women’s issues. Since assuming a leadership role at NOW, Nunes has launched key initiatives, such as the Unlock the Future campaign, which demands humane treatment for detained immigrant families, in particular women and girls seeking refuge from sexual violence, assault, and poverty. She led the creation of a Bill of Rights for Immigrant Women and Girls, which has been signed by thousands of supporters and co-sponsors. She is also spearheading racial equity training for all levels of the organization, including NOW’s grassroots membership. Nunes is the founder of a behavioral health and consulting practice, where she assisted social service and behavioral health companies, and provided direct mental health services to individuals and families. Her expertise in mental health helps her to understand the direct experience of constituents and understand, where policy and legislation are disconnected from the real experience of the people. 

Nunes received her undergraduate degree in social work from Northern Arizona University, her MS from Columbia University, and her MBA from the University of Phoenix.

22. Shane Woods
Executive Director, Girlstart

Shane Woods is Girlstart’s Executive Director. Girlstart is an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit organization celebrating 25 years of engaging girls in informal educational opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Despite making up nearly half of the US workforce and holding as many undergraduate degrees as men overall, women are still vastly underrepresented in the STEM workforce and among STEM degree holders. Through its comprehensive programming of after-school, summer camp, and community STEM events, Girlstart provides a year-round, intensive suite of STEM education programs for thousands of K-12 girls each year.

Previously, Woods acted as the senior director of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas STEM Center of Excellence, which is a 92-acre living laboratory, where kids of all ages can explore and develop their competence and confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math while cultivating essential skills, such as confidence, resilience, leadership, risk-taking, and problem-solving. She began her career in education, and over 17 years in the field, she rose to the level of assistant principal. 

Woods has a BS in Biology from the Xavier University of New Orleans and a Master of Science in Education, Middle-level Science, and Mathematics from Walden University.

23. Isis Dallis
Executive Director, Climate Nexus

Isis Dallis is an accomplished brand strategist, communications professional, and executive leader with over 20 years of experience building teams, leading companies, and transforming organizational cultures. In her role as Executive Director of Climate Nexus, Dallis brings her deep commitment to climate action, solutions, and justice, as well as a range of experience, working for a variety of large advertising agencies, well-known consumer brands, purpose-driven consultancies, and her nonprofit. Throughout her career, her focus has been at the intersection of strategic communications, social impact, and organizational management, leveraging the power of narrative change and design thinking to drive cultural, behavioral, and systemic change.

Before joining Climate Nexus, Dallis served as a managing partner for award-winning social impact consultancy and B Corporation Matter Unlimited, where she was responsible for growth, driving operational excellence, and building an empathetic and high-performing team culture. Under her leadership, the agency was recognized with multiple Anthem and Fast Company Innovation Awards, and in 2022, Matter was recognized as Inc. Magazine’s Best in Business. 

Dallis has an exceptional talent for connecting cultural signals to business trends and offering valuable insights. Her thought leadership has been featured in renowned publications, such as Fast Company and Quartz, where she provides thought-provoking analysis and commentary on the intersections of culture, business, and social impact. In addition, she is also a fierce advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, and has been cited in various industry-leading publications, including The Business of Race. Dallis holds dual degrees in sociology and African and African American studies, as well as a certificate in markets and management studies from Duke University.


View the complete list of awardees.

27. Maryum Lewis
Chief Executive Officer, Status: Home

Maryum Lewis currently serves as the President and CEO of Status: Home, Inc. (formerly known as Jerusalem House). In this role, Lewis directs all operations, oversees staff, and strategizes fundraising activities for the organization, which is Atlanta’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS permanent supportive housing provider. Status: Home is one of the 75 largest nonprofits in Atlanta with a budget of $8.8 million and a staff of close to 50. Each year, the organization houses close to 400 people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Lewis came to Status: Home in 2021 with over two decades of diverse nonprofit leadership experience, including executive, fundraising, organizational management, board leadership, volunteer management, and consulting. She earned a BA in English from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Georgia State University, and she studied at Harvard Business School in 2023 in the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program. She is a past faculty member at the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, a 2018 graduate of Leadership DeKalb, and 2019 Chair of National Philanthropy Day.

Lewis previously served on the board of the DeKalb Library Foundation, The Museum School of Avondale Estates, and the Community Advisory Board of the Georgia State University Prevention Research Council. In 2022 and 2023, she was selected as a Georgia Titan 100, one of Georgia’s Top CEOs and C-Level Executives. In addition, she is a proud member of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 2023. She currently serves on the board of directors for the National HIV/AIDS Housing Coalition. 

29. Louisa Imperiale
Chief Advancement Officer, Issue One

Louisa Imperiale is a veteran political and nonprofit leader. After spending over a decade leading national political fundraising efforts and witnessing the corrupting influence of money in politics firsthand, Louisa has committed the rest of her career to fixing our broken political system.

She holds an MBA and a PhD in Media, Technology, and Democracy. Her dissertation research centered on the deregulation of campaign finance since Watergate and its interplay with the political-media complex. Louisa lives in Washington, D.C., with her two children and enjoys the District’s rich history and many cultural institutions.

30. Melanie Davis
Executive Director & CEO, Physical & Health Education Canada

Melanie Davis is the Executive Director and CEO of Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada). Established in 1933, PHE Canada champions healthy, active kids by promoting and advancing quality health and physical education opportunities and healthy learning environments.

Davis has been a transformative leader, advocating for educational advancement and building partnerships for collective impact all whilst re-building PHE Canada as a strong and sustainable organization. During her tenure, PHE Canada has rebounded from a financial deficit and a committed, vibrant, diverse, and awesome staff team has been built. During this time, she’s been awarded a NEOC Employer of Choice award and the University of Ottawa’s Employer of the Year award. 

Her leadership and collaborative style through the global pandemic was a critical point for the physical and health education sector across Canada. Through a process of creative, rapid design and authentic leadership, Davis empowered the education sector's ability to safely pivot to teaching at a distance and enabled a whole continuum of quality academic, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and social learning activities despite the complex and dynamic reality of the pandemic. During this time, her work garnered both national and international recognition and has led to a legacy of transformative programs and resources to support educators, and school system leaders and ultimately support young people to live well.

31. Nancy Racette
Chief Operating Officer, DRiWaterstone Human Capital

Nancy Racette is the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of DRiWaterstone. Driven by the belief that every person can have a fundamental impact on the world, Racette spent decades designing innovative fundraising and communications programs to fuel the growth of sustainable nonprofit organizations. In 2001, she began providing executive search and development consulting to help nonprofits across the country build their capacity to grow, thrive, and excel. Her consulting work has helped numerous nonprofit organizations design and fill powerful staff structures. Working with national organizations, such as The American Association of Immunologists, the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and The Foundation Fighting Blindness, she has advised boards of directors and CEOs on how to identify their most transformative initiatives and how to invest in staffing structures that advance them. 

Racette’s advice has turned strategic plans into strategic hires for start-ups and established organizations engaging a new generation of stakeholders in imaginative ways. In addition to designing staff structures, She has also led executive searches for more than 250 leaders who have reshaped critical nonprofit operations. Her strategic consulting and executive search draw on her decades of experience developing initiatives that reshaped fundraising for the American Red Cross and Girls Scouts. Her broad expertise spans cause marketing, disaster fundraising, major giving, and fundraising campaigns. and she continues to mentor and coach nonprofit leaders today. 

Racette has been an innovative volunteer in the nonprofit sector. She served for six years on the board of directors at YWCA USA and remains on the Development Committee. She has been a past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Washington DC Metro Area Chapter. She has also served on the board of directors of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and has chaired AFP’s Education Advisory Committee. She also served on the board of directors of the Ellington Fund for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Racette is a graduate of Boston University’s School of Public Communications. She attended the Executive Management Program at Harvard University and held a Certified Fundraising Executive credential from CFRE International for 24 years. 

32. Shannon Razsadin
CEO, Military Family Advisory Network 

Shannon Razsadin is a nonprofit executive, commentator, communications strategist, and spouse of a recently retired service member. As CEO of the Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), she is a champion and national spokesperson for service members, veterans, and their families. Razsadin is a subject matter expert on the military-civilian divide, family well-being and preparedness, financial readiness, food insecurity, and housing. She is a regular contributor to AP, CBS Evening News, CNN, Fox, NBC, NPR, and other global-reaching media entities. She has delivered thought-leadership remarks to higher education, Fortune 500, research and policy, and military audiences. 

Razsadin currently serves as a member of the Department of Defense’s Military Family Readiness Council, a congressionally-mandated advisory committee that reports to the Secretary of Defense to review, evaluate, and monitor DoD’s military family readiness policies, programs, plans, and initiatives. She also holds several leadership positions with military- and veteran-service organization coalitions. 

In September 2022, Razsadin spoke on a panel at the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, ensuring military and veteran families were included in the Biden-Harris Administration’s national strategy to end hunger by 2030. Before MFAN, she served as director for Reingold, an award-winning strategic communications and marketing firm, as well as program coordinator for George Washington University. Razsadin received her BA from Merrimack College and her MA from George Washington University. She resides in Newport, RI, with her husband and two children.

33. Andrea Burton
Senior Attorney, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Andrea Burton joined The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in 2023 as the Senior Attorney on the Family team. In this role, she serves survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault and interfaces with the trial system to achieve protection. Previously, Burton was the managing attorney for the Advancing Reentering Citizens project, which removes barriers to employment and other services, where she managed the Immigrants and Refugees project, the Debt Relief Project, and Learning is for Everyone (LIFE).

Outside of her role, Burton is a graduate of the OSBA’s Leadership Conference. In 2020, she joined the Women of Color Caucus as a member of the executive board. Her focus is educating the Ohio Legislature regarding proposed legislation and its impact on people of color who are survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. She provides educated and nuanced feedback on these vulnerable populations, which are typically underrepresented and mostly marginalized. In 2020, Burton joined the Anti-Oppression Committee for the state of Ohio, working on the policy committee in providing position statements regarding new state legislation that may affect or influence the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in the state of Ohio. 

Burton received her law degree from the Akron School of Law. She graduated from Youngstown State University with an undergraduate degree focusing on pre-law with a minor in journalism. She then went on to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning her Master's in Library and Information Sciences. Burton began practicing in Mahoning County as a court-appointed attorney to indigent criminal defendants and as a Guardian ad Litem in the Mahoning County Juvenile Court. She was a member of the Nathaniel R. Jones Inn of Court from 2015 to 2018. Burton is on the Legal Redress Committee of the Youngstown chapter of the NAACP, seeking to provide counsel and advice to members of the community and connecting those in need with local resources.

35. Torine Creppy
President, Safe Kids Worldwide

Torine Creppy is the President of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting kids from preventable injuries. For nearly 24 years, she has dedicated her career to making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families, especially the most vulnerable and the historically marginalized. In her role, she works with partners, donors, legislators, and community leaders around the world to develop and implement strategic initiatives, create partnerships, and inspire behavior change to keep kids safe at home, on the road, and at play.

Under Creppy’s leadership, the Safe Kids Buckle Up® program has evolved into the most comprehensive child passenger safety program in the world, and the Safe Kids pedestrian safety program has reached more than 20 million children in 10 countries. Creppy is a passionate advocate on Capitol Hill and is dedicated to finding new ways to reach high-risk and underserved communities. She also focuses on emerging issues, such as child safety in automated vehicles.

In addition to her work at Safe Kids, Creppy is committed to other organizations that share her passion for helping children and families. She is on the YWCA National Capital Area board of directors, on St. John’s Community Services board of directors, involved with the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association, on the board of directors advisory board of Hop Skip Drive, a Lifesavers board member, and on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO). She is also a member of the American Public Health Association, National Urban League, NAACP, the National Head Start Association, Junior League of Washington, and CHIEF, as well as a Lifetime member of Leadership Greater Washington and Co-Facilitator of Youth Leadership Greater Washington.

Creppy enjoys volunteering in direct outreach and advocacy for homelessness initiatives, reading autobiographies, running 5Ks for causes, youth mentoring, and spending time with her son.

36. Heather O'Steen
President & Owner, Professional Management Associates, LLC 

Heather O’Steen is the President and Owner of Professional Management Associates (PMA). Her expertise encompasses all facets of nonprofit association management, and she has served in executive management roles for many nonprofit associations. In her role, she provides executive oversight for 11 nonprofit organizations, which include state, national, and international organizations, supported by a team of 20 staff members. PMA is an accredited Association Management Company (AMC) by the AMC Institute, which establishes rigorous, measurable performance practices that demonstrate that defined processes, controls, and systems are in place. 

O'Steen also serves as the CEO of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and has been committed to growing its membership, leadership, vision, and programs for over 15 years. In this role, she provides strategic direction and governance support to volunteer leaders and ensures their strategic goals and objectives are achieved. She is responsible for the development of new programs, creating and nurturing partnerships, strengthening foundation practices, increasing brand recognition and reach, and implementing innovative initiatives. She also serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Feline Practitioner publication.

O'Steen earned the credential of Certified Association Executive (CAE), designated by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE); ASAE’s Certificate in Association Management; and FSAE’s Qualified Association Specialist (QAS). She has served in volunteer roles within the ASAE and AMC Institute and is currently serving on the board of the Pet Nutrition Alliance and the Professional Development Committee of the Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE). She is the recipient of the 2022 Executive of the Year Award from the VMAE, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the association executive profession and the very best in association management. O'Steen is the proud mother of two young children and is an active volunteer leader in her community, including serving as a Girl Scout Leader.


View the complete list of awardees.

37. Sherece West-Scantlebury
President & CEO, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation

Sherece West-Scantlebury is the President and CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, a private foundation that seeks to disrupt the systems that block Arkansans who are striving to get out of poverty. They are in relentless pursuit of educational, economic, social, ethnic, and racial equity. West-Scantlebury she has led the organization through reinvention and tremendous growth over the last decade.

West-Scantlebury is a leading 21st-century voice on the eradication of global poverty. From her early beginnings impacting policy as a lobbyist in NYC, to leading programs at some of the most prestigious foundations in the Southeastern United States, she has been unwavering in her quest to increase prosperity amongst marginalized groups and end poverty in her lifetime. Known for her leadership in the areas of community development, public policy, and disaster recovery, she is a transformational leader who is unafraid to ask the tough questions that challenge conventional thinking, action, and funding around impoverished communities. 

West-Scantlebury graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a PhD in Public Policy, from the University of Michigan with a Master’s in Public Policy, and from Bowie State University with an undergraduate in public administration. 

38. Ann-Marie Louison
Chief Impact Officer, The Center for Alternative Sentencing & Employment Services

Ann-Marie Louison is currently the Chief Impact Officer at CASES in New York City. Louison and her team are responsible for the organization's efforts to understand the impact of the youth, alternatives to incarceration, mental health treatment services, and the execution of efforts to improve services that help clients build better lives.  Louison joined CASES in 1999 to launch the award-winning Nathaniel Project, CASES’ first alternative to incarceration program for adults with serious mental illnesses. She has shared the innovative approaches and programs CASES has developed at the intersection of mental illness and the criminal legal system across the country, serving as an expert consultant. Louison is the proud winner of the 5th annual Joan H. Tisch Community Health Prize for Excellence in Urban Public Health. In 2021, she was honored as one of New York City & State’s Mental Health Power 50. The list seeks to recognize some of the most influential public officials, academics, healthcare professionals, advocates, and activists who are making a difference in the lives of people living with mental illness. 

Louison excels in leading the operations of Data & Analytics, Quality Improvement, and Research and Evaluation through a racial equity and anti-racist lens.  She has deep experience in transformation and organizational change, and promoting the leadership and inclusion of people with lived experience of the criminal legal system and recovery from mental illness in defining and creating the solutions to the criminalization of mental illness.

CASES was formed in 1989 to provide effective alternatives to incarceration services that reduce crime by helping people who have been caught up in the criminal legal system build better lives. CASES specializes in working with young people and with people living with serious mental illnesses. 

Louison holds a Master of Social Work and Applied Social Research from Brunel University London. She has a Bachelor of Science in Education and Sociology from the University of Surrey. Louison serves on the board of the Legal Action Center (LAC). LAC uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunity for people with arrest and conviction records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS.

39. Shannon Mouton
Executive Director, Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services, Inc. 

Shannon Mouton is the Executive Director of Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS). Founded in 1987, LARS was established to provide emergency food and financial assistance to Laurel residents in crisis. Local congregation leaders and community members created LARS to serve as a central point of contact and source of support for the growing numbers of people who were coming to their doors for help.

For more than 25 years, Mouton has given her time and talents to various organizations throughout the Washington Metropolitan Area. Her work in corporate environments, higher education, and the nonprofit sector afforded her opportunities to build and strengthen communities, launch innovative programs, and bridge generational, economic, and racial divides. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including Calvary Women’s Services, the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, the IN Series, and The George Washington Alumni Association. 

Most recently, Mouton was chosen to serve on the Comptroller of Maryland's Financial Literacy Advisory Council. In 2022, she was hired as the first African-American CEO of Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services in the organization's 36-year history. Under her leadership, the organization's impact has more than doubled with a larger team, increased visibility, and greater community engagement. Mouton is a graduate of Mount Vernon College, now part of George Washington University.

40. Jennifer McNelly
Chief Executive Officer, American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP)

Jennifer McNelly is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), a global association for occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals. Since 1911, it has supported OSH professionals in their efforts to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, providing education, advocacy, standards development, and a professional community to its members to advance their careers and the OSH profession as a whole.

In this role, McNelly advances the organization’s mission to create safe work environments worldwide through the prevention of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. She works with the board of directors to execute ASSP’s strategic plan for growth while building on the Society’s legacy and addressing the evolving needs of the professional occupational safety and health community. She leads over 75 staff members and more than 38,000 safety and health professionals around the globe, strengthening the Society’s position as a leading voice while fostering a collaborative culture of member engagement, performance, accountability, and innovation. A certified association executive and University of Maryland College Park graduate, McNelly earned the Secretary of Labor’s Exceptional Achievement Award and was named among the 100 Women Leaders in STEM. 

McNelly is an agile and professional leader adept at driving change and delivering results. She is skilled in leading and executing comprehensive initiatives to transform organizational workforce strategies and is a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach. She dedicates her volunteer time to supporting women veterans and youth, igniting their unique passions and strengths to propel their career advancement. Previously, McNelly was a president at 180 Skills. Before that, she was the president of the manufacturing institute at the National Association of Manufacturers. Earlier in her career, she worked with Strategic Partnerships as a chief administrative officer. McNelly earned an undergraduate degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland.

41. Iara Peng
Founder & CEO, JustFund

Iara Peng is the Founder and CEO of JustFund. She has worked in nonprofits for over 20 years, building new programs and organizations within the sector and supporting emerging leaders. She launched JustFund.us, an innovative online portal that connects grantmakers directly to organizations to help move resources more quickly while facilitating greater trust, transparency, and accountability across funder communities. 

Early in her career, Peng worked to build the progressive leadership pipeline and started Young People For (YP4), a national progressive leadership development program that has identified and trained thousands of leaders across the country. She is also the founder of Prism, an independent and nonprofit newsroom led by journalists of color, that tells stories from the ground up to disrupt harmful narratives and to inform movements for justice. She also founded the Democratizing Philanthropy Project, which shifts power to chronically underfunded, historically excluded frontline organizations by helping them build long-term, reliable small donor revenue and a dynamic, engaged base. 

Peng holds a Master's degree in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management from Columbia University. She has served as a strategic consultant and is on the boards of dozens of nonprofits. She is currently a board member of Democratizing Philanthropy, Donors of Color Network, and East Bay Community Foundation.

42. Amanda Meeson
Executive Director, Sterling House Community Center 

Amanda Meeson is a nonprofit leader dedicated to mission-driven work that catalyzes positive contributions for individuals, families, and the broader community. She joined Sterling House Community Center in 2016 and the organization’s operating budget and impact have more than doubled during her tenure as Executive Director. Organizational growth under her leadership has included significant program growth and innovation, multiple renovations, facility acquisition and expansion, and critical infrastructure advancements.

Meeson has been working in youth and community development for more than 25 years and before Sterling House, she served as VP of Programming at The Leadership Program in NYC and presented on youth and family engagement, program quality, leadership, and staff development across the country. Meeson received the Fairfield County’s 40 under 40 Award and the Rising Star Award for the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. She was the past Board Chair of the Women’s Leadership Network and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Bridgeport. 

Meeson is passionate about the power of community and is grateful for the opportunity to lead an organization that has fostered community connection, vitality, and service for more than 90 years.

43. Margaret Sanchez
VP, Development, YWCA Greater Cleveland

In the bustling city of Cleveland, Ohio, Margaret Sanchez, Vice President of Development at the YWCA of Greater Cleveland, is making waves in the nonprofit sector and beyond. A trailblazer and philanthropist, she has dedicated her career to empowering marginalized communities and enhancing the lives of individuals nationwide. She spearheads all fundraising initiatives in her role at the YWCA of Greater Cleveland.

A life of excellence and achievement. Sanchez’s story is one of determination and perseverance, with a solid academic background from the University of Wisconsin, in sustainable management studies, and an entrepreneurial spirit. She founded MagnifyFund LLC and has paved her path in the nonprofit world assessing over 150 nonprofits. Holding prestigious positions at renowned organizations, including Hispanic Unity of Florida and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, her expertise and leadership have been instrumental in advancing the causes she is passionate about. 

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Broward County Proclamation recognized Sanchez’s selfless volunteerism. She received the Silver Medallion from the National Conference for Community and Justice, the March of Dimes Women of Distinction Award, the Hispanic Women of Distinction Award, and the Local Hero Award by Bank of America. She serves on the Mision Presidencial Latinoamericana board and the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Business Center's Board of Trustees. In her spare time, Sanchez is passionate about assisting the most vulnerable and enjoys cooking and exploring her new home state, Ohio, and taking pride in her two children.


View the complete list of awardees.

44. Laura Gardner
President & COO, Joni and Friends

Laura Gardner serves as President of Joni and Friends, an international nonprofit that serves people living with disabilities in 56 countries. She has been with the organization for more than a decade providing fiduciary oversight, departmental integration, program innovation, and strategic planning through various senior management positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. During her tenure as an executive, she has played a significant role in accelerating revenue and operational growth in the US and around the world. Laura holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Troy University and has received certification from the Harvard Business School Executive Education in Driving Nonprofit Performance and Innovation. Before joining Joni and Friends, Laura founded her own business, The Protocol Institute, LLC, where she developed world-class eLearning courses on character education, etiquette, and protocol. She was the first to introduce such tools to help instill these qualities in young people, and she wrote extensively on the topic for national publications. Laura served as Chairman of the Joni and Friends Foundation from 2016 to 2022, and she currently serves as the Chairman of the Christian Leadership Alliance.

For more than 40 years, Joni and Friends has provided the hope of the Gospel and practical care to people living with disability around the globe. Ministry programs include International Disability Centers called Joni’s House, Wheels for the World™, Retreats and Getaways, and disability ministry training. Joni and Friends also deliver daily inspirational media through radio programs to over 1,500 radio stations around the world and podcasts.

45. Felicia Thompson
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications, Girl Scouts, Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Felicia Thompson is a trusted marketing and communications advisor with a 20-plus-year career leading strategies for iconic brands. Today, Thompson is the Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Girl Scouts, Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC), which serves over 12,000 girls supported by 7,500 volunteers across central and northern Arizona and all of the Navajo Nation. She provides leadership, strategic direction, and vision to elevate the message and visibility of the organization while upholding its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, racial justice, and well-being. 

Before joining Girl Scouts, Thompson worked for the City of Phoenix as a senior public information officer during the onset of the global pandemic. During her time there, she cultivated the vision of two chief information officers responsible for the fifth largest city in America and a technology department supporting 34 city departments and 1.7 million residents. Before she transitioned to local government, Thompson was the vice president and chief brand officer for the Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB). Within 15 years, she grew from a department of one to leading 24 marketing and communication professionals across six cities in Arizona and Southern California. 

Thompson is a board member for Achieving My Purpose, an organization that empowers women of color ages 18 to 30. She served on the Awakening Seed School Board for six years and was board chair during the last year and a half of her term. She is a founding member of Vistage International's Key Executive Group 730, where she spent eight years sharpening her leadership skills. Her past board member experience also includes the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC Phoenix), the University of Arizona Black Alumni Club (Phoenix), and the University of Arizona Alumni Council. Thompson earned a BA in Journalism from The University of Arizona, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a certificate in integrated marketing communications from Rutgers Business School. She was named a Most Admired Leader by the Phoenix Business Journal in 2016 and a Celebration of Women honoree in 2019.

46. Bri Seoane
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Northern California

Bri Seoane is the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Northern California, a premier leadership organization and one of the largest Girl Scout councils in the United States. Under her leadership, the organization supports 25,000 girls and gender-expansive youth, alongside 22,000 adult participants across 19 counties. Her stewardship of the council's $25 million annual budget is marked by fiscal discipline and innovative growth strategies, ensuring the long-term sustainability and impact of the organization.

Bri is deeply passionate about empowering every girl, believing that each one deserves the chance to discover her potential and boldly forge her own path in a nurturing environment. This commitment drives her to create inclusive, transformative programs that inspire courage, confidence, and character. Under her guidance, the Girl Scouts of Northern California has become a beacon of girl empowerment, breaking down barriers and championing equity.

As a trusted advisor to the 22-member board of directors, Bri guides complex governance and strategic decisions, while also fostering meaningful partnerships with key community stakeholders to enhance the organization's visibility and influence. On the national stage, she serves on the Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Committees for Global Strategy and Philanthropy, contributing to the movement’s future direction and expanding its global footprint.

47. Dr. Rebecca Lienhard
Chief Executive Officer, Tierra del Sol Foundation 

Dr. Rebecca Lienhard joined Tierra del Sol in 1990. Over the course of her tenure, Ms. Lienhard has championed inclusion and value for people with disabilities through their unique contributions to our communities.  She holds a doctorate degree from the University of Southern California in Organization Change and Leadership, a Master’s degree in Special Education, with emphasis in Moderate/Severe Disabilities, and is a graduate of the University of Delaware National Leadership Institute on Developmental Disabilities.

Dr. Lienhard serves as the key spokesperson for the agency in local, state, and national venues. She has served on numerous community boards and committees, such as the Vendor Advisory Committee for the California Department of Developmental Services’ North Los Angeles County Regional Center, Woodbury University’s School of Business Advisory Board, the State Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Employment First Committee, and serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Southern California APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First). She currently serves on the Client Advisory Board of StandOut, a Marcus Buckingham Company. Additionally, she serves as a current member of three of California’s Department of Developmental Services Workgroups, specifically focusing on Employment, System & Fiscal Reform, and Community Resources.  Through these roles, she has gained a nationwide view of services, relevant laws, and emerging trends, all to advance meaningful and inclusive lives for adults with developmental disabilities.

She has presented at numerous conferences hosted by organizations such as VEDC’s 2019 Women+Business Conference, 2017 USC UCEDD Down Syndrome Conference, Autism Society Los Angeles, Los Angeles Valley College, Reinventing Quality, APSE, and TASH. These experiences have equipped her to expand opportunities for people with disabilities in workforce development, customized employment, careers in the arts, self-advocacy, and college-to-career opportunities. 

48. Sara Asalya
Executive Director, Newcomer Women's Services

Born and raised in a war-torn country, Sara witnessed first-hand the impact of violence, displacement, and trauma on the lives of war refugees — which guides her work as an award-winning leader and human rights advocate. Sara is a recognized champion of immigrants' rights. Her lived experience as an immigrant woman in Canada inspires her advocacy on key issues impacting the immigrant community. Her leadership and dedication to advancing newcomers’ economic resilience, and civic and political engagement have led to her being named one of Canada’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants and Women of Influence.

With more than 15 years of experience in not-for-profit management, operations, and research, as well as significant contributions to community advocacy and engagement, Sara has a proven track record of not only leading but transforming not-for-profit organizations. She is the Founder and former Executive Director of The Newcomer Students’ Association, a national not-for-profit organization working at the intersection of migration, education, and social justice, and a platform committed to promoting inclusion and equity for post-secondary immigrant and refugee students.

Currently, Sara serves as the Executive Director of Newcomer Women's Services Toronto (NEW); a multi-service not-for-profit organization operating in four locations across the Greater Toronto Area and serving thousands of immigrants and refugees annually. Under Sara’s leadership, NEW has experienced remarkable growth and transformation. She scaled up the organization in a span of two years tripling its annual revenue and expanding its operations from two to four service delivery sites across the GTA. Under her compassionate and strategic leadership, the organization has not only expanded its client base from 800 to 8000 but also quadrupled the services it provides, significantly enhancing its impact on the community. Sara was able to achieve this in a remarkably short period of time and managed to position the organization as a national leader in the not-for-profit sector influencing key policies and driving positive change. With a deep commitment to operational excellence and to delivering exceptional client services, she is steering NEW towards new heights.

Sara’s impactful work and publications have been featured in reputable national newspapers and journals. She is a sought-after media commentator and a thought leader on issues and policies related to refugees' displacement and resettlement, labor market access and outcomes for newcomers, foreign credentials policies, and refugees’ access and pathways to higher education. She testified before parliamentary and senate committees as a subject matter expert on such issues and policies. She is working to advance the cause of newcomer women’s empowerment. Her work continues to inspire positive change, making a profound difference in the lives of thousands of women and their families across Canada.

Sara holds a Master’s in Education in Higher Education from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Arts in English language and literature, a post-graduate certificate in Community Engagement, Leadership and Development, and in Immigration and Settlement Studies. She is a Member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and serves on a number of community Boards and committees, where she continues to advocate for the rights and empowerment of immigrant and refugee women.

49. Libbie Sonnier, PhD
Executive Director, The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children 

Libbie Sonnier has served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children since 2019. She has led teams in system-wide initiatives for the betterment of children, families, caregivers, and practitioners for more than two decades. She has helped secure and direct more than $1 billion for early care and education in Louisiana, including the state’s largest new early learning investments in a decade and a 20-year millage that creates one of the nation’s largest dedicated funds for infant and toddler care in New Orleans. Since 2019, Sonnier also tripled the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children’s research and media engagement outputs and staff while quadrupling its annual revenues, and securing its first five seven-figure grants. She also helped conceive, launch, and co-chair the Steering Committee of Geaux Far Louisiana.

Sonnier previously served as a state director of two federal programs, where she managed multi-million-dollar budgets. She developed and implemented pilot programs for children, birth to age five, in four states across multiple agencies and community partners to improve the efficiency and efficacy of direct services for children and their families. Sonnier is the co-author of multiple publications, technical reports, and training curricula, including The Four Diamonds Checklist and The Quality System to Achieve Results for Young Children in all Settings (Q-STAR). She has received numerous awards and public recognition, including the Hulick Serving Spirit Fellowship Award for her commitment to individuals with disabilities across the life course, the Rotary Club’s Extraordinary Woman “Rising Star” Award, New Orleans City Business’ Woman of the Year (2020 and 2022), one of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana’s “16 Women Paving the Way for Louisiana’s Future,” St. Charles Magazine 2022 ChangeMaker, Louisiana Early Childhood Association’s 2022 Friends of Children Award, 2023 Greater Baton Rouge Business Report Most Powerful & Influential Business & Community Leader, 2023 Melanie Bronfin Advocacy for Children Award by Clover, 2023 Voice of Children awardee from For Providers by Providers, 2023 Biz New Orleans Executive of the Year, 2023 and 2024 Champions of Choice Award from The Education Trust of Louisiana, and Biz New Orleans 2024 Women to Watch.

Sonnier serves on the boards of Ellevate Louisiana, Volunteers of America of South Central Louisiana, Southwest Regional Education Laboratories Governing Board, and numerous local and state boards and commissions. She is a graduate of Leadership Louisiana. She is an assistant clinical professor in Mississippi State University’s Human Development and Family Studies Department in the School of Human Sciences, as well as faculty with Louisiana State University’s Early Childhood Education Institute. Sonnier received a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development from Virginia Tech, a Master of Education in Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support Services from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor of Science in Special Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Intervention from the University of Southern Mississippi.


View the complete list of awardees.