AJC Chicago, a regional office of the leading Jewish advocacy organization AJC Global, has selected Sarah van Loon as its next Director, Advancement & Engagement.  

Sarah van Loon is a passionate, mission-driven development professional and former Associate Director for AJC Chicago, where she grew her skills in fundraising and development in the Jewish philanthropic community.

Most recently, Sarah served as the Director of the Sustaining Fellows at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she oversaw the success of the museum’s leadership donor society and $4 million in annual unrestricted giving. Sarah joined the Art Institute in 2018 after nearly five years with AJC Chicago, serving first as Development Coordinator and then ultimately Associate Director.

Sarah’s passion for development is built on her background in the performing arts, including her early career in opera as a classically trained soprano, before transitioning to work in the Chicago Jewish community with the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago (JUF). Sarah specializes in connecting donors to their passions through intentional gift making, and she is looking forward to continuing this work in her return to AJC.

“AJC’s mission to enhance the wellbeing of the Jewish people and Israel has always resonated with me on a deeply personal level. As a Jewish person, to be able to come to work each day and know that I’m making a difference—whether I’m working with others to combat antisemitism, advocate for Israel, or grow our relationships with interfaith partners—brings meaning to my work, especially in our rapidly changing world.”

-Sarah van Loon

Sarah is an active member with the Chicagoland chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and serves on the AFP Chicago Continuous Learning Council. From 2015 to 2016, Sarah was an Annual Fellow with the Development Leadership Consortium, and in 2017, she was named one of Chicago’s “Jewish 36 Under 36” emerging leaders by JUF and Oy!Chicago. Sarah holds a master’s degree in Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, a bachelor’s degree from North Park University, and a certificate in accounting from City Colleges of Chicago.

AJC Chicago retained KEES as its executive search partner in February 2020. A comprehensive search was launched, attracting candidates from across the Midwest. The Interview Committee, led by AJC Chicago Executive Director Laurence Bolotin, ultimately selected Sarah van Loon from an impressive group of top finalists.

“I am so pleased to welcome Sarah back to the AJC Chicago family. Her commitment to our mission, magnetic and positive personality, and deep knowledge of nonprofit fundraising make her the ideal candidate to step into this role. AJC Chicago is poised for tremendous growth in our ability to impact the future of Global Jewish Advocacy, and I’m confident that Sarah will lead us in ensuring we have the resources needed to achieve our goals.”

-Laurence Bolotin, Executive Director, AJC Chicago

KEES is a retained executive search firm that builds transformative nonprofit teams and leaders. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners specifically with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of services including executive search, leadership development, succession planning, interim staffing and human resources consulting.

“It took a lot to recruit Sarah back to AJC! She was growing and thriving in her previous role, but elements of the mission allowed us to keep after her. The KEES team knew she would be a perfect fit for this role – and I am thrilled that our tenacity paid off. Sarah will be an incredible asset to AJC as it continues to grow and develop under Laurence Bolotin’s leadership. Nothing makes us happier than adding a great leader to a team!”

-Heather Eddy, President and CEO, KEES

The mission of AJC (American Jewish Committee) is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. The Evelyn R. Greene AJC Chicago Regional Office connects the local Chicago community with AJC’s global advocacy work. With access to diplomats, elected officials, and interfaith leaders at the local level, AJC Chicago advances the broader priorities so vital to AJC’s global work: combating antisemitism, promoting Israel’s place in the world, and countering the spread of radicalism and extremism. To learn more about AJC Chicago, visit www.ajc.org/chicago.

BY Jane C. Simons, MiBiz (article excerpt below)

“The announcement last month that five of the most influential U.S. charitable foundations would be substantially increasing their giving levels was met with gratitude by philanthropic leaders in Southwest Michigan.

According to Heather Eddy, President and CEO of KEES, which offers a broad range of services to the nonprofit sector, the Ford Foundation’s step helped catalyze the philanthropic sector to take action.

‘When the Ford [Foundation] story came out, it created a greater awareness for the need to increase giving levels,’ Eddy said, noting that more than 760 foundations of all sizes have signed on and made a similar commitment in the ensuing period.

‘There’s a recognition from foundations that this is not business as usual,’ Eddy said. ‘While they may have given a grant for something specific, if that operating nonprofit can’t open its doors every day, that specific intent may get delayed. Funders want to see nonprofits continue and provide programs and services that they funded with that grant.’

From a strategic standpoint, ‘these foundations are realizing that if they made a two-year $100,000 commitment and the nonprofit closes, they’ve lost that $50,000,’ Eddy said. ‘If the nonprofit doesn’t exist, then all of their historical investments get wiped away.’“

Read the full article online HERE or as a pdf HERE.

KEES Executive Search client partner Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) announces Sandra Nelson as its next Vice President for Advancement. Ms. Nelson started in the role on June 15, 2020.

Sandra Nelson is a highly qualified and successful advancement professional who has been working in faith-based, healthcare, and higher education philanthropic areas since 1990.

Sandra comes to Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) from Concordia University, where she served as Vice President at the Foundation since 2015. Prior to her position at Concordia, Sandra worked in nonprofit consulting—both in her own company, SHN Advisors, and with The Alford Group. Other previous roles include President of the Foundation and Vice President of Development at Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare; Vice President Foundation, Corporate and Government Relations at Advocate Healthcare; Director of Donor Services at The Chicago Community Trust; and Director of Development and Communication with The Presbyterian Church (USA). Sandra has a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University and held CFRE certification for 21 years.

“I have known about the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago for a long time and its commitment to form leaders for a public church. This position brings together my love of the church with my professional background. I look forward to working with people of faith to shape those who will go out to serve the church as leaders.”

-Sandra Nelson

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago retained KEES as its Executive Search client partner for the Vice President for Advancement position in January 2020. KEES has also partnered with LSTC on three previous searches, successfully placing candidates in the roles of Director of Advancement Operations, Major Gifts Officer, and Director of Philanthropic Engagement in 2019.

KEES is a retained executive search firm that builds transformative nonprofit teams and leaders. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners specifically with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of services including executive search, leadership development, succession planning, interim staffing and human resources consulting.

Based in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) is the leading urban Lutheran seminary training students to serve in the global community. True to its Lutheran heritage and built on a foundation of intellectual rigor, its innovative, nationally recognized curriculum equips students for visionary ministry. LSTC’s curriculum cultivates competencies for leadership in a public church that focuses on community engagement, public witness, and social transformation. LSTC’s holistic approach to theological education breaks academic disciplines out of their silos and allows creative collaboration to flourish. To learn more, visit www.lstc.edu.

“Just this week, the first week that Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans are beginning to hit the original eight-week period for payback forgiveness, we are hearing of and discussing furloughs, layoffs, and terminations with client partners,” said Heather Eddy, President and CEO of KEES. “Whether you are a team of 500 or 50, losing 50 to 75 percent of your staff can have devastating effects, both in terms of work and output and emotional and cultural impact for the surviving team. It is not easy, and unfortunately, we are just seeing the next wave beginning this process. It’s going to get worse, before it gets better.” 

Read the full article HERE.

BY MARLA R. MILLER (article excerpt below)

“Heather Eddy, President and CEO of [KEES]…said during this time of economic uncertainty, she has been counseling her clients to constantly engage with their volunteers and communicate with their board members. Eddy notes philanthropy for children’s issues has been receiving greater attention lately.

‘Children can’t control their environment and they need us to keep them healthy and protected.’” 

Read full article online HERE or as a pdf HERE.

Catch up on the latest KEES news – including a personal message from President and CEO Heather Eddy – in the inaugural issue of our newsletter!

Leadership at The Actuarial Foundation, an organization that enhances math education and financial literacy through the talents and resources of actuaries, announces the hire of Valerie Thompson as the Foundation’s first Director of Development.  

Valerie Thompson has worked in the Chicago nonprofit environment for more than 20 years. She comes to The Actuarial Foundation from the American Academy of Dermatology, where she most recently served as Senior Manager for Individual Giving. Previous roles include Director of Development at the American Brain Tumor Association, Executive Director of Emergency Fund for Needy People (now known as All Chicago), and Executive Director of Resources in Community Living. Valerie has a Bachelor’s in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin, LaCrosse, and a Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the Medical Society Fund Raising Network (MSFRN), and Association Forum.

“I am excited to join The Actuarial Foundation at this pivotal time in their growth. As I’ve come to know more about the Foundation’s work, I have been impressed by their proactive approach to math education – not only for future careers but also for daily life – which gets kids excited about learning. Online tools and resources, games, and other alternatives to classroom instruction also support the needs of teachers as they work to address the different learning needs of students and today’s reality of changing learning environments.”

-Valerie Thompson

The Actuarial Foundation retained KEES as its executive search partner in November 2019. A comprehensive search for the Director of Development position was launched, and Foundation leadership ultimately selected Valerie Thompson from a commendable group of top finalists.

“We are very excited to have Valerie taking on the role of Director of Development for The Actuarial Foundation. Valerie brings to the job an exceptional combination of fundraising experience, program development, and proven leadership to the challenges we face providing math and financial literacy programs to students across the U.S. Both the Board and Staff are impressed with her extensive knowledge, her 20-years of work within the nonprofit sector, and her strong management skills. We expect Valerie to not only continue the Foundation’s excellent fundraising programs, but to work with partners and funders to help expand the Foundation’s programs to more people in need.”

-Jason Leppin, Executive Director, The Actuarial Foundation

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners specifically with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of search, leadership, interim staffing and human resources support.

For 25 years, The Actuarial Foundation has led the way in creating quality education initiatives for students of all ages. Since its inception, the Foundation has promoted lifelong math education and financial literacy through the provision of innovative learning resources, tools and scholarships. Accessed by over 15 million students annually, the demand for the Foundation’s programs continues to grow, as does the vision for the organization’s impact. To learn more, please visit www.actuarialfoundation.org.

The Board of Directors of Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans)—a coalition of people working to make walking, biking, and transit safe and easy options for getting around Chicagoland—has chosen Amy Rynell as the organization’s next Executive Director.  

Amy Rynell is an experienced nonprofit leader with a demonstrated commitment to effecting social change. Most recently, she served as the Senior Director of Research & Policy at Heartland Alliance, working to advance human rights and champion human dignity by providing services and promoting solutions to achieve a more just global society. Rynell has held a variety of roles at Heartland over her 20-plus year tenure with the organization, including Interim Executive Director.

She is passionate about leading diverse, talented groups of people towards shared social change goals. As the next Executive Director at Active Trans, Rynell looks forward to the opportunity to blend her advocacy background with her strategic systems-level approach to address our most pressing social justice issues.

“My career has been focused on tackling the root causes of social problems toward a more just, equitable society. The core beliefs of Active Trans resonate deeply with that experience, my values, and how I live my life. Having safe, viable transportation options is so vital for livability, access to opportunity, community connectedness, and beyond. Mobility matters. I began my career writing about why social workers should care about transportation planning; it is an honor to pivot back to support bold change in this arena.”

-Amy Rynell

Rynell holds a Master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. She has served as an Obama Foundation Scholar, Mentor, and Strategist, and served on the State of Illinois Hunger Commission and the Human Services Commission. She is an avid user of public transit, an active cyclist, and loves to hike.

After Active Trans’ Board of Directors hired KEES as its executive search partner in Fall 2019, a comprehensive national search was launched, attracting many qualified candidates, both from Chicago and nationwide. The board’s search committee recommended Amy Rynell from an exemplary group of finalists to the full board, where unanimous approval was given to Rynell.

“Active Trans’ advocacy for walking, bicycling, and public transit lies at the intersection of the most critical issues of our day, including climate change, equity, and health. The speed of change and disruptive factors impacting the transportation sector pose both challenges and opportunities. Amy is a leader who will help our organization build a movement for the positive changes that will create more equitable, healthy, and sustainable communities.”

– Peggy Reins, President of the Active Trans Board of Directors

Active Transportation Alliance is one of the largest, most effective advocacy organizations promoting walking, bicycling, and public transportation in the U.S. Founded in 1985, it carries out an ambitious advocacy mission with the goal of creating healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities. The organization is rooted in the core beliefs that basic mobility is a civil and human right. For more information, please visit www.activetrans.org.

“Active Trans took great strides forward in advancing its mission by the approach and depth of the search. The search committee made an excellent choice in Amy. Amy is poised to lead Active Trans and the communities it serves forward with a steadfast commitment to promoting sustainable transportation in a fair and equitable manner.”

-Heather Eddy, KEES President and CEO

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners specifically with nonprofit organizations to provide an array of executive search, leadership development, interim staffing and human resources support. For more information on our many services, please click here.

JCFS Chicago is pleased to announce that Judd Holzman will be joining the JCFS team as its next Vice President and Chief Development Officer.

Judd Holzman is a passionate fundraising professional with more than a decade’s worth of experience scaling philanthropic programs at multifaceted organizations. Most recently, Holzman served as the Director of Advancement for the Chicago Region of the American Jewish Committee. Previously, he was Director of Philanthropic Leadership at the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Holzman holds a Master of Science in Anthropology & Development Studies from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  He also studied religion at the University of Oxford as a year-long Visiting Student.

“I’m very passionate about JCFS Chicago’s mission, and I look forward to joining their team. Far too many people are falling through the cracks in our society.  Millions of children, adolescents, and adults lack access to the services and care they need in order to be supported and thrive in society. JCFS Chicago is addressing these urgent needs using innovative and comprehensive approaches, and doing so through a Jewish lens, applying the important values of Tikkun Olam and Hesed.”

-Judd Holzman

JCFS Chicago retained KEES as its executive search partner earlier this year. A comprehensive search was launched, and the Interview Committee, led by JCFS Chicago President and CEO Howard Sitron, ultimately selected Judd Holzman from an exemplary group of top finalists.

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders in the nonprofit sector. Founded in 2013 as an expansion of Alford Executive Search, KEES partners with organizations to provide an array of search, leadership, interim staffing, fundraising and human resources support.

The mission of JCFS Chicago is to provide help, healing, and caring services infused with Jewish values to strengthen lives in our community. JCFS Chicago offers individualized help to support people of all ages and abilities as they strive to live successfully in their community, while enhancing social-emotional well-being for adults, children, teens, families, and individuals with disabilities — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, or sexual orientation. To learn more about JCFS Chicago, visit www.jcfs.org.

The Board of Directors of Educare Lincoln, an early learning school in Lincoln, Nebraska serving over 150 children from birth to five years old and their families, has unanimously approved the hire of Quentin Brown as its next Executive Director.  

Quentin Brown brings over 15 years of experience in youth-focused nonprofits. Since 2015, he has served as State Director of Communities in Schools of Virginia – the Virginia network of the nation’s leading dropout prevention organization. Quentin previously served in additional roles throughout the Communities In Schools (CIS) network, including Executive Director of CIS Hampton Roads, Program Director of CIS of Richmond, and Site Coordinator of CIS of Richmond. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at Tidewater Community College’s Norfolk Campus since 2014.

“During my career, I have come to realize that the amount of effort required in moving students toward life-long success is greatly impacted by the supports provided to them during ages 0 – 5. Student success is my passion, and Educare is a beacon of hope for students and families, a trainer of quality educators, and a proven model that demonstrates positive outcomes.”

-Quentin Brown

Quentin has a Master’s in Public Administrations from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administrations from Virginia Commonwealth University. Quentin recently relocated from Virginia to Nebraska to step into the leadership role at Educare Lincoln, and officially started in the Executive Director role in July 2019.

Educare Lincoln’s Board of Directors retained KEES as its executive search partner in November 2018. A comprehensive search was launched, attracting a large number of candidates across the country. The Search Committee ultimately selected Quentin Brown from an exemplary group of top finalists.

“Quentin brings a wealth of experience and insight to his role as Executive Director of Educare Lincoln. Most importantly, he listens well and approaches children, families and community members both as a learner and as a highly skilled professional eager to contribute to the public good.”

-Marjorie Kostelnik, Educare Lincoln Board Chair

KEES is a retained executive search and consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders in the nonprofit sector. KEES was founded in 2013 as an expansion and growth of Alford Executive Search and works with client partners across the country.

“As I’ve gotten to know Quentin over the past year, I have learned something new every time I talk to him. He will undoubtedly bring Educare new ideas and vision for its future, building on the school’s core strengths and offering the city of Lincoln a fresh and enthusiastic perspective.”

–Heather Eddy, co-founder and President/CEO of KEES

Educare Lincoln’s mission is to provide high-quality, comprehensive early learning programs and supports for its community’s most vulnerable children and families, particularly families living in poverty. Co-located on the Belmont School site, Educare Lincoln offers specialized early learning environments for children from birth to age five. The school addresses all areas of learning – social, physical, language and cognitive, using evidence-based practices that support early skill development and nurture strong parent-child relationships.  All of these factors undergird children’s later success in kindergarten and in life.

Opened in 2013, Educare Lincoln operates through a partnership among the Lincoln Public Schools, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the Buffett Early Childhood Fund. Educare Lincoln is part of a national network of effective early childhood education schools. Nationwide, the network boasts 24 schools built on research from early childhood development, education, social work and other allied fields.