Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | February 6, 2023 | wbjournal.com Brilliant move PHOTO | EDD COTE BY ISABEL TEHAN WBJ Staff Writer W hen Kathleen Jordan took a job as an undergraduate student in 1985 at her university's advancement office, she could not have predicted it would be the beginning of a decades-long career in fundraising, eventually leading her to take over as the president at the Seven Hills Foundation. At the time, all she knew was that it came easily to her. "I found I was really good at it," she said. "I loved raising money." Since that time at West Virginia University, Jordan's entire career has been with nonprofits, where her passion is. In July, aer David Jordan steps down as president at Seven Hills, she will assume the top posi- tion as president and CEO at the largest human services nonprofit in Central Mass. As of fiscal 2021, Seven Hills had $263 million in assets and $303 million in revenue, according to the organization's tax filings. Jordan joined Seven Hills in 2003 and served as vice president of advancement from 2006 to 2010. In 2019, she was pro- moted to executive vice president and CEO, overseeing the operations of the organization's 15 affiliates. Jordan has used her fundraising expertise to develop and see Seven Hills projects to completion. "I love see- ing a need, developing a strategy to meet that need, and figuring out, 'How am I going to fund this?'" she said. Increasingly, Jordan has become a face for the foun- dation, said Kate Myshrall, vice president of advance- ment, and former board member at Seven Hills. Her transition to this role as top leader is natural, Myshrall said, but also unique. When Kathleen Jordan takes over from David Jordan when he retires on June 30, she will be stepping into the role her husband has held for over 25 years, aer he built a Seven Hills into what it is today. "Placing her in this role is a brilliant move," said Tim Garvin, president and CEO of the United Way of Cen- tral Mass. "She has always been a leader in the commu- nity, even before she was in this leadership role." Garvin cited Jordan's deep connections in the com- munity and clear care for the work she does as through- lines of the more than 10-year relationship between their Worcester organizations. Much about the way Seven Hills operates will remain the same, said Kathleen Jordan, but she has plans for how her leadership will differ from her husband's. Among her priorities are an increased focus on diver- sity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, streamlining data across systems, and enhancing the employee experience in an industry struggling to attract talented workers. "I'm not coming in with radically different ideas, though I certainly have a slant to the way that I look at our work and have areas I will be emphasizing," she said. "Still, it's different to someone coming in externally and wiping the slate." W O M E N I N L E A D E R S H I P FOCUS U.S. nonprofit leaders, by gender Annual revenue of nonprofit % lead by women Less than $250,000 56% Greater than $50 million 22% Across all sizes 45% Sources: 2020 Nonprofit compensation report, American Association of University Women 2018 report, The White House Project Poised to take over leadership of Seven Hills, Kathleen Jordan eyes key priorities Kathleen Jordan (left) works with Tashiani Forman, Seven Hills learning and development specialist, at the nonprofit's administrative offices. Jordan will take over as president at Seven Hills in July when David Jordan retires from the role.

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