May 12, 2017
CONTACTS:
Trisha Lester, North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, 919-790-1555
Blair Killinger, MMI, 919-233-6600
RALEIGH - The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits announced today the appointment of Jeanne Tedrow as its new President & CEO.
Barbara Jessie-Black, Chair of the Center’s Board of Directors and Executive Director of the PTA Thrift Shop in Carrboro, said, “We’re thrilled that Jeanne will bring her deep nonprofit experience, strong track record, and proven innovation to bear on the work of the Center and our state’s nonprofit sector. Her experience founding and building a successful community development corporation from the ground up gives her an appreciation of what nonprofit leaders face each day. My colleagues and I were impressed with her big-picture thinking and commitment to the sector and are excited for the leadership she will bring to the Center.”
Jeanne Tedrow co-founded Passage Home in 1991 with community and congregational partners. She has provided it with 25 years of continuous leadership and direction, facilitating its growth from a small nonprofit staffed primarily by volunteers focused on transitional housing for homeless families and a budget of less than $1,000 to one that now serves thousands of individuals, filling a critical need for affordable housing, support services, and community development in Raleigh and Wake County. Passage Home currently operates with a $3.8 million operating budget, $10.5 million in real estate assets, 38 staff, and hundreds of volunteers.
Known for her innovation, Jeanne has led Passage Home through several successful programming, fundraising, and commercial development initiatives that have immeasurably strengthened the nonprofit and its ability to deliver services. She facilitated and provided leadership for the recent acquisition of seven acres of blighted apartments and multi-family zoned land in Raleigh for pre-development. In 2013, Passage Home worked with the Debnam Medical Clinic, an historic African-American privately owned medical practice, to expand its services in south Raleigh by restoring a 2,800 square-foot building to suit a medical practice, which brought needed services to the community.
Before founding Passage Home, Jeanne worked with DARE Inc., a nonprofit focused on group care of youth in communities across Boston. She received her BA in urban and community development from the University of Massachusetts and her MA in public policy from Duke University. Jeanne was recently awarded Triangle Business Journal’s 2017 “Women in Business” Award.
The Center both models best practices and follows them. In that spirit, Jeanne will officially begin with the Center in early August to allow time for her to work with Passage Home in planning for her departure and to appropriately transition. Alfred Leach, Chairman of Passage Home’s Board, said, “Our entire board is very proud of and excited for Jeanne as she continues to undertake important work for the benefit of nonprofits across North Carolina. She will bring great vision and leadership to the Center and its members.”
“As a longtime supporter of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation congratulates it on the hiring of Jeanne Tedrow and looks forward to the leadership she will bring to an important organization in North Carolina,” said Mo Green, Executive Director of the Foundation.
The Center will continue under the leadership of Acting President Trisha Lester until Jeanne joins the Center later this summer. Katie Galbraith, Vice Chair of the Center’s Board and President of Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, said, “We’ve been very fortunate to have Trisha serving at the Center’s helm for the last 18 months. She has provided steadiness to the Center and its many stakeholders during a time of change and has done an outstanding job steering the ship through the day-to-day issues as well as managing the search for our statewide board.”
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Founded in 1990, the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits works to enrich North Carolina's communities and economy through a strong nonprofit sector and nonprofit voice. It serves as an information center on effective practices in nonprofit organizations, a statewide network for nonprofit board and staff members, and an advocate for the nonprofit sector as a whole. It is the leading voice for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations across the state. The Center’s 1,400+ Member nonprofits range from large universities to small grassroots organizations. They work in every field, from the arts and education to science and economic development.
Download the media release.
