Diversified Search Group | Koya Partners Recruits CEO for Philanthropy Massachusetts
July 25, 2024 – Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, has assisted in the recruitment of Mary Skelton Roberts as the new CEO of Philanthropy Massachusetts. She replaces former CEO Jeffrey Poulos. Elizabeth Lombard led the assignment. “We are excited to welcome Mary as CEO of Philanthropy MA,” said board chair Peter Taylor, president of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “Philanthropy is evolving and changing at a time when it is needed most to help address challenges facing our communities. Mary’s experience building coalitions involving philanthropy and government to advance critical issues such as climate justice, as well as her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, puts her in a perfect position to lead our organization and philanthropic sector in Massachusetts.”
Ms. Skelton Roberts is an experienced philanthropy leader with a long track record of developing multi-sector collaborations, public-private partnerships, and strategic communications throughout Massachusetts aimed at achieving policy change. She is known as a relationship and coalition builder, working with and serving as a thought leader to boards, government agencies, organizations, and advocacy groups in high-impact visioning, multi-phase strategizing, grantmaking, and influence strategies. Ms. Skelton Roberts has a deep commitment to integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into the operations and culture of an organization.
Previously, Ms. Skelton Roberts was a co-director of Barr Foundation’s climate team from 2009 to 2021, focusing on transportation and land use, essential levers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Her work aimed to modernize transit and create walkable vibrant communities. Before that, Ms. Skelton Roberts was a consultant specializing in dispute resolution of complex corporate, environmental, and policy issues. She has worked extensively with non-profit, government, and private-sector clients in the United States and internationally.
Ms. Skelton Roberts served on the national boards of Hispanics in Philanthropy and the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities. She currently serves on several boards throughout Boston and volunteers her time on issues related to youth enrichment, animal welfare, and promoting the economic empowerment of Latino families. Ms. Skelton Roberts was appointed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to serve as the city’s first ever representative on the MBTA board of directors in 2023, and will continue to serve on the board.
“I am thrilled for the opportunity to join Philanthropy Massachusetts at such an important time for philanthropic and nonprofit institutions across our state,” said Ms. Skelton Roberts. “We’re at an inflection point on many issues affecting our communities – housing, healthcare, mental health, climate, economic disparity. Many of these issues are intersectional, and by leveraging resources and asserting our voices, we can collectively drive fundamental change.”
Founded in 1969, Philanthropy Massachusetts is a diverse and vibrant membership association of highly engaged philanthropic organizations and individuals with interests in Massachusetts and surrounding areas. Its mission is to promote the practice and expansion of effective and responsible philanthropy to improve the health and vitality of its region.
Diversified Search Group is a family of firms serving specialized sectors. The firm was founded almost five decades ago for the express purpose of placing diverse candidates in client organizations. Koya Partners is a part of the Diversified Search Group and is dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Koya works broadly at the senior-most levels of the mission-driven field in philanthropy, social services, arts and culture, and social justice, among others.
Combined Resources
In 2019, Koya was acquired by Diversified Search. With the combination of revenues and resources, Diversified Search and Koya now represent one of the largest non-profit and higher education practices in the executive search industry. Koya’s specialization in mission-driven search, primarily with non-profit and higher education clients, complements Diversified’s own major education, non-profit, and arts and culture practices, as well as the firm’s healthcare services, board of directors, life sciences, industrial, and digital, media, entertainment, and sports practices.
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Ms. Lombard is a managing director at Koya Partners. With over two decades of recruitment expertise in both the non-profit and private sectors, she brings tenured experience with the full lifecycle of executive search, from needs assessment and candidate development to client management. Ms. Lombard specializes in mission-driven leadership searches and philanthropy executive searches for the firm’s clients nationwide. She has recruited CEOs, presidents, executive directors, CFOs, vice presidents, and other senior leaders for a diverse range of mission-driven organizations.
Ms. Lombard has expertise working with many mission-based organizations including conservation and environmental, reproductive rights, social justice, healthcare, and education organizations. She has directed leadership level searches for The Trust for Public Land, American Association for the Advancement of Science, International Women’s Health Coalition, Innovations for Poverty Action, The Philadelphia Zoo, ActBlue, National Women’s Law Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, NASTAD, Last Mile Health, and Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, in addition to other select non-profit organizations throughout the country.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
