The Moran Company Recruits New Leader for Ronald McDonald House Charities
February 22, 2024 – The Moran Company, an executive recruitment firm that specializes in the non-profit sector, has assisted in the recruitment of Lori Jones as executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States. She replaced Annette Thurston, who retired at the end of 2023 after 26 years. Ann Graff, senior search consultant, led the assignment. “The succession committee is very pleased to announce that Lori accepted our offer as executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States,” said Paula Baker, president and CEO of Freeman Health System and chair of the charity’s succession planning committee. “Lori has a well-rounded career in non-profit leadership, operations management, marketing, and public relations.”
“The board of directors is excited to welcome Lori, who will champion our mission with compassion and dedication for the families we serve,” said Michael Herr, vice president of operations at Mercy Hospital Joplin and board president of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States. “Lori will build upon our Charity’s strong foundation and help lead the organization into the next 25 years.”
Ms. Jones brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having previously served in various leadership positions within the non-profit sector. She has a passion for serving families and communities aligns with the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States. In her past role at Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri, Ms. Jones has experienced success in fundraising, donor development, program strategy, and grant management.
In her new position, Ms. Jones has primary responsibility for the strategic and organizational leadership of the charity, the overall direction and supervision of charity affairs, employees, programs, and activities. In partnership with the appropriate committees of the board of directors, she will lead the design of the overall policy and procedures for general operation, maintains public relations, and is responsible for the implementation and execution of the fundraising and budgetary policies of the board of directors.
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Ronald McDonald House Charities provides families with the only worldwide service of its kind with 386 Ronald McDonald Houses in 49 countries and regions around the world, 269 family rooms in 28 countries and regions and 40 care mobiles in 10 countries. Located in Joplin, MI, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States enables and promotes family-centered care, a critically important part of caring for, and supporting children with serious medical conditions being treated at Freeman Health System and Mercy Hospital Joplin. It has a budget of $647,288.00, a volunteer base of 100-120 annually, and serves a 75-mile radius that includes the four-state area of Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, Northwest Arkansas, and Northeast Oklahoma.
Non-Profit Specialists
The Moran Company, based in Leawood, KS, specializes in searches for non-profit leadership, including executive directors, fundraising/development directors, hospital foundation directors, and other senior executives.
Demand Intensifies From Non-Profits Seeking Senior Talent
Non-profit organizations in 2023 are facing inflation, declining donations, increased demand for services, workforce shortages, and more. A recent non-profit trends report by Forbes says that the changing workforce is presenting challenges for both for-profit and non-profit leaders. Being ready to consider alternative staffing options would put many of them ahead of the shifting landscape, says Forbes. Fractional staffing possibilities exist from the administrative level through the executive director level, says the report, and may be worthy of consideration for both short-term vacancies and long-term solutions. For senior-level positions, many leading non-profits are turning to executive search firms.
A search for a non-profit executive has much in common with any personnel search, and most boards have members who have hired many people in their careers. The distinctions in the hiring of an executive by a volunteer board, however, create special process issues, and a specialized search firm is best suited to address these, says a report from The Moran Company.
Bill Moran founded the search firm in 1996. He has worked on more than 70 non-profit searches. He brings a rare combination to the search sector of having spent another 10 years as senior fundraising staff and 12 years as a successful fundraising consultant serving more than 100 clients.
Ms. Graff has a total of 35 years of executive-level experience in the non-profit sector. During that time, she spent six years as CEO at a community action agency and 14 years as CEO of a large non-profit organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Starting as a direct support professional, Ms. Graff’s career has included direct supervision of residential services, case management, human resources, expansion of services and more. She has worked closely with a variety of people experiencing low income, developmental disabilities and other challenges. Throughout her combined 20 years as a non-profit CEO, Ms. Graff learned firsthand how critical it is to partner closely with clients, community stakeholders, funding sources and boards of directors.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
