Shaping the Future: Celebrating 2024's Top Nonprofit Leaders

In a year of unprecedented challenges, the 2024 NonProfit Times ’ Power & Influence Top 50 honorees have proven that innovation and dedication can drive transformative change. From Jim Balfanz nz’s strategic leadership at City Year to Vilas Dhar ’s advocacy for AI that prioritizes communities, the 2024 NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 honorees showcase an extraordinary range of innovation and dedication. Cheryl Dorsey ’s transformative $15.6 million Signal Fund and Ari Matusiak ’s groundbreaking $2 billion decarbonization partnership underscore the profound impact of this year's honorees. Lisa Hamilton ’s community-led solutions and Susanna Pollack ’s philanthropic gaming initiatives further demonstrate their creative approaches. These leaders are redefining philanthropy and social impact across diverse sectors, proving that visionary leadership can drive transformative change.

The annual NonProfit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 consistently showcases the sector's most influential contributors; this year is no exception. The 2024 honorees stand out for their innovative use of data, AI, and technology to enhance service delivery. These leaders have shown curiosity and openness towards advancements, successfully navigating significant challenges such as funding issues, staffing shortages, and crises in Ukraine and Gaza. Their unwavering commitment to social justice highlights America's urgent need for unity and equity.

This past year has tested the brightest minds in the nonprofit sector, revealing their resilience and ingenuity. This 27th edition features a remarkably diverse group of honorees, nearly half of whom are new. For the third time, women outnumber men. Chosen for their innovative leadership and substantial impact over the past 12 months, these leaders will be honored at the annual NPT Power & Influence Top 50 Gala in Washington, D.C., where one will receive the NPT Influencer of the Year award.

Explore all 50 honorees to discover the incredible range of work and innovation they bring to the nonprofit sector. Their diverse contributions highlight the breadth and depth of impactful efforts driving positive change globally. Read more here .

Below, I’ve highlighted a select group of exceptional leaders focusing on human potential, education, democracy, and innovation. Please join me in learning more about and celebrating these outstanding leaders:

Jim Balfanz , CEO of City Year in Boston, has held four positions since 1997 and exemplifies the success of internal promotion. He has strategically guided City Year's efforts to tackle urban education challenges and played a key role in developing Diplomas Now, which received a $36 million "Investing in Innovation" award from the U.S. Department of Education.

Vilas Dhar , President of the Patrick McGovern Foundation in Boston, embraces the global focus on AI while emphasizing that social good centers on people and communities, not just technology. As a scholar, he advocates at the United Nations and World Economic Forum for using data to create a more resilient world.

Cheryl Dorsey , President of Echoing Green in New York, began her journey raising funds for a mobile health clinic and grew into a leading social entrepreneur. Her latest initiative, the $15.6 million Signal Fund, prioritizes founders with untapped potential for scalable social impact, making her a sought-after thought leader at forums like Skoll and the World Economic Forum.

Lisa Hamilton , President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, Maryland, is steering the foundation’s focus southward with her Changing the Odds Network, which includes 61 organizations in Atlanta working on community-led solutions to education disparities and gun violence. She also serves as a board member and deputy chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, leveraging data, analysis, research, and policy to improve lives.

Ari Matusiak , CEO of Rewiring America in Washington, D.C., orchestrated a $2 billion funding partnership with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and United Way Worldwide to decarbonize American homes, connecting environment, housing, and community development sectors. His career spans leading large-scale impact ventures across for-profit, nonprofit, and public sectors.

Stephanie Hull , President and CEO of Girls Inc. in New York brings her national reputation as an educator to the nonprofit. She has broadened the organization's focus from serving girls in poor neighborhoods to empowering all girls, advocating for funders to close the generational wealth gap by supporting local service delivery groups and their workers.

Alexis McGill Johnson , President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York, has been a pivotal leader in reproductive health and education for both women and men. In the post-Roe era, she views this time as “an opportunity to reimagine and reconstruct something better,” championing social and racial justice while excelling as a political and cultural organizer.

Una Osili , Associate Dean for Research and International Programs at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, is a leading voice in philanthropic research. Known for her pioneering work, such as the “Global Philanthropy Tracker,” which measures cross-border donations in 47 countries, she provides crucial insights to members of Congress and advocates for international data standards.

Carmen Rojas, PhD (she/her) , President and CEO of the Marguerite Casey Foundation in Seattle, is reshaping social justice philanthropy with innovative thinking. She ensures that a majority of the foundation's endowment is managed by diverse leaders, directing over $130 million to nonprofits and shifting power to historically excluded communities.

Susanna Pollack , President of Games for Change in New York, leads a global effort to use gaming and virtual reality for social good. She has spearheaded numerous events, public arcades, design challenges, and youth programs in collaboration with major corporations, raising millions for charity and integrating gaming into philanthropic efforts.

MacKenzie Scott, a Seattle-based author and philanthropist at Yield Giving , has made immeasurable contributions to charities and education through her billions. Her use of data and research in decision-making stands out, as does her no-strings-attached giving, which challenges other billionaires to embrace trust-based philanthropy.

Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez , President and Executive Director of NextGen America , operates from Austin, Texas, while the organization is headquartered in California. A dedicated civil rights leader, she motivates young people to vote and register their peers. She has founded two major Texas voting and civil rights organizations and recently co-launched Movement Mujeres to empower women of color politically.

Mark Suzman , CEO of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, emphasizes that while trust philanthropy is valuable, targeted grants like the $100 million for tuberculosis are irreplaceable. He believes funders require measurable outcomes, as evidenced by the recent call for AI proposals to advance equity in global health and development.

Darren Walker , President of the Ford Foundation in New York, is synonymous with influence and innovation. With a $16 billion endowment, he fosters unmatched organizational creativity, driving solutions and collaboration. His impactful speech at the Benjamin Menschel Distinguished Lecture series further solidifies his legacy. Read it here .

Fay Twersky , President and Director of The Arthur M. Blank Foundation in Atlanta, Georgia, views challenges as solvable puzzles rather than insurmountable obstacles. Under her leadership, the foundation is expanding its impact from a regional focus on Georgia and Montana to a more prominent national presence, emphasizing progressive funding for democracy and youth development initiatives.

Armando Zumaya , Founder and Executive Director of Somos El Poder in Alameda, California, established the first fundraising institute and certificate program dedicated to Latinx fundraisers in the U.S. His insightful commentary on fundraising addresses key contemporary issues, emphasizing the need for more Latinx fundraisers to boost giving from the country's 62 million Latinos.

As we celebrate these remarkable leaders, we are reminded of the nonprofit sector's incredible potential to drive meaningful change. Their achievements inspire us to strive for a more just and compassionate world.