Nonprofit Montgomery, the county’s alliance of nonprofit organizations serving our vibrant and diverse community has appointed Brigid Howe as the organization’s first Executive Director. The announcement was made today by Luisa Montero, Chair of Nonprofit Montgomery’s Advisory Board and Director of LAYC/Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers. Howe will officially begin on September 21.
A native of Montgomery County, Howe brings to Nonprofit Montgomery a distinguished record of leadership in the nonprofit community. Most recently, Howe was the Manager of Program Services at the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, supporting nearly 90,000 members (almost 63,000 girls and more than 26,000 adults) in the Greater Washington Region and an operating budget of $15.6 million. Earlier in her career, Howe worked with the Maryland National-Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Howe will join the very talented staff and consulting team of Hope Gleicher, Barbara Garlock, Sharon Friedman, and Mindy Chong.
“Brigid is a dynamic leader who is deeply committed to strengthening Montgomery County-serving nonprofits in order to help find solutions to some of our community’s new as well as long-standing challenges,” said Montero. “She has a reputation for being mission and outcomes driven with a particular gift for creative collaborations and strategic partnerships. She is a leader among the next generation of leaders who will build on our accomplishments and six years of experience as the voice of the county’s nonprofit sector with our government, philanthropic and business partners.
Howe’s appointment follows a competitive national search conducted by a committee that reflected the diversity of Nonprofit Montgomery members and of the community. Starting September 21st, she can be reached at brigid@nonprofitmoco.org.
“I am thrilled to be joining Nonprofit Montgomery and this alliance that delivers services to well over half of our neighbors,” said Howe. “A growing number of county residents are in need of assistance provided by nonprofit organizations. In fact, half of all residents rely on nonprofits for services from food, shelter, affordable housing, health and mental health care to job training, after-school programming and educational support as well as programs in the arts and environment. Our tremendous community assets notwithstanding, the gaps are growing. We must drive solutions that allow Montgomery County to be a fair, just, thriving community for all.”
Howe has also been a civic leader and activist. She was a Board member of DC Diaper Bank and a parent representative on the Montgomery County Commission on Child Care. Previously, Howe chaired the Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board.
Howe holds a B.A. from Brandeis University and completed graduate study in American Studies at The George Washington University. She completed the American Express Nonprofit Leadership Academy and the Cultural Entrepreneurship Institute through the Cooperstown Graduate Program.
“On behalf of the Advisory Board and our entire membership, we’d like to extend our thanks to Shane Rock (CEO, Interfaith Works), Allison Stearns (CEO, Hospice Caring) and Deb Riley (CEO, CASE) who worked with me on the search” said Montero. “We’d also like to express our most sincere gratitude to our staff and consulting team for their laser focus on successfully carrying out the important work of Nonprofit Montgomery during this exciting and busy time of transition.”