Jennifer Mitchell to Become President & CEO of The Doe Fund
Mitchell will join The Doe Fund in April, bringing more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and innovative, holistic workforce development programming to the position.
New York, NY— The Doe Fund, a homeless services nonprofit best known for its Ready, Willing & Able reentry program and portfolio of transitional, affordable, and supportive housing throughout New York City, announces Jennifer Mitchell as the organization’s next President and CEO.
Jennifer began her career at The Doe Fund over two decades ago and spent 12 years developing Ready, Willing & Able programs before leaving to become Executive Director of The HOPE Program. She has the background, experience, relationships, and passion to lead The Doe Fund as it continues to be a solution to homelessness in New York City. Jennifer will officially rejoin The Doe Fund in April, succeeding President Harriet Karr-McDonald.
“Jennifer returns to The Doe Fund at a critical time when surging homelessness, rising crime, and a lack of affordable and supportive housing are not only at the forefront of every New Yorkers’ mind, but in the way of NYC’s recovery,” said Harriet Karr-McDonald. “Ready, Willing & Able, which my husband George and I co-founded more than 30 years ago, is a proven solution to these crises. Under Jennifer, our work will meet the urgency of the present moment and uplift even more of our city’s most marginalized residents to even greater heights. Jennifer’s deep experience with workforce development will elevate The Doe Fund through cutting edge programs, social enterprises, housing, and partnerships that provide a working way home for those who need it most. Her leadership, expertise, and vision will advance our legacy for generations to come.”
The announcement is the culmination of a leadership transition process that began in early 2020, when The Doe Fund’s Founder and then-President, George McDonald, became Chief Transition Officer and its Board of Directors formed a Governance and Succession Committee. After McDonald’s unexpected passing in 2021, Harriet Karr-McDonald became President while the Committee began working with a search firm to identify the best candidates.
“There is no question that we have found the ideal next President in Jennifer Mitchell,” said David Shapiro, a member of the Governance and Succession Committee within The Doe Fund’s Board. “Between her past experience at The Doe Fund, her understanding of our mission, her accomplishments at The HOPE Program, and her expertise in workforce development programming, Jennifer is uniquely suited to take Ready, Willing & Able to the next level.”
He continued, “We are confident that she will introduce new employment and training opportunities that prepare the men in our program for jobs in higher paying, in-demand sectors. We also look forward to the collaborations Jen will establish with like-minded organizations that can expand The Doe Fund’s scope and strengthen our impact.”
For the last 11 years, Jennifer has served as Executive Director of The HOPE Program, which provides training, skills development, adult education, industry certifications, hands-on learning, job placement, work wellness services, and lifelong support to marginalized populations. Under her leadership, The HOPE Program has developed an innovative portfolio that capitalizes on investment in green jobs addressing climate justice. Jennifer leaves The HOPE Program in a strong financial and programmatic position.
“We are immeasurably grateful for the commitment, energy, strategic leadership, and above all, heart, that Jen brought to HOPE and which will undoubtedly fuel The Doe Fund’s continued success,” said Lauren Samuel, Chair of The HOPE Program Board of Directors. “As we say to all of our students, graduates, and community members at large, Jen, you are ‘HOPE for Life!’”
Additionally, Jennifer is an active member of the nonprofit workforce development community in New York City, including as Vice Chair of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition Board for the past seven years.
“The New York City Employment and Training Coalition celebrates Jennifer’s vision for a fairer, more equitable New York,” said Gregory J. Morris, CEO of the New York City Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC). “Jennifer has been integral to advancing the coalition’s efforts and shares a deep commitment to closing the skills gap, mitigating barriers to employment and expanding access to sustainable careers. Under Jennifer’s leadership, The HOPE Program has put thousands of New Yorkers on pathways to stability and self-sufficiency. We know she will continue to serve as an invaluable partner in the fight for inclusive employment opportunities as president of The Doe Fund, and our sector and our city will be all the better for it.”
Jennifer has been involved in several JobFirstNYC field building initiatives, including as a founding member of the Green Economy Network.
“The JobsFirstNYC team congratulates Jennifer Mitchell on her new position as President of The Doe Fund. Jen has been an outstanding steward in the nonprofit field and this appointment reaffirms the depth of her commitment to empowering and engaging people and communities,” said Marjorie D. Parker, President & CEO of JobsFirstNYC. “She has earned the reputation of being an exemplary collaborator and forward-looking innovator, skills that will strengthen the mantra of The Doe Fund to be Ready, Willing & Able. We wish her the very best in this new role and look forward to continued partnership.”
Jennifer has worked closely with elected officials to bring city, state, and federal funding to the NYC workforce development field, offering many new training opportunities in areas including Hunts Point, Bronx.
“Since being elected in 2016, my office and I have worked very closely with Jennifer Mitchell on an array of issues impacting my district and the Bronx as a whole,” stated New York City Council Member Rafael Salamanca, 17th Council District, The Bronx. “As Executive Director of The HOPE Program, Jennifer spearheaded initiatives that provided New Yorkers with critical resources to overcome the significant barriers in attaining quality education, employment, and housing. After more than a decade at HOPE, Jennifer is taking her expertise to The Doe Fund, where she will continue to be an agent of change for the many New Yorkers who are looking for a second chance. I look forward to continuing to work with Jennifer in her new role to make a difference in the lives of my constituents.”
Jennifer joins The Doe Fund at a moment of urgency and opportunity, as New York City and vulnerable New Yorkers recover from challenges presented by the pandemic. Under her leadership, she will advance The Doe Fund’s position as a trusted resource to the City, offering the comprehensive, holistic solutions needed to build a more equitable and inclusive New York. She will collaborate across a wide range of key stakeholders to maximize The Doe Fund’s impact. This will require leveraging its strong programs and engaging with Doe Fund staff, graduates, and others to develop a strategic plan that ensures continued progress and innovation.
“The future of our City depends on achieving an inclusive recovery that reaches the most vulnerable among us: people experiencing homelessness, reentering society after incarceration, battling addiction, and living with physical disabilities and serious mental illness,” said Jennifer Mitchell. “The Doe Fund is a pioneer in workforce development for marginalized populations and a successful developer of permanent supportive and affordable housing in New York City. I am so excited to rejoin the team and continue to build on its strong foundation and incredible legacy.”
She continued, “The Doe Fund has the ability to address the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness in a way that is innovative, cost-effective, and permanent. I look forward to leveraging this extraordinary organization’s 35 years of expertise as a resource in our City’s recovery and a solution to our most pressing social problems.”
“Jennifer believes in the transformative power of work, the inherent value of The Doe Fund’s ‘three-legged stool’ approach, and that to overcome the crises New York City faces, it must embrace a holistic continuum of care that meets the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness where they are,” said John McDonald, Executive Vice President of Real Estate & Interim President of The Doe Fund. “Her unique vision will enhance each aspect of our three-legged stool, from the social enterprises and career training offered by Ready, Willing & Able, to our growing portfolio of affordable and supportive housing, to comprehensive services from addiction recovery to case management, adult basic education, computer literacy, legal support, and so much more.”
“I’m eager to work with Jennifer to strengthen and grow the workforce development services we offer trainees,” said Felipe Vargas, Vice President of Programs at The Doe Fund. “Recently, we expanded our workforce development programs into skilled trades and launched an immensely popular training track in welding. This is the kind of in-demand, well-compensated field that opens up new possibilities for our graduates. It gives them access to higher-paying careers so they can support themselves and their families.”
He continued, “I am also excited to see how Jennifer applies her expertise in the sustainability and green jobs sectors here at The Doe Fund. Much has changed in our country since Ready, Willing & Able started in 1990. To ensure we are giving the men we serve the best chance to succeed in today’s employment landscape, we must continue to evolve. I have full confidence in Jennifer’s ability to accomplish that.
ABOUT THE DOE FUND: Since 1985, The Doe Fund has helped nearly 30,000 individuals break the devastating cycle of poverty, homelessness, and incarceration. Its Ready, Willing & Able program provides paid work, housing, and comprehensive support services to homeless and formerly incarcerated men in New York City. The program’s Men in Blue clean over 115 miles of city streets as part of a Doe Fund-operated social enterprise before transitioning to paid career training in skilled trades and other living wage fields. Ready, Willing & Able graduates are 62% less likely to recidivate than demographically identical peers.
In addition, The Doe Fund operates a portfolio of nearly 900,000 square feet of permanent affordable and supportive housing. Its 12 residences in operation and development throughout New York City provide state-of-the-art, safe homes with on-site social services to over 1,000 individuals and families struggling with substance abuse issues, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and physical disabilities.
