Keenya Lambert, a veteran nonprofit executive with a passion for social justice, is joining Nourishing Hope as its new chief development officer. 

In this role, Lambert will lead the successful development and execution of Nourishing Hope’s short- and long-term fundraising efforts, as well as volunteer recruitment. The job and mission align with Lambert’s longtime passion for effecting positive change in her community. Previously, she served as vice president of development for the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, where she worked for nearly 10 years.

“We are so thrilled to have Keenya join our team at Nourishing Hope,” said Kellie O’Connell, CEO of Nourishing Hope. “Her leadership and her steadfast commitment to helping others will be instrumental to our growth as we seek to serve more people in need throughout the city.” 

In her new role, Lambert will oversee a new growth campaign design to sustain operational capacity and ensure Nourishing Hope’s ability to serve the community for generations to come. She’ll also steward an annual revenue goal of nearly $7 million and oversee a robust volunteer program with more than 5,000 volunteers each year.

She’ll lead a 10-person team dedicated to fundraising and volunteering to support Nourishing Hope’s work of providing food, social services, and mental health counseling to any Chicagoan in need.

 “I’m honored to serve at an organization meeting the immediate and long-term needs of families experiencing poverty,” Lambert said. “Nourishing Hope is creating pathways out of poverty, and I’m honored to join this dynamic community dedicated to the betterment of our society. If one of our Chicago neighbors is impacted, we all are.” 

Lambert is well prepared for the role. She brings more than 15 years of successful nonprofit experience in fundraising. At the Shriver Center, Lambert successfully completed a $3 million campaign spearheaded by the Shriver family to build a new pipeline of funding supporting both new and ongoing efforts to fight poverty. 

Prior to the Shriver Center, Lambert held various fundraising roles at the Chicago Urban League, KIPP Chicago, and Arts Alliance Illinois. She earned a Master of Arts Management degree from Columbia College Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College. 

A native Chicagoan, Lambert lives in the Bronzeville neighborhood with her family. 

 

###