December 27, 2021 – The Board of Directors of the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) has announced that current COO Kelly Mathews will serve as interim CEO while the board is completing the search process for a permanent successor to Doug Sauer who is retiring on January 1, 2022. During this transition period, Sauer will be continuing to provide technical assistance to NYCON members as a consultant. Sauer has led NYCON for 41 years.
"The NYCON Board of Directors is happy to announce that Kelly Mathews has agreed to serve as interim CEO," explains Joanne Florino, NYCON Board Chair. "With over two decades of providing both management and technical assistance services at NYCON, Kelly is well-equipped to serve NYCON and its members in this capacity."
"I am proud to say that the board, Kelly and our management team are working closely to ensure a smooth transition," Sauer states. "In addition to Kelly providing leadership as interim CEO, Sr. V.P. Susan Weinrich's role will now include oversight of our nonprofit capacity-building work to help ensure minimal disruption in services."
In addition to serving as COO, Mathews has led NYCON's Financial Management Group since 1998 and serves as executive director of NYCON's affiliate, Good Causes, Inc. (formerly Innovative Charitable Initiatives, Inc.). Mathews has played integral and expansive roles throughout her tenure at NYCON. She provides financial management technical assistance and training to nonprofit staff and boards of directors throughout New York State. She leads NYCON's organization-wide initiatives, public policy, and infrastructure. As Executive Director of Good Causes, Kelly leads the organization's provision of fiscal sponsorship, employment, and administrative services to emerging nonprofit organizations, programs in transition, collaboratives, and consortiums nationwide. In addition, she serves as Chief Operating Officer of BoardStrong, Inc., which works with nonprofits to ensure their board composition, policies, structure, and practices support effective governance.
Originally from Oklahoma and Arkansas, Mathews now lives in New York's Capital District with her husband and three dogs, including two rescued from shelters throughout the Southern U.S. and one rambunctious Gordon setter.
"While it is difficult to imagine NYCON without Doug at the helm, I look forward to working with our board, staff, and NYCON's corporate family throughout this transition to continue to deliver the level of quality services our members and funding partners have come to expect during his tenure," stated Mathews.
