Tom Ahern
Board member, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities
Tom Ahern has served on the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities (BGCTC) board for five years. During his tenure, he created and now chairs the Education Advisory
2025 Notable Nonprofit Board Members
Across law, health, the arts, education, and other fields, nonprofits engage in often vital acts of public service—and benefit from the skills of executives sitting on their boards. Here, we spotlight 34 professionals who contribute their strategic insights, subject matter expertise, and networking prowess to nonprofits covering various causes.
Methodology: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from nomination materials. This list is not comprehensive; it includes only people who were nominated and accepted after editorial review. To qualify for this list, individuals must have at least five years of experience in their field and have shown the ability to effect change in their roles or areas of practice.
To nominate other best-in-class executives in their fields, click here.
Patrick Boley
Board member, Reach for Resources
Patrick Boley is a strong advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions, and the legal expertise he lends to Reach for Resources is peerless, says Kate Bottiger,
William J. Brody
Board member, Northern Star Scouting
For 16 years, William J. Brody has served on the board of Northern Star Scouting, a nonprofit that prepares youth for leadership, where Brody’s own leadership on the board has
Laura Cederberg
Board member, Minnesota Marine Art Museum
Since Laura Cederberg became chair of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum board’s strategic planning committee, the former head of Minneapolis public relations firm Weber Shandwick has helped shape the vision
Judith Corson
Board chair, Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship
As a founding board member and chair for the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, Judith Corson has worked to strengthen business education in Minnesota. Corson brings with her nearly
George Esbensen
Co-founding board member, Minnesota Firefighter Initiative
Co-founded in 2016 by longtime Eden Prairie fire chief George Esbensen, the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE) is an Isanti-based statewide advocacy organization focused on firefighters’ well-being. In 2021, with Esbensen
Rick Ferris
Board chair, Fraser
Rick Ferris has been instrumental to the breadth and renown of Fraser, the largest provider of autism, mental health, and disability services in Minnesota, on whose board he has served
Elizabeth Franklin
Board president, Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
Elizabeth Franklin has served on the board for the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health (MACMH) for eight years, most recently as president. Her leadership has been critical for guiding
Thom Gunderson
Board chair, Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
For more than a decade, Thom Gunderson has leveraged health care expertise to guide the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) through growth. As board chair, he can draw from more
Tony Hallada
Board member, Mn Adult and Teen Challenge
On the board of Mn Adult and Teen Challenge, Tony Hallada has advanced the fight against addiction. Hallada, who is managing principal of CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, has connected the Minneapolis-based
Jessica Hellmann
Board member, Science Museum of Minnesota
Jessica Hellmann is executive director at the St. Paul-based Institute on the Environment, part of the University of Minnesota, as well as a professor in the university’s Department of Ecology,
Mark Henneman
Board member, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
Mark Henneman has worked to strengthen St. Paul throughout his six years on the board of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. He serves on the community impact committee and
David Herman
Board chair, Minnesota Hospital Association
David Herman brings nearly 40 years’ worth of clinical credibility to his role as board chair for the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). An ophthalmologist and the president and CEO of
Jill Holter
Board secretary, Mill City Farmers Market
As board secretary for Mill City Farmers Market, Jill Holter works to elevate the Minneapolis market’s profile. On the board since 2023, she taps into her more than 30 years
Hoyt Hsiao
Board officer, Metropolitan Economic Development Association
As board officer for the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA), Hoyt Hsiao brings strategic vision to the advancement of economic equity. MEDA is dedicated to empowering underserved entrepreneurs through consulting,
Ruth Weber Kelley
Board president, Minnesota and Dakotas chapter, Breakthrough T1D
Ruth Weber Kelley’s journey with Breakthrough T1D began in 2017, when her daughter, Lizzie, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Soon after, Weber Kelley found her way to the
Rick Kleven
Board president, Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities
Rick Kleven has been board chair at Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities (UGMTC) for almost three years, after he agreed to extend his term one year to further implement a
Christopher Krusmark
Former board chair, Hired
As a human resources leader in the Twin Cities, Christopher Krusmark’s commitment to workforce equity has included more than 15 years on the board of Hired, including as chair the