Angela DeWilde began her career as a teacher before becoming the founding Executive Director of Start at Zero, a Kansas City nonprofit dedicated to partnering with parents to foster healthy early childhood development. After leading Start at Zero for seven years, Angela served as Interim Executive Director at Show Me KC Schools during that organization’s transition, shoring up community support and programming for this vital component of Kansas City’s educational system. Angela then became a full-time consultant and Program Director at SchoolSmartKC, a local philanthropic collaborative, where she launched a series of innovative programs to bridge the gap between schools and social service agencies in the areas of food security, housing stability, and mental health.
Most recently, Angela has served as Chief Development Officer for Avenue of Life, where she led fundraising efforts and built partnerships to strengthen community networks and enhance services for families facing housing insecurity.
“We are thrilled to welcome Angela to lead JFS after a highly competitive search for our next leader,” says Jeff Stolper, President of JFS Board of Directors. “Her extensive experience in building both highly effective organizations and programs serving vulnerable communities was very compelling to our CEO Search Committee, the JFS Board and core partners involved in the search process. We’re thrilled to have her lead JFS as we support those in need across Kansas City. “
DeWilde will take over leadership from Interim CEO, Awais Sufi, who has been with JFS since July. “I am honored to join JFS at a time when its mission is more important than ever,” says DeWilde. “And I am delighted to work alongside its amazing team and extraordinary partners to build on its legacy of success and impact serving both the Jewish Community and those more broadly in need within our community.”
Originally from southeast Missouri, Angela earned her degree from Webster University in St. Louis and has called Kansas City home since 2007, where she lives with her husband, Anthony, and their two children. She will start with JFS on April 21st.
