Executive Director Jim Hirsch Announces Retirement
Bright Promises Foundation Executive Director, Jim Hirsch, Announces Retirement
Foundation appoints the youngest Executive Director in 155-year history as his successor.
Jim Hirsch, Executive Director of Bright Promises Foundation and former Executive Director of the Chicago Sinfonietta, announced his retirement effective December 31, 2024. The Board of Directors has appointed Katherine Korey as the Executive Director effective January 1, 2025.
Honoring Hirsch’s Decades of Leadership
Hirsch has served in leadership positions at Chicagoland non-profit organizations since1982. He was appointed Executive Director of the Old Town School of Folk Music where he served for 18 years. Hirsch then served at GM and Executive Director of the Chicago Theatre from 2000-2004. He was appointed CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, the nation’s most diverse orchestra in 2004 until he retired from that position in 2020.
Hirsch was selected as the Executive Director of Bright Promises Foundation in 2021,succeeding Iris Krieg who led the Foundation for thirteen years prior. Hirsch served as the part-time Executive Director for three years before announcing his retirement at the Foundation’s recent 155th anniversary celebration event.
Highlights of Hirsch’s tenure include:
- Increased size and capacity of the Board of Directors
- Enhanced operational processes resulting in significant improvements to how the foundation partners with communities.
- Commissioned an independent, 15-year longitudinal study of Bright Promises’ grantmaking that resulted in clear evidence of systemic impact as the result of the Foundation’s community investments.
“I am so grateful to the Board of Directors for their commitment and support,” Hirsch hared. “I am also incredibly grateful to our small team for their brilliant work and thought partnership. It has been my honor to have played a role in the long history of this impactful organization.”
The Board of Directors and staff wish to offer their sincere thanks to Jim Hirsch for his dedication and leadership. “Jim came to Bright Promises at exactly the right time,” shared Board President Nancy N. Snyder. “His experience was evident at every turn, and he always knew the right way to approach a situation. We wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.”
Board Appoints Youngest Executive Director in Foundation’s 155-Year History
Katherine Korey, who has served on the staff of Bright Promises since 2016, will assume the role of Executive Director effective January 1. During her time with the Foundation, Korey has championed increased investment in evaluation, convening, knowledge sharing and dissemination, managing many of the Foundation's most impactful recent projects in these areas.
Recently, Hirsch and Korey helped to secure a $1 million unrestricted gift from Yield Giving, the giving entity of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, one of the largest donations in the foundation’s 155-year history
Thanks to this recent investment, Bright Promises Foundation staff will be restructured in 2025. Korey will be Bright Promises’ first full-time Executive Director since the turn of the last century. In addition, the staff will grow to its largest size in recent history. This marks an important investment in Bright Promises' future as well as the emerging leadership that reflects the Foundation’s mission to unlock the promise and potential of every young person.
Download the full release.
Bright Promises Foundation Executive Director, Jim Hirsch, Announces Retirement
Foundation appoints the youngest Executive Director in 155-year history as his successor.
Jim Hirsch, Executive Director of Bright Promises Foundation and former Executive Director of the Chicago Sinfonietta, announced his retirement effective December 31, 2024. The Board of Directors has appointed Katherine Korey as the Executive Director effective January 1, 2025.
Honoring Hirsch’s Decades of Leadership
Hirsch has served in leadership positions at Chicagoland non-profit organizations since1982. He was appointed Executive Director of the Old Town School of Folk Music where he served for 18 years. Hirsch then served at GM and Executive Director of the Chicago Theatre from 2000-2004. He was appointed CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, the nation’s most diverse orchestra in 2004 until he retired from that position in 2020.
Hirsch was selected as the Executive Director of Bright Promises Foundation in 2021,succeeding Iris Krieg who led the Foundation for thirteen years prior. Hirsch served as the part-time Executive Director for three years before announcing his retirement at the Foundation’s recent 155th anniversary celebration event.
Highlights of Hirsch’s tenure include:
- Increased size and capacity of the Board of Directors
- Enhanced operational processes resulting in significant improvements to how the foundation partners with communities.
- Commissioned an independent, 15-year longitudinal study of Bright Promises’ grantmaking that resulted in clear evidence of systemic impact as the result of the Foundation’s community investments.
“I am so grateful to the Board of Directors for their commitment and support,” Hirsch hared. “I am also incredibly grateful to our small team for their brilliant work and thought partnership. It has been my honor to have played a role in the long history of this impactful organization.”
The Board of Directors and staff wish to offer their sincere thanks to Jim Hirsch for his dedication and leadership. “Jim came to Bright Promises at exactly the right time,” shared Board President Nancy N. Snyder. “His experience was evident at every turn, and he always knew the right way to approach a situation. We wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter.”
Board Appoints Youngest Executive Director in Foundation’s 155-Year History
Katherine Korey, who has served on the staff of Bright Promises since 2016, will assume the role of Executive Director effective January 1. During her time with the Foundation, Korey has championed increased investment in evaluation, convening, knowledge sharing and dissemination, managing many of the Foundation's most impactful recent projects in these areas.
Recently, Hirsch and Korey helped to secure a $1 million unrestricted gift from Yield Giving, the giving entity of philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, one of the largest donations in the foundation’s 155-year history
Thanks to this recent investment, Bright Promises Foundation staff will be restructured in 2025. Korey will be Bright Promises’ first full-time Executive Director since the turn of the last century. In addition, the staff will grow to its largest size in recent history. This marks an important investment in Bright Promises' future as well as the emerging leadership that reflects the Foundation’s mission to unlock the promise and potential of every young person.
Download the full release.
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