Stacey D. Stewart, MBA will be the next president of the March of Dimes Foundation. Stewart is succeeding Dr. Jennifer L. Howse who’s been at the helm since 1990.
Stewart is no stranger to the C-suite and has had a number of senior roles, including chief diversity officer and senior vice president for the Office of Community and Charitable Giving at Fannie Mae (February 2007 – April 2009), as well as president and chief executive officer for the Fannie Mae Foundation (September 1999 – February 2007).
Stewart is transitioning from United Way Worldwide where she served as EVP, Community Impact Leadership and Learning (May 2009 – October 2012) and U.S. president (since October 2012).
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead an organization with such a storied history as the March of Dimes,” Stewart said in a statement. “Across polio, birth defects and the prematurity campaign – few organizations have made such a lasting impact on the futures of mothers and babies as the March of Dimes. I feel honored to join this tradition and seek new ways to reach and protect every mother and baby in the future.”
Stewart holds a master’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University. In addition to many national awards, she also has been recognized with honorary degrees from Alabama A&M, Morgan State University, Texas Southern University and Trinity University. Stewart is married to Jarvis C. Stewart, the chairman and managing partner of I+R Media LLC, a public affairs and strategic communications firm based in Washington, D.C. The Stewarts have two children, Madeleine and Savannah.
“We are very excited to have Stacey join us as the next president of the March of Dimes,” states Gary Dixon, chairman of the March of Dimes Foundation National Board of Trustees and chairman of the Search Committee. “She brings a wealth of experience as a non-profit CEO, a leader of complex organizations with national and global footprints, a fundraiser and a national spokesperson. Stacey is mission-driven and results-focused and is deeply committed to our mission and public service. We are very excited to have Stacey lead us into the future. We are equally grateful for the wonderful legacy and iconic leadership of Dr. Howse. Our work to end prematurity under her leadership has been outstanding. It’s delightful to see these two working together toward a smooth and orderly transition. Our entire organization, its volunteers, staff, donors and partners should be proud of both our heritage and our future.”
Founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, the March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines and breakthroughs.
In 2012, March of Dimes made Forbes 100 Largest U.S. Charities list with an operating budget of $199 million.
