The Old North Foundation Appoints Nikki Stewart as Executive Director
(Boston, Massachusetts) – The Old North Foundation (ONF) today announced the appointment of Nikki Stewart as the organization’s Executive Director, effective June 29th. An experienced nonprofit executive, Ms. Stewart will oversee the Foundation’s operation and maintenance of The Old North Historic Site along with its fundraising and strategic planning activities.
(Boston, Massachusetts) – The Old North Foundation (ONF) today announced the appointment of Nikki Stewart as the organization’s Executive Director, effective June 29th. An experienced nonprofit executive, Ms. Stewart will oversee the Foundation’s operation and maintenance of The Old North Historic Site along with its fundraising and strategic planning activities.
“We are delighted to welcome Nikki, who is a highly regarded nonprofit leader with a clear passion for connecting audiences to local history and extensive fundraising expertise that will ensure the Old North Foundation continues to grow and prosper,” said Christopher Goguen, who chairs the ONF Board of Directors. “She is deeply committed to preserving the Old North legacy and the valuable lessons it teaches us about community, patriotism and civic engagement.”
“I am excited to join an incredibly talented group of staff and board members who share a commitment to the history and legacy of Old North,” said Stewart. “I look forward to partnering with the team to chart a vision for Old North’s future as we approach the 250th anniversary of the lantern signal on a night that changed the course of American history.”
In her new role, Ms. Stewart will work with other nonprofit organizations to promote the values of freedom, liberty, and civic engagement through the interpretation and preservation of the Old North site. She also will be responsible for overseeing the ONF’s efforts to emphasize the importance of education, encourage active citizenship and inspire civic engagement throughout the nation. In addition, Ms. Stewart will work with stakeholders to support preservation of America’s historic monuments and sites
Prior to joining the Old North Foundation, Ms. Stewart served as the Vice President of Development at United South End Settlements (USES), where she led the organization’s fundraising and communications efforts, including implementation of a five-year strategic plan and the launch of a capital campaign based on innovative relationship-driven strategies that fostered community and built social capital among USES’s donors, participants, and volunteers. This work included launching the Change Maker Dinner series and revitalizing the Harriet Tubman Gallery as a venue for events and exhibitions that engage the South End/Lower Roxbury community in an open dialogue about social justice issues.
Ms. Stewart also serves as Board Chair of ZUMIX, an East Boston-based youth arts organization that empowers young people to build successful futures for themselves through music, technology, and creative employment. She is the co-founder and part-time host of the award-winning Hub History podcast, which features more than 180 segments about Boston’s history and was recognized with a 2020 Boston Preservation Alliance Preservation Achievement Award.
Ms. Stewart is a graduate of Northeastern University where she earned Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees. She has been recognized as one of Massachusetts’ top non-profit leaders, including being named The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Massachusetts’ 2019 Outstanding Fundraising Rising Star. In 2018, the Change Maker Dinner Series initiative, which Ms. Stewart launched at United South End Settlements, received the Get Konnected! (GK) Network’s GK10 award for advancing racial equity.
Old North’s Executive Director search was conducted by Egmont Associates, a full-service national executive search firm based in Boston that exclusively serves nonprofit organizations.
About the Old North Foundation of Boston
Established in 1991, The Old North Foundation of Boston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is responsible for historic site operations and interpretative, educational, and preservation programs at the iconic Old North Historic Site. A secular organization that is independent of Christ Church in the City of Boston, Old North welcomes approximately 150,000 visitors annually while overseeing the use and preservation of an enduring symbol of American independence. The Foundation serves a wide audience by creating meaningful experiences through educational outreach, site-specific programming, and historical analysis. Old North works collaboratively with the City of Boston, the U.S National Park Service, the Freedom Trail Foundation and other non-profits to foster educational and interpretative programs for students and visitors while engaging the public in Old North’s history and its role in inspiring liberty and freedom.