After 25 years as a leading venture philanthropy, New Profit has appointed new leadership. Founder Vanessa Kirsch is passing the baton to social impact leader Tulaine Montgomery, who will assume sole responsibility as CEO on July 1.
Montgomery and Kirsch served as co-CEOs for the past two years. Montgomery was a member of the original “idea team” that designed and helped launch New Profit in 1998.
New Profit, based in Boston, is a venture philanthropy that backs social entrepreneurs who are advancing equity and opportunity. It exists to build a bridge between these leaders and philanthropists who are committed to catalyzing their impact.
Montgomery is an entrepreneur, educator, writer and organizer. She has played leadership roles in the launch and expansion of social enterprises across the U.S., Caribbean, East Africa, Indonesia and South Africa.
During her time at New Profit, Montgomery has led initiatives focused on strengthening education-to-employment pathways for underserved youth, driving resources and support to entrepreneurs directly impacted by the American legal system and building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization and philanthropic sector.
Montgomery has also served as the lead architect of New Profit’s Inclusive Impact strategy and Proximate Capital fund, which seeks to bridge the resource gap faced by Black, Latino, Indigenous, rural and other underinvested social entrepreneurs.
“It is an honor to become the CEO of New Profit, to have the chance to lead and support some of the most committed people in the social impact sector.” she said.
Montgomery serves as the board chair for GirlTrek and on the boards of Beyond 12, College for Social Innovation and Jitegemee. Her writing has been featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Root, Worth Media and other publications. She has a master’s in public policy from Tufts University and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College. She is a graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin School.
“Tulaine is a remarkable leader who has inspired breakthrough innovation and deep impact through her bold vision, her bias for action, and her ability to bring people together in shared purpose,” said Jeff Walker, chair of New Profit’s board.
