FIRST INAUGURAL NONPROFIT LEADER OF THE YEAR RECIPIENT 2023
Kathy Collinsworth became the Monadnock Humane Society’s (MHS) executive director in 2016 following six years as executive director of the Monadnock United Way. The Monadnock Humane Society had served the region for 145 years, but in 2016 it was in dire financial condition, facing the very real possibility of closing its doors. Within two years, because of Kathy’s leadership, MHS was running a surplus budget.
Collinsworth engaged her staff, cultivated new donors, obtained grant funding, and negotiated lower expenses to turn an annual deficit of $300,000 into a net profit each year while increasing operating reserves.
Collinsworth tapped into her experience in working in the nonprofit sector in social services at Cheshire Medical Center, Monadnock United Way, and Stonewall Farm to expand MHS’s services to the community. She implemented the Animal Safety Net program that takes in animals, free of charge, for those facing domestic violence, homelessness, drug treatment programs, and long-term illness and cares for the pet until it can be reunited with them again.
Collinsworth also launched a mobile pet food pantry in partnership with The Community Kitchen to provide pet food to those living in rural areas where people are experiencing food insecurity for themselves and their pets.
She also doubled the number of feline neuter clinics and brought on a Humane Agent to handle animal cruelty cases resulting in over 300 animals being removed from difficult conditions.
Collinsworth’s involvement goes well beyond her occupational leadership roles. As a Rotarian, she served at local food pantries, built houses in El Salvador for impoverished areas for 7 years, and is past President of Keene Elm City Rotary. She is a Trustee for the Savings Bank of Walpole and is the current President of the NH Federation of Humane Organizations.
Kathy’s past awards include Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary and Keene State College President’s Outstanding Women of NH Awardee. People in Keene know Kathy as a great contributor to our community and we can all agree that her statewide recognition through NH Business Review Magazine’s Nonprofit Business Excellence Award is well deserved. For your service to our community and beyond, Kathy, I am proud to share with you a key to the City as a memento of our appreciation of your service and accomplishments.