After a national search for the next leader to take the helm at the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, the Board of Directors has announced that Dawn Lockhart, former Director of Strategic Partnerships for the City of Jacksonville and former CEO of the nonprofit Family Foundations of Jacksonville will be the next Chief Executive Officer of the organization. 

“We chose our new CEO for the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida because of her vision to inspire positive change,” Board Chair Lisa V. Johnson said. “Dawn’s proven commitment, strategic mindset, passion for our mission, and extensive reach into the local nonprofit sector convinced us that she is the catalyst needed to lead our organization toward greater impact and success.” 

Lockhart’s experience includes serving as a Director on the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. She has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1984 and has extensive experience in leading and serving on a variety of boards and committees. Lockhart is a long-time resident of the First Coast and has a true passion for the community she serves.

During her time at the City of Jacksonville, Lockhart led the inaugural Mayor’s Downtown Homeless Taskforce, a collaboration of nonprofits that resulted in a 39% reduction in homelessness. She also led the multisector 2019 and 2022 Jacksonville Housing Strategy Summits and catalyzed the Jacksonville Community Land Trust to advance affordable housing strategies.

Lockhart was recently selected as a 2023 Council on Foundations-HUD Secretary’s Awardee for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships for the success of the inaugural Office of Strategic Partnerships model. She was also selected as member of the Leap of Reason Ambassador Community, a national network of accomplished social sector executives, in 2022. Lockhart succeeds the Nonprofit Center’s longtime CEO, Rena Coughlin.