Allison McDermott

Executive Director, Havens Relief Fund Society

Allison McDermott has been the Executive Director of the Havens Relief Fund Society since April 2013. Havens is a private operating foundation, established in 1871 whose mission is to help struggling New York City residents and their families overcome imminent financial crises that might otherwise have devastating impacts on their lives by providing modest, onetime grants through a network of volunteer community leaders and professionals. Under her leadership, Havens has increased its charitable giving budget by over 30%. Ms. McDermott has spent her professional career working in the New York City nonprofit sector. For the 12 years prior to joining Havens, she worked at Pro Bono Net, serving as its Deputy Director for the last 7 years. Pro Bono Net is a nonprofit whose mission is to increase access to justice through the innovative use of technology by legal aid and pro bono organizations in New York City and across the country. In her role, she supervised and managed all programmatic activity as well as worked with the Executive Director on all operational issues. Besides extensive experience in applying web-based technology to nonprofit operations, service delivery and fundraising communications, Ms. McDermott directed the expansion and replication of the award winning LawHelp.org across a network of twenty-eight states. Earlier in her career Ms. McDermott worked as a program officer with the former MONY Foundation; as a pro bono coordinator for domestic violence survivors at Her Justice; and as a case worker for families at risk at Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation. Ms. McDermott holds a BA from Tufts University and an MS in Social Administration from Columbia University. She lives in New York City with her classical guitarist husband, two young daughters and their dog Maple.

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-mcdermott-5846313