Common Impact Expands Board of Directors to Lead New Stage of Growth

Two newly appointed Directors bring expertise in social sector investment and product development.
Jun 15, 2017 11:00 AM ET

NEW YORK, June 15, 2017 /3BL Media/ — Common Impact, a nonprofit organization that pioneered corporate skills-based volunteering, has appointed two new members to its Board of Directors: Kevin Cavanaugh, vice president at Smarter Workforce, IBM and Jihye Gyde, a senior associate at Nonprofit Finance Fund. 

The addition of Cavanaugh and Gyde to the Common Impact board is the latest in a series of strategic organizational appointments that have helped scale Common Impact’s national presence as the popularity of skills-based volunteering increases amongst Fortune 500 companies. 

“The demand for Common Impact’s services is higher than it has ever been,” noted Common Impact CEO Danielle Holly. “Companies now see skills-based volunteering as a powerful way to engage and develop their employees, while investing in nonprofit and social challenges in a targeted, unique way.  As we grow, we need a board that has a bird’s eye view of the sectors, strategies, and partnerships that will scale our mission while maintaining the deep quality we’ve always had.” 

Cavanaugh and Gyde each bring unique areas of experience and expertise to the Common Impact Board. Kevin Cavanaugh, Vice President at IBM, has been with IBM for over 20 years leading strategy development, product management, and engineering teams both in the US and abroad. IBM has been a long-time leader in skills-based volunteering, launching its Corporate Service Corps program in 2008 which connects teams of IBM employees to government, business and civic leaders in emerging markets to address high-priority issues such as education, health, and economic development.  Kevin has spent the last four years leading engineering for IBM's HR cloud offerings including Watson Talent. He also services on the board of Boston CyberArts. He has an ongoing interest in how technology and technologists can make cultural and social contributions.

Jihye Gyde, is a senior associate at Nonprofit Finance Fund, a leading nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that strengthens the ability of nonprofits and foundations to direct and manage capital for targeted impact. As part of NFF’s consulting team, Jihye works with the firm’s national nonprofit clients to steward effective financial management and navigate organizational change. Jihye is also active in Boston’s philanthropic community, serving on the grants committee of The Philanthropy Connection, a women’s grant-making collective, as well as serving as pro bono case mediator in the Massachusetts District Court system.

 “We are thrilled to welcome Jihye and Kevin to our Board of Directors,” noted Common Impact Board Chair Jay Althoff. “They both understand the essential role Common Impact plays in helping high-potential nonprofits leverage the brightest talent from leading corporations, and their deep experience and expertise will help position Common Impact for its next stage of growth and expanded impact.”

About Common Impact
Common Impact is a nationally-recognized nonprofit that works to build a society in which individuals and businesses invest their unique talents towards a shared purpose: strengthening the local communities in which we live and work. Founded in 2000, Common Impact has partnered with Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of the country’s leading nonprofit organizations to create this transformational change through skills-based volunteering. Learn more about Common Impact’s servicesimpact, and clients.