2024 Power 100: Tiffany Lillie
Photo | Courtesy of Girls Inc. of Worcester
Tiffany Lillie, CEO at Girls Inc. of Worcester
More Information
Girls Inc. of Worcester is just coming out of crisis mode, having spent the last year roiled in turmoil after two top executives, including the former CEO, were placed on administrative leave amid allegations of racial discrimination. The nonprofit, which primarily serves girls with educational initiatives, had to suspend its programs for a time, settled a lawsuit, and used an interim CEO while its board considered how to move forward.
Now the dust has settled and programming has resumed, Tiffany Lillie is tasked with putting the nonprofit back on solid ground, reassuring its diverse employee and client base while keeping funding levels up. Lillie’s success or failure will determine whether Girls Inc. completely puts this crisis in the rearview.
Her tenure as CEO, which started in October, is her second stint at the organization. Lillie worked as a program specialist for the girls’ empowerment nonprofit from 2006 to 2009. Most recently, Lillie was assistant superintendent of equity, diversity, and community engagement at Framingham Public Schools.
Lillie now is tasked with keeping services and staffing steady at Girls Inc. following the rough leadership transition. According to its 2022 annual report, the nonprofit posted a nearly $440,000 operating loss with funding from major sources declining since 2021. Assets were $13.2 million, down from $14.6 million.
Lillie has had experience finding ways to support opportunities for young people while working within a tight budget. At Framingham, her team was expecting to add new positions to support a new program, but funding fell through.
“It was very difficult for the team to process,” she said. “and we had to come back and determine how to move forward.”
Read all the Power 100 profiles here.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said two former top executives of Girls Inc. of Worcester were forced to resign. The correct information is they were placed on administrative leave, and after being placed on leave, the former CEO followed through on previously announced plans to semi-retire.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments