Worcester Community Action Council appoints new CFO

A woman with shoulder length brown curly hair wears a black blazer and a purple, grey, and black patterned top.

Photo I Courtesy of Worcester Community Action Council Ruth Pellegrino, chief financial officer of Worcester Community Action Council

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By Mica Kanner-Mascolo

Worcester Community Action Council has named Ruth Pellegrino as the social services nonprofit’s new chief financial officer.

Pellegrino comes to her new role having most recently managed a budget of $34 million as the CFO at Tri-Valley, Inc., a Dudley-based nonprofit providing human services to older adults and those with disabilities, according to a Wednesday press release from WCAC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ruth Pellegrino to the WCAC leadership team,” WCAC CEO Marybeth Campbell said in the release. “Her deep expertise in nonprofit financial management, commitment to operational excellence, and passion for community service make her the ideal leader to oversee our financial strategy. As WCAC continues to expand critical services across Central Massachusetts, Ruth’s leadership will ensure we remain fiscally strong and sustainable.”

With close to two decades of nonprofit financial management experience, Pellegrino previously worked at the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester for 12 years, according to her LinkedIn profile. There, she managed the organization’s financial reporting, budgeting, and audits, according to the release.

Pellegrino succeeds Robert Scherer, who is retiring from the CFO position in mid-February after an eight-year tenure with WCAC.

She graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Assumption University in Worcester.

“I am honored to join WCAC and contribute to its mission of breaking the cycle of poverty,” Pellegrino said in the release. “Financial stewardship is crucial in ensuring that vital community programs remain accessible and impactful. I look forward to working with the incredible team at WCAC to strengthen the organization’s financial health and long-term sustainability.”

Having generated $43.15 million in revenue, WCAC is the 16th largest human services nonprofit in Central Massachusetts when ranked by total revenue for the most recent fiscal year available, according to data collected by WBJ’s Research Department.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.