MEET VANESSA

Social Entrepreneur. Mother. Wife.

Founder & CEO

Vanessa Kirsch, Alan's wife, is the Founder and CEO of New Profit, a venture philanthropy organization that invests in breakthrough leaders and system change initiatives working arm in arm with social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and other change makers,to break down the barriers to opportunity in America.

Prior to founding New Profit in 1998, Vanessa launched two other social enterprises, the Women's Information Network (WIN) in 1989 and Public Allies in 1992. The Women’s Information Network is Washington’s premier, professional, political and social network dedicated to informing, connecting and empowering young, pro-choice, Democratic women.

Public Allies is a national service program and part of AmeriCorps, that recruits diverse underrepresented young leaders to serve our country, get on successful pathways to higher education and careers, and bring communities together to work for the common good. Vanessa recruited Michelle Obama to be the founding Executive Director of Public Allies in Chicago.

First Lady, Hillary Clinton featured Public Allies’ Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program at the White House in March of 1993, the first national service event the Clintons held at the White House.

MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE

Vanessa received the Leadership in Social Entrepreneurship Award from Duke University’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship. Ernst & Young named her “Entrepreneur of the Year” in the category of social entrepreneurship and she has been recognized by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report as a leader of her generation. Forbes identified Vanessa as one of 15 innovators who will reinvent the future.

DYNAMIC DUO

In 2014, Vanessa Kirsch and Alan Khazei, were named by FORTUNE magazine and CNNMoney to their list of “World’s Greatest Leaders: 9 Dynamic Duos.”

Vanessa grew up in Cambridge, MA and graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. She is a graduate of Tufts University and serves on the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life Board of Advisors.

Vanessa has also served on numerous non profit boards working on issues including: early childhood education, mentorship for kids with learning differences, providing college access for first generation students, and empowering Veterans.