Michelle Nunn’s Washington connections and corporate fund-raising ties apparently made the difference in her appointment as Atlanta-based CARE’s new president and CEO.
Nunn, a Democrat defeated by Republican David Perdue in Georgia’s 2014 U.S. Senate race, “has little experience in international development, one focus of CARE USA’s work,” The Wall Street Journal noted in its report on Nunn’s hiring. She will replace Dr. Helene Gayle, a pediatrician who had years of international experience when she came to CARE nine years ago.
But Gayle, who will lead a new nonprofit venture of the management consulting company McKinsey & Co. beginning in July, saw CARE’s funding decline during her tenure, which included the recession. Nunn raised millions of dollars for her Senate campaign, including fund-raisers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington. The daughter of former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn also has ties to both political parties through her leadership of the Points of Light Foundation, which has links to former President George H.W. Bush.
CARE USA reported $489.5 million in operating support and revenue in fiscal year 2013, down from $707.8 million in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing regulatory filings. That included cuts in U.S. government support to $139.6 million in 2013 from $267 million in 2008.
The organization originally known for its CARE packages sent to World War II-devastated Europe said it conducted an international search for Gayle’s replacement, choosing Nunn from a pool of “many terrific candidates,” Paul Jansen, chair of CARE USA’s board, said.
While the Journal said the board was impressed with “her ability to forge coalitions” and develop partnerships with local indigenous leaders, Nunn’s fund-raising in the United States will be a main duty.
Some Democrats in Georgia disappointed at Nunn’s overwhelming loss to Perdue might question her coalition-building ability, since she couldn’t put together a campaign combination to even put the election into a runoff despite early hopes that she could win the election.
But Dale E. Jones, chief executive of Diversified Search, the executive-recruitment firm that handled the job search, told the WSJ that Nunn “has great credibility in Washington” because she worked with Democrats and Republicans while heading Points of Light.
As Jansen put it in CARE’s announcement of Nunn’s hiring, released Sunday afternoon, ““Michelle is an innovative, dynamic leader whose passion for international social justice issues and ability to energize people around a mission will help CARE connect more Americans to the movement to end extreme poverty.” That’s nonprofit corporate speak for tap rich donors at Hollywood and Washington dinner parties.
While Nunn has strong nonprofit credentials, at least on a national level, CARE’s hiring of a former political candidate represents an unusual step for an organization that’s stressed its non-partisan, non-sectarian makeup in nearly 70 years of operation.
In a statement, Nunn vowed to focus on CARE’s core role. “As someone with a passion for citizen movements, I couldn’t be more excited to lead an organization that has the most critical and compelling mission in the world today: alleviating poverty by empowering women and girls,” Nunn said. “I am eager to lead CARE’s innovative work helping communities lift themselves out of poverty.”
But several observers said that the position would help Nunn build her international credibility for a possible future political campaign. Nunn declined to comment on future political plans, perhaps recognizing that even a hint of using CARE as a political springboard would conflict with the organization’s long-held values.
Deal signs schools legislation: Voters will now decide whether to allow the state government to take over local “chronically failing schools” after Gov. Nathan Deal on Tuesday signed legislation setting up his proposed Opportunity School District.
The referendum on the proposed constitutional amendment is 19 months away, but already the Georgia Association of Educators and Democratic leaders promise a strong campaign to defeat the proposal. Along with claims that the plan sets up an extra bureaucracy, opponents will likely point out that the legislation setting up the district’s operating structure will allow the state office to deduct up to 3 percent of a school’s local funds for administration.
The governor also signed House Bill 372, which prevents local school districts from blocking charter schools. The legislation stemmed from an attempt by Clayton County officials to obstruct the opening of the state-approved Utopian Academy for the Arts, according to a release from Deal’s office.
