Loaves & Fishes Community Services Appoints Megan Lynch as Executive Vice President – Advancement
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Lynch as Executive Vice President – Advancement effective March 1, 2025. Lynch began at Loaves & Fishes as a Board member and then joined the staff as Vice President – Strategic Partnerships in November of 2023. Since that time, she developed the organization’s corporate engagement strategy, engaged numerous new partners to advance food security, and contributed as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team. In her new position, she is leading the fundraising, marketing, and strategic initiatives which support the organization’s services to more than 10,000 people a week in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties. She succeeds Nancy Wiersum who retired on February 28.
“I am honored to step into this new role and continue advancing Loaves & Fishes’ mission alongside our incredible team, partners, and supporters,” said Lynch. “The need in our community is great, but so is our collective ability to make a difference. I look forward to working together to ensure that every neighbor facing food insecurity has access to the resources and healthy food they need to thrive.”
Lynch is a social impact leader with experience across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining Loaves & Fishes, she managed the Charitable Fund for Duly Health and Care, where she oversaw social impact, grantmaking, and volunteerism initiatives. She previously served as Director of Corporate Relations for North Central College in Naperville. Earlier, she managed corporate relationships for The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. She began her career at the US Department of State at the US Mission to the United Nations.
“We are very excited about Megan leading our advancement initiatives and being on our Executive Team. She has a strong track record of successful leadership, and is very well regarded and connected in our community,” said Mike Havala, President & CEO. “Megan’s promotion to Executive Vice President – Advancement was a key part of our succession planning.”
Lynch has served on multiple nonprofit boards and advisory committees, including currently with Social Responsibility Chicago and previously with Loaves & Fishes Community Services, Impact DuPage, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce (NACC), the Next Generation Initiative of DuPage Foundation, and the Young Leaders Fund of the Chicago Community Trust. She received the 2023 Grantmaker of the Year Award from the West Suburban Philanthropic Network and was selected as a 2021 NACC 4 Under 40 Award winner. She earned her MA in Politics from New York University and is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE). Additionally, she earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and a Professional Certificate in Fundraising from New York University. Lynch lives in West Chicago with her husband and two children.