MEGHAN GRADY was recently named executive director for Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, a nonprofit that helps deliver meals to senior residents in need. Grady was the chief operating officer for YWCA Rhode Island for eight years. In 2016, she received a United Way of Rhode Island Young Leaders Spark! Award and was honored in Providence Business News’ 40 Under Forty program.
What attracted you to the nonprofit sector? The opportunity to drive social impact is unlike no other. My career in the nonprofit sector has allowed me to make an impact in the lives of Rhode Islanders. It is truly a privilege to lead an organization that has touched so many people over the last 50 years. At Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, 1,200 homebound seniors receive a ... delivered meal each weekday. This also means seeing a friendly face, receiving a vital safety check and having the opportunity to age in place with dignity. Our work not only enables seniors to remain at home, it saves the state thousands of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid costs.
What do you hope to achieve with Meals on Wheels as executive director? Our work now spans from Woonsocket to Westerly. Last year more than 700 trained volunteers delivered more than 301,000 meals to 2,446 homebound Rhode Islanders. My initial goals include increasing the visibility of our impact, raising additional funds to serve even more homebound seniors, and being more innovative in our work. On Nov. 2, we are hosting Festival of Meals: A Tasting Gala Celebrating 50 Years of Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center to recognize our golden anniversary. This special event will feature an exclusive VIP cocktail reception, culinary competition with celebrity judges and tastings from dozens of restaurants.
You were selected for the Allstate Foundation Greater Good Nonprofit Leaders Program in 2017. What did you learn from the program? The program pushed me to think about the next step in my career path. The cohort-based academic instruction that took place at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management focused on topics such as strategic nonprofit leadership and the strengths, motivations and conditions necessary for authentic and powerful leadership. The program inspired me to pursue the executive director role at Meals on Wheels.
What is the biggest need for Meals on Wheels? We need more people to get involved as volunteers, donors and supporters. Our $2.7 million budget is comprised of federal and state funding, health care reimbursements, a weekly donation that clients make toward the cost of the meal – when they can afford to do so – and fundraising. People are often surprised to learn fundraising makes up approximately 20% of our budget. We rely on individual and corporate donations to sustain our mission. Meals on Wheels is not an affiliate of a national organization, so every dollar we raise goes toward helping a Rhode Islander. With additional funds, we can serve even more homebound seniors.
