Rachel Currie Triska has been appointed as chief executive officer of Dallas-based volunteerism nonprofit VolunteerNow. The experienced nonprofit innovator and strategist will succeed former CEO Tammy Richards who retired last year.
“VolunteerNow has a gutsy value proposition, ‘Volunteers change everything,’ Triska said on LinkedIn. “And I’ve bought in because what changes the world is having a critical mass of people who care.”
VolunteerNow, a national provider of volunteer recruitment and management software, leverages its nearly five decades of expertise in volunteer engagement. Today, the nonprofit serves some 3500 nonprofit agencies, mobilizes more than 300,000 volunteers who give 1.6 million hours, and provides about $46 million in impact to its communities, Triska noted.
VolunteerNow board chair Tracy Steiner says the new CEO brings “a strategic mindset, tremendous connections to the Dallas community, and a proven ability to build strategic partnerships.”
In a statement, Steiner said the board is “thrilled” that Triska will be “at the helm of VolunteerNow as we enter our next chapter.”
Triska, who has two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, also has a deep passion for serving the community. Most recently, she was vice president of external affairs at CitySquare, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting the causes and effects of poverty.
Before that, Triska was the longtime executive director of Life in Deep Ellum, a community cultural center that served as the anchor institution for the iconic entertainment district. Under Triska’s leadership, the organization became nationally known for its innovative approach to community engagement.
She has had board seats including the Deep Ellum Foundation, Faith in Texas, the Criminal Justice Coalition of North Texas, and she has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union.
“VolunteerNow’s history, relationships, and trust with the community are impressive. These realities energize me. My best work has been done when there’s space for innovation, a history to honor, and a community to work alongside. Together, I believe, we will innovate our way into the most compelling volunteer solutions of this generation,” Triska said in a statement.
VolunteerNow said its mission is to transform lives through volunteers. The nonprofit said that in a typical year, it mobilizes more than 310,000 volunteers who give 1.6 million hours to 3,500 local nonprofits.
A national thought leader in volunteerism and one of the largest volunteer centers in the country, the nonprofit serves as a hub of volunteerism in North Texas.
This story was updated with additional comments on February 10, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.
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