We are excited to welcome Jonathan Lever, our first-ever executive vice president and chief operating officer, to the Fetzer Institute. Jonathan will work closely with our board and president to drive program strategy and expansion; lead the management of the Institute; and represent the organization externally. He begins his work with us on February 4.
Jonathan comes to us with a wonderful blend of nonprofit experience and executive leadership. Having served at the YMCA of the USA as executive vice president, he oversaw national strategic planning and led a 100+ person team in scaling programs in the areas of healthy living, youth development, character development, and membership to thousands of communities with YMCAs. He was also the chief innovator and architect of the YMCA’s entry into chronic disease prevention programming and health care. Under Jonathan's leadership, the YMCA pioneered the first-ever group-based diabetes prevention program eligible for reimbursement from commercial health insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid. His work received an innovation award from the US Secretary of Health and Human Services and has been featured by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Health Affairs, Politico, Stanford Social Innovation Review, CNN and NPR.
Bob Boisture, Fetzer Institute president and CEO, noted, “Our values of love, trust, authenticity, and inclusion are Jonathan’s default. He is powerfully shaped by his family’s religious tradition and its commitment to tikkun olam—the Jewish teaching of improving or repairing the world—which has informed his career-long commitment to work for positive social change."
Of his new assignment, Jonathan commented, “At a time in my life when our world feels increasingly polarized, fragile, and dark, I am drawn to an organization whose founder, John Fetzer, believed, ‘Love is the core energy that rules everything . . . love is the one ingredient that holds us all together.’”
We couldn't agree more. Check out Jonathan's staff profile and access the news release announcing his hire.