Nonprofit Association of Washington hires new Executive Director

After an extensive search to fill the unique role of leading Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA), while also modeling nonprofit governance and accountability to nonprofits in Washington State, NAWA’s Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of Neal Mizushima as the new Executive Director.

Neal brings decades of experience in the nonprofit sector to NAWA. He has a proven record of designing and implementing programs that effectively address community challenges, advocating for change at the city and state level, providing transformational learning opportunities around leadership, trauma-informed approaches, change management, and equitable and inclusive practices.

In speaking about joining NAWA, Neal said, "I'm beyond excited to be joining the Board of Directors, dedicated staff, and all of the engaged members of Nonprofit Association of Washington and look forward to supporting the incredible work of nonprofits across our state. The work of our sector is what helps to keep our water clean, our arts and culture vibrant, our wildlife thriving, our children educated, and those that are most vulnerable in our communities supported. The significant challenges of our lifetimes are all better addressed when we have a vibrant nonprofit sector that is a valued partner in strengthening communities."

In his most recent role as Director of Programs at Bellevue LifeSpring, and in his prior role as Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Hopelink, Neal focused on building the systems, policies, procedures, culture, and capacity to serve the community in the most effective and equitable ways possible. With experience in small, medium, and large nonprofits at various stages of growth, Neal is eager to work with the vast array of nonprofits that serve Washington.
The NAWA Board sought a candidate who is a strategic and systems thinker able to build a shared vision to advance the nonprofit sector in Washington State; has demonstrated effectiveness in advocating and promoting policy, equity, social and racial justice initiatives; and is an innovative, and heart-centered leader who can think broadly and understand the nuances of the communities served by our nonprofit organizations.

"I am excited to welcome Neal to NAWA,” said Priya Jayadev, Chair of NAWA’s Board of Directors. “He brings a calm, inclusive, well-considered leadership style to the ED role that will help to continue the building of NAWA's collaborative approaches, learning opportunities, and collective voices."

Neal will be starting his position at NAWA on September 4, 2024.

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Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) convenes a powerful network of nonprofit organizations across Washington State to learn, advocate, and collaborate, so that nonprofits can achieve their missions. We share information, resources, and curricula through workshops and tools to help build nonprofit capacity. We advocate on behalf of all nonprofits in our state to lobby for changes in laws that directly impact nonprofit organizations, lifting the voices of our sector. We also engage our community by facilitating cross-sector dialogue through affinity groups, and online community forums. Through participation in our network, nonprofits (staff, board, and volunteers) become more sustainable and effective. Stronger nonprofits contribute to healthy, collaborative, economically vital, and civically engaged communities. Many of our state’s most effective nonprofits are members of the Nonprofit Association of Washington.