Head of YMCA of Metro Chicago to step down at end of month

CHICAGO - The CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago will step down from her role at the end of the month and the organization will begin a search for its next leader.

Since 2021, Dorri McWhorter has led the 166-year-old organization that serves around 300,000 people each year. Her last day will be Feb. 28, according to a news release.

Dorri McWhorter, the CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago will step down from her role at the end of the month. | Provided by the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

McWhorter's tenure

The backstory:

McWhorter led the YMCA’s transition to a "community hub model" which aimed to expand services to meet the community’s needs. 

The organization maintained its legacy programs like sports, fitness and early learning while also offering chronic disease prevention, food, mental health services, and jobs and skills training.

Under her leadership, the effort led to the YMCA expanding its revenue through new partnerships, government contracts, private support and program fees.

"It has been an absolute privilege to serve as the President and CEO of the YMCA Metropolitan of Chicago," she said in a statement. "After three and a half years as CEO, I believe now is the right time to pass the baton to the next leader who will continue advancing the transformation of the Y from membership centers to multi-service hubs that strengthen our communities while also expanding our early education, afterschool programs, and camps."

Search for next CEO

What's next:

Sheila Nelson, a longtime business executive and member of the YMCA Board of Managers, was appointed to serve as the interim CEO while the board begins a new search for McWhorter’s successor.

The YMCA will launch a nationwide search for its next CEO this month. It will conduct the search with the help of an executive search firm that specializes in nonprofit leadership recruitment.