Kimberly Rusnak named as founding Executive Director

The Montgomery County Children’s Opportunity Alliance (the Alliance) has appointed Kimberly Rusnak to lead the organization as its founding Executive Director following a nationwide search. Rusnak had been Interim Executive Director for the past year.

Rusnak brings 20 years of experience in nonprofit management to the Alliance and has been instrumental in developing the vision of more equitable early care and education (ECE) in Montgomery County. From there, the Alliance was formed to build connections between public and private initiatives focused on serving the various needs of young children and their families. 

Kevin Beverly, Board Chair for the Alliance, said the experience and commitment Rusnak brings to the Alliance will ensure the advancement of the organization’s mission and the creation of a more equitable future for young children and families in Montgomery County. 

“Kimberly is a leader, and the Children's Opportunity Alliance Board is excited to have Kimberly leading this work in our community,” Beverly said. “We are confident Kimberly will help move our ECE community forward.” 

“Montgomery County is ready to rebuild the systems that have historically contributed to the large opportunity gap we see among races and socioeconomic classes,” Rusnak said. “It’s been my honor to lead the Children’s Opportunity Alliance to date, and I look forward to continuing to coordinate efforts to provide our community with accessible, high-quality early childhood programs and services.”

Rusnak most recently served as the Director of the Children's Opportunity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, where she drove its mission, strategy and stakeholder engagement. She and her team spearheaded the community crisis response during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing 1,500 Montgomery County students with a safe place to learn while schools were closed. In her time at the Social Innovation Fund, she managed a grantee portfolio of $125 million, growing community-based solutions in economic opportunity, healthy futures and youth development. This year, Rusnak will participate in Leadership Montgomery’s CORE program to expand her knowledge and leadership skills.