As the YWCA Quad Cities seeks to continue expanding its reach and services, its leaders have turned to Nate Clark to help them ‘think bigger about what’s possible.”
Mr. Clark, John Deere’s former global director of corporate responsibility and president of the John Deere Foundation, will help fill the space in that bi-state organization left vacant by the August 2024 retirement of Deanna Woodall. She was the YWCA’s former busy vice president of development and empowerment services.
Both YWCA President and CEO Julie Larson and its Director of Community Engagement Holly Sparkman told the QCBJ that Mr. Clark’s input has been invaluable ever since he quietly joined the Y’s leadership team as its director of economic development earlier this summer.
“I first met Nate in 2020, when the YWCA had just launched our new facility capital campaign,” Ms. Larson said of the then Deere foundation leader. “What stood out immediately was that he reached out to me, which is almost unheard of in the nonprofit world. It showed not only his initiative, but also his genuine commitment to community impact.”
When the pair “reconnected this summer, the timing was perfect. The stars really aligned,” she said.
“Nate brings tremendous energy, expertise, and a fresh perspective to our work,” Ms. Larson added. “In just a short time, he’s already made a meaningful difference, strengthening our fundraising efforts, building relationships, and helping us think bigger about what’s possible for the YWCA and the people we serve.”
For Mr. Clark, the YWCA was the right fit.
Since leaving the Deere foundation, he told the QCBJ he has provided strategic support to nonprofit organizations including Farm Rescue and United Way Quad Cities. Through that work he became increasingly convinced of the importance of organizations that directly serve families in crisis.
“For over 100 years, YWCA has affirmed the dignity of women through life-changing programs such as child care and emergency services,” Mr. Clark said. “As the challenges facing women and their families have grown, I was inspired to lend a hand to YWCA’s work and learn from Julie Larson and her talented team.”
