David Shapiro is leaving MENTOR after more than 10 years as CEO and 18 years total. He departs the Boston-based national nonprofit resource and advocacy organization but stays in the same city to join the YMCA of Greater Boston (YGB) as its president and CEO.
The past decade has seen MENTOR grow considerably to include 24 local affiliates and affect real change across the nation. It was selected by the federal government to establish the National Mentoring Resource Center and led an advocacy coalition instrumental in the passage of the Child Protection Improvements Act.
MENTOR also mobilized its resources and platform to help youth through the COVID-19 pandemic by partnering to develop and launch Virtual Mentoring Portals, READY SET, the COVID Collaborative, and the National Partnership for Student Success.
Prior to his time at MENTOR at a national level, Shapiro served for about seven years as CEO of Mass Mentoring Partnership, a state affiliate of MENTOR focused on ensuring the youth of Massachusetts have access to quality mentorships.
Shapiro, with a career dedicated to youth and the underprivileged, worked as director of institutional giving at the American Red Cross of Massachusetts for two years before moving to Mass Mentoring Partnership in 2004.
Alongside his executive positions, Shapiro has also served on the boards of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, America’s Promise Alliance and several more organizations.
A native of Baltimore, but 20-year resident of Boston, Shapiro earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and English from Amherst College. He and his wife have two sons in high school in the Boston public school system.
“I am humbled and honored to be joining the YGB’s dynamic, diverse, and multi-faceted presence in the lives of so many in the Greater Boston area,” said David Shapiro for a letter announcing his selection. “Building on both the historic legacy and latest chapter, I am looking forward to working with the YGB team and our partners to advance inclusive spaces and innovative services driving stability, health, wellness, learning, connection, and opportunity for all in our communities.”
MENTOR and a hired firm will be conducting a nationwide search for Shapiro’s successor over the coming months.
David Shapiro will become the 14th president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, succeeding James Morton, who has led the organization since April 2015.
