The Cape Cod Foundation Announces Three Strategic Hires

SOUTH YARMOUTH—The Cape Cod Foundation announces three strategic hires to help advance its grantmaking and scholarship programs and civic leadership initiatives across the region through 2021 and beyond.

Caitlin Abber will fill a new role at the Foundation as its first Capacity Building and Strategic Partnerships Officer. She is primarily responsible for developing and sustaining long-term relationships with community stakeholders, program partners, and local nonprofit organizations and expanding the Foundation’s Capacity-Building Program. This program is designed to help key nonprofits reach the next level of operational, programmatic, financial, or organizational maturity.

She started her career in a similar position with CHNA17 in the greater Cambridge area. Most recently, she directed youth development, workforce development, and public health education programming at the Allston Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force and Groundwork Lawrence.

Abber is originally from Malden, MA, and now resides in West Yarmouth. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public health and sociology from Brandeis University and a master’s degree in prevention science from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mary Beth Burwood of Sandwich joined the Foundation in March 2020 as its Scholarship Officer. Burwood manages the entire scholarship program for the Foundation and its partner organization, the Cape Cod Association. Together the organizations provide more than $1 million in annual scholarship support to residents of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

Burwood grew up in Chelmsford, MA, and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UMass Lowell. She has worked for several nonprofit organizations, focusing on education, volunteer programs, and fundraising initiatives. Prior to joining the team, she served as the Assistant Director of Regional Programs in the Office of Alumni and Donor Relations Office at UMass Lowell.

As Program Officer, Helaine Goudreau serves as the Foundation’s key grantmaking contact for community organizations across the region. She is responsible for administering the grants program, strengthening relationships between the Foundation and local nonprofits, identifying opportunities for strategic grantmaking, and contributing to community engagement and civic leadership initiatives.

The Brewster resident grew up in Auburn, MA, and earned a bachelor’s degree in English and public policy from Connecticut College in New London, CT. She has worked for several nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Ireland. Most recently, she served as Communications and Development Manager at the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound in Hyannis and as Director of Foundations and Communications at the Rian Immigrant Center in Boston.

“Caitlin, Mary Beth, and Helaine joined the Foundation during a year of unprecedented challenges and growth, and they will help us meet more challenges and achieve even greater growth as we move forward,” said Foundation President and CEO Kristin O’Malley. “They bring the experience and drive we need to continue to respond to community needs, strengthen the nonprofit sector, and positively impact the lives of thousands of people in our communities.”