Don Holford is a seasoned consulting and interim executive with more than 50 years of experience supporting nonprofit, governmental, and human services organizations through periods of transition, growth, and complexity. He is known for stepping into critical leadership roles, quickly assessing organizational needs, stabilizing operations, and helping organizations strengthen performance, governance, and financial sustainability.
Don works closely with boards of directors, executive teams, and senior managers to address immediate operational challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term success. His experience spans fee-for-service and managed care environments, organizational affiliations and mergers, financial restructuring, and performance improvement initiatives. He brings a pragmatic, hands-on approach that balances strategic vision with execution.
As an interim Chief Financial Officer and senior finance leader, Don has led organizations with combined budgets of up to $75 million and workforces exceeding 600 employees. He has successfully ensured continuity of services during leadership transitions, fiscal stress, and system-wide disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic. His expertise includes stabilizing revenue cycles, strengthening internal controls, supporting audits, improving reporting and metrics, and aligning financial strategy with mission-driven outcomes.
Don’s consulting work is informed by a broad leadership background that includes senior roles in city and state government, large nonprofit systems, and multi-service human services organizations. He has held executive positions such as Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Department of Mental Health, Director of Administrative Services at the New York State Office of Mental Health, Vice President for Behavioral Health and Health at Services for the Underserved, and Chief Financial Officer at multiple nonprofit organizations. In 2017, he was recognized by NJ BIZ as CFO of the Year for large nonprofit organizations.
In addition to his consulting and interim leadership work, Don serves as a mentor with the Leadership Academy of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NAMHAA), supporting the development of current and future human services leaders. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Ocean County.
Don holds master’s degrees from the Polytechnic Institute of New York and Brooklyn College, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baruch College.
Consulting & Interim Leadership Focus Areas
• Interim Executive and Chief Financial Officer Leadership
• Organizational Assessment and Stabilization
• Financial Management and Revenue Cycle Improvement
• Strategic Planning and Board Advising
• Managed Care and Performance Optimization
• Merger, Acquisition, and Affiliation Integration
• Change Management and Executive Transition Support
• Leadership Coaching and Executive Development
LinkedIn – Don Holford