Leslie Lichter is an interim nonprofit executive with more than 40 years of leadership experience across nonprofit and for-profit organizations. She has led organizations through executive transitions, founder successions, financial challenges, restructuring, and periods of significant growth and change.
Leslie’s interim work focuses on strengthening organizational leadership and staff collaboration, improving financial and operational effectiveness, and helping boards and staff establish shared direction and priorities. She also works to strengthen fundraising capacity, develop and diversify revenue sources, and support long-term financial sustainability and growth. She uses the transition period to address immediate challenges while building the organizational capacity and alignment needed to advance the mission, positioning the incoming permanent executive to lead from a stronger foundation.
Most recently, as Interim CEO of the Tourette Association of America (TAA), Leslie led the organization through financial challenges and an executive transition. She strengthened financial oversight and transparency, secured an at-risk government grant, and worked with the board and staff to clarify priorities, improve organizational alignment, and prepare for the incoming CEO.
As Interim Executive Director of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), Leslie guided the organization through the transition from its founder of 26 years. During her tenure, RTA doubled annual revenue and expanded programming from six to eleven New York State correctional facilities. She strengthened staff leadership, clarified roles and responsibilities, and built the organizational capacity needed to manage and sustain that growth. She also helped the organization capitalize on the visibility generated by Sing Sing, the Oscar-nominated film inspired by RTA’s work.
As Interim CEO of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), following her service as COO, Leslie led organizational restructuring, strengthened financial management, and oversaw the development and implementation of a strategic plan. During her leadership, USCJ achieved its first operating surplus in 15 years.
Other interim engagements include Temple Shaaray Tefila, where she strengthened operations, financial management, and staffing structures while supporting the transition to a permanent executive director, and the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, where she served as Interim Director of Development.
Earlier, Leslie served as Chief Marketing Officer at UJA-Federation of New York, leading a 50-person marketing and communications team, a major brand refresh, and initiatives that doubled online revenue. She previously held senior leadership positions at Scholastic, American Express, and Citibank.
Leslie holds a B.A. with honors from Brown University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School. She completed interim executive leadership training through the Support Center for Nonprofit Management and serves on the Board of the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
LinkedIn: Leslie Lichter