Community Resource Center is Excited to Announce That Our New CEO Has Been Selected!
Ms. April-Dawn Knudsen has joined the Community Resource Center Team July 2024!
The Community Resource Center (CRC) Board of Directors and Staff are excited to welcome April-Dawn Knudsen as the new CRC Chief Executive Officer and President to guide CRC into its 5th decade of building capacity, supporting, and strengthening nonprofits across Colorado.
The Board is deeply grateful to the CRC team, which has done a phenomenal job leading CRC and carrying forward the mission throughout the leadership transition and intensive CEO search process. Ms. Knudsen holds the unique combination of skills and experience needed to shepherd the organization into the next stage of CRC’s rich statewide contributions.
After accepting the position, Ms. Knudsen said ” I’m proud to lead CRC as we deepen our impact and legacy; continuing to empower organizations across Colorado to build their capacity, elevate their mission, and create lasting impacts in their communities. I believe in the incredible power of community and the pivotal role nonprofits play in driving positive change. My mission is to empower leaders and uplift underrepresented voices to build a more just and equitable future for all. I move the work forward by fostering strong relationships, prioritizing equity, and collaboratively building solutions to complex challenges.”
Ms. Knudsen (she/her) has been a passionate advocate and dedicated leader in rural Colorado since 2008, proudly calling Park County her home. With over a decade of experience as a Nonprofit Executive, she has expertly guided organizations through various phases of growth and transformation, including board development, strategic visioning, and change management. She excels in equipping nonprofits with the tools, resources, and strategies necessary to thrive. Her approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing rural communities, ensuring that each organization she supports is well-prepared to achieve sustainable success.
Ms. Knudsen holds a Master of Science in Community Development, which has equipped her with the knowledge and expertise to navigate and address the complexities of rural community development. Her commitment to collaboration is evident in her work, where she consistently leverages the strengths of her team and partners to achieve common goals and drive collective success.
Beyond her professional roles, Ms. Knudsen is a fervent advocate for community service and civic engagement. She serves on the Colorado Habitat Government Relations Committee, where she champions policies that support affordable housing and sustainable community development. As a member of El Pomar’s Central Peaks Regional Council, she contributes to regional philanthropic initiatives that strengthen and uplift communities across central Colorado. Additionally, her role as Vice-Chair for the South Park Ambulance District underscores her dedication to supporting vital health services in her local community.
The CRC Board of Directors is confident that Ms. Knudsen has the tools and skills to lead CRC into another decade of service to nonprofits in Colorado. Leslie Baldwin, Board Co-Chair, observed, “April-Dawn Knudsen’s leadership experience, knowledge about the nonprofit sector’s vital importance to Colorado communities, and her deep commitment to the vitality of rural communities make her the ideal person to lead CRC’s amazing and talented team. It’s going to be a great partnership. And we are eager to introduce her to our statewide network of partners, funders, and stakeholders who are integral to CRC’s mission and impact.” Ms. Knudsen is looking forward to meeting many of CRC’s long-standing partners at our upcoming Rural Philanthropy Days® Conference in Alamosa and Monte Vista September 11-13 and will be attending various events and convenings throughout the state in the coming months to further connect with our statewide partners. Please join us in giving April-Dawn Knudsen a warm welcome into her new role.
About Community Resource Center
CRC is a statewide capacity building organization founded in 1981 and has been supporting Colorado nonprofits to do their good work better for over 40 years. We believe in the power of nonprofits to affect change and support thriving communities. To achieve this, individuals, organizations, and the networks that comprise our sector must be supported with meaningful capacity building. CRC’s mission is to support, strengthen, and galvanize change-makers across the nonprofit ecosystem working together to create a more equitable Colorado.
