Kevin Deary
Chief Professional & Organizational Development Officer
[email protected]
Kevin Deary is Director of Professional and Organizational Development for the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, overseeing training, coaching, and consulting of nonprofits in Elkhart County.
Kevin served the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County for 40 years, including 30 years as CEO of the organization in Elkhart County, Indiana, retiring from that role in January 2023. He began his career with Boys & Girls Clubs in 1983 in New Hampshire, before moving to Goshen, Indiana, in 1994 to become the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Elkhart County. During his tenure, Kevin led significant growth, increasing the operating budget from $93,000 to $7.5 million and expanding membership from 211 to over 4,000 across the county.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County has been recognized nationally for its excellence in operations and serving the youth of the community. Kevin led six capital campaigns that all met or exceeded their goals. He worked with six internal boards for the organization and grew the endowment to more than $7 million.
Kevin’s awards include Sagamore of the Wabash; the U.S. Congressional Johnny Appleseed Award; CEO of the Year from both the United Way of Elkhart County and Boys & Girls Clubs of America; and the Outstanding Young Hoosier from Indiana Jaycees. Boys & Girls Clubs of America added Kevin to the Master’s and Mentor’s Society recognizing the top 1 percent to ever work for the Boys & Girls Clubs nationally. In 2017, Kevin was also a Midwest winner of the “Heart and Soul” award as the top CEO in the Midwest by Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Kevin served in the U.S. Navy for four years of active duty and six years in active reserves. Kevin also earned a spot on the Navy’s boxing team that competed internationally.
Kevin earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Goshen College, a master’s in nonprofit leadership from Clemson University and advanced certifications in nonprofit leadership from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Georgia. He is an executive coach and has also been an adjunct professor for Goshen College and Bethel University. He was named the 2016 Professor of the Year at Bethel in 2016.
Kevin is married to Jean and they share five children and four grandchildren.
