Karen Heyward-West

Our CEO lives her personal mission, which is to give HOPE: Helping Other People Excel.

A strategic and visionary leader with over 35 years of experience dedicated to empowering children, families, and underserved communities. As the Chief Executive Officer of BACH, she drives innovation in healthcare workforce development, creating sustainable pathways to economic independence for Baltimore residents. Her personal mission is defined by the acronym HOPE: Helping Other People Excel.

Strategic Leadership & Impact
Since joining BACH in 2021,

Karen has significantly elevated the organization’s reach and fiscal health. Recent milestones under her leadership include:

  • Revenue Growth: Raising $158,000 during BACH’s 20th-anniversary celebration and introducing a new fee-for-service model to diversify income streams.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Re-engaging the Maryland Hospital Association and securing critical funding from partners like Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Leidy Foundation.
  • Operational Excellence: Maintaining a 90% staff retention rate while managing expenses below budget and executing efficient board relations and audits.
  • Industry Advocacy: Hosting a national apprenticeship symposium and positioning BACH as a key partner in addressing the regional healthcare worker shortage.

Expertise & Recognition
Karen is recognized as a national expert in the Host Home Model for homeless youth and previously served as the Director of the Homesharing Program at St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center. Her contributions to the nonprofit sector have earned her numerous accolades, including:

  • The Daily Record’s Top 100 Women (2016).
  • Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s History Month Award (2012).
  • 2008 Weinberg Fellow and 2009 Associated Black Charities Board Pipeline graduate.

Community & Board Service
A dedicated advocate for social equity, Karen serves on the Board of Directors for Victory Human Services and GRACE Community Development Inc. She is a long-time member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has held significant leadership roles within Jack and Jill of America, Inc., including serving as a two-term Chapter President for the Greater Baltimore County chapter.

Karen holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from Notre Dame of Maryland University.