Family Promise, the leading national nonprofit addressing the crisis of family homelessness, has announced that Geleen Donovan, executive director of Family Promise Union County, is retiring from her role in 2025 after more than two decades with the organization. Also known as FPUC, Family Promise Union County is the organization’s founding location in Elizabeth, NJ. The Family Promise Union County Advisory Board has launched a search for FPUC’s next executive director.
“Geleen’s leadership at Family Promise Union County has been transformative for Family Promise and for families facing housing insecurity,” said Cheryl Schuch, Family Promise CEO. “During her tenure, FPUC was instrumental in spearheading innovative work to address the crisis of family homelessness. Today, hundreds of New Jersey families can trace their success in finding a new place to call home to the experience they had with Family Promise Union County.”
Donovan has long been dedicated to serving children and families. She worked at Catholic Charities and the New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services before coming to Family Promise of Hunterdon County, NJ, in 2000 as a volunteer coordinator, helping to manage the agency’s volunteer base. She was hired as executive director of Family Promise of Hunterdon County in 2004.
In 2014, at the request of Family Promise founder Karen Olson, Donovan took on the role of executive director of Family Promise Union County, and over the past 11 years, she was a driving force in the organization’s work to end family homelessness in New Jersey. Working collaboratively with local and national staff, volunteers, community partners, and other agencies, Donovan and her team developed many innovative programs to benefit families facing a housing crisis. Even when FPUC experienced setbacks of its own, Donovan persevered and was a beacon of hope for families in crisis and her colleagues. Despite the destruction of FPUC’s facilities in 2021’s Hurricane Ida, she and her team continued to work without interruption, serving families in the Family Promise network and beyond who had lost their homes in the devastating storm.
FPUC has been recognized as a leading service provider in New Jersey, and with Donovan at the helm was the first agency in the state to offer shelter diversion, a strategy that quickly rehouses families facing homelessness to spare them a shelter experience. In the past year, Donovan spearheaded an innovative housing initiative, partnering with a local congregation to transform an unused building into low-income housing for families in need. Thanks to her efforts, FPUC is a leading voice in the conversation around low-income housing in New Jersey and across the Family Promise network.
Donovan’s dedication to “radical compassion,” a phrase she adopted to characterize Family Promise’s work, has positioned FPUC for continued growth.
“Geleen’s tireless commitment to supporting those in need is evident by all the families that have been helped by her and by FPUC,” said Karen Olson, founder and former president of Family Promise. “She has built a strong, talented team to ensure families receive the best care possible.”
Donovan has long been a driving force in the conversation around family homelessness and a powerful advocate for families’ rights.
“My time at Family Promise has been a joy, a challenge, and a privilege, and I am so proud of how far we’ve come over the past 20 years,” said Donovan. “We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of families experiencing homelessness in New Jersey, and FPUC’s passion for housing justice is stronger than ever. Now is the time for me to pass the torch to FPUC’s next leader to continue working with our outstanding team, volunteers, and partners.”
Donovan added, “I’m deeply grateful for the opportunities I’ve had at Family Promise and the people who have entered my life through this work. Family Promise is a place of hope where grace and miracles happen every day. After two decades here, people ask me what it takes to work in this space for so long. I’ve always said there’s only one thing you need to do this job: love. Every child deserves a place to call home, and I will continue to stand with FPUC in the work for housing justice.”
Donovan’s last day at FPUC will be January 31, 2025. She will continue to support the organization in a consultancy role as she transitions into retirement.
Family Promise’s Board of Trustees has established a search committee. Interested individuals may submit an application at familypromise.org/get-involved/employment.
