Shelters of Saratoga Welcomes New Executive Director Mary Feldman, M.S.Ed.

The Shelters of Saratoga Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Mary Feldman as the organization’s new Executive Director. An accomplished nonprofit leader with a national record of success in fundraising, program design, and strategic organizational growth, Ms. Feldman brings a fresh perspective to guide the organization’s mission forward, building on the positive momentum already in place. 

“Mary is a proven nonprofit leader, a humanist at heart,” said Peter Hopper, President of the Shelters of Saratoga’s Board of Directors. “Her leadership philosophy – listen first – is a perfect fit for our established senior team and our hands-on working board. A tremendous amount of effort has been invested in building our community’s trust and confidence in the work we do. Mary’s energy and insight will help write our next chapter.” 

Complex challenges, practical solutions 

Shelters of Saratoga is a multi-faceted human services agency that provides one-on-one support and shelter for those facing homelessness. The organization operates two fully staffed emergency shelters, three supportive housing apartment buildings, community outreach initiatives, and its NYS Health Home care management program, along with Saratoga County’s Code Blue program.  

“I’m fortunate to join an organization that clearly understands the needs of those in our community facing the challenges of homelessness, all in balance with recognizing the complexities of working toward practical solutions,” said Ms. Feldman. “My job out of the gate is to listen and learn from our remarkable senior team, our board, and the greater Saratoga community’s many stakeholders. Working together will be the hallmark of how we can continue to do our good work helping the underserved people in our community.”  
 
Life-long commitment to helping others 

Feldman’s lifelong commitment to serving others spans the nation, rooted in her experiences growing up in a urban Philadelphia neighborhood and her work addressing poverty and education nationwide. Most recently, Feldman served as Director of Family Engagement at the National Center for Families Learning, guiding programs in ten states, mentoring national teams, and advancing policy, equity, and large-scale partnerships. As Executive Director of the Parent Child Center of Rutland County, she transformed a struggling agency into a thriving $3M organization, built Vermont’s first city family resource center, eliminated major debt, and advanced statewide policy on poverty and early childhood education. 

Mary holds advanced degrees from the University of Scranton, University of Pennsylvania, and Temple University, and is known for visionary leadership, coalition building, humor, and impact-driven innovation.