Executive Director, National Development
jamie@suwn.org
18 years of service
Los Angeles
Step Up's original full-time employee, Jamie Kogan serves as executive director of development. In this role, she forges relationships to increase Step Up's impact and financial resources.
Since joining Step Up in 2006, she has served the organization in countless capacities. One of her notable roles was serving as managing director of the Los Angeles chapter, where she led strategy, fundraising and programming for the regional operations of Step Up. Jamie's leadership helped the Los Angeles chapter realize more than 50% growth in funds raised and a 98% high school graduation rate for Step Up mentees enrolled in Los Angeles..
Previously, Jamie served the organization as senior program manager for teen programs, a post she held for five years. Under Jamie's local leadership, and in partnership with the national team, Step Up transitioned its charitable programming model from pass-through to direct service, creating the foundation necessary to transform fundraising and operations. During that transition, Jamie managed the development and implementation of Step Up's signature after-school teen programs that follow a distinctive strategic trajectory toward helping the teens become confident, college-bound and career-focused.
Prior to joining Step Up, Jamie served as manager for Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens in an array of youth development programs, including juvenile delinquency prevention, after-school and youth employment. Jamie holds a BA in metropolitan studies and a MPA in nonprofit management from New York University. She is a proud mom of twin toddlers who keep her hands and heart full.
Get to Know Jamie
What has your mentor taught you?
I met Louisa when I first started at Step Up as a young professional and she was a Step Up board member. In addition to being incredibly generous of her time and resources for Step Up as a board member, she took additional time to be a mentor to me and my former colleague, Alexa. We would meet for quarterly informal mentor breakfasts before work, and Louisa would share her insight and experience as a dynamo corporate executive on professional development topics ranging from presentation best practices to negotiation and countless others, while also serving as a champion for our personal growth and happiness. Louisa continues to be an invaluable sounding board for me, and I seek her advice when faced with big professional and personal decisions, or when I just need a pep talk from a valued mentor and friend.
What do you enjoy most about working at Step Up?
One of my favorite things about working at Step Up is seeing teens, who I've known since they were in 9th grade, grow into thriving professionals who are leaders in their communities, donors to Step Up, and mentors to the next generation of teens.
