Meet Maria, our new executive director

We, the Fond du Lac Area Women’s Fund, are thrilled to announce the addition of Maria Turner to our team – serving as the organization’s new Executive Director.

Turner has worked extensively in nonprofit agencies, several dedicated to the support and protection of women and children. She has held executive level leadership roles at CASA of the Fox Cities (Executive Director) and Green Bay Center for Childhood Safety (Executive Director), as well as supportive positions at ADVOCAP of Oshkosh (Employment and Training Coordinator) and Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs (Communication and Development Coordinator). She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and English from Carroll University, an entrepreneurial certificate from Fox Valley Technical College and is the mother of two teenage girls.

“We are extremely excited with the expertise and skills that Maria brings to the Women’s Fund of Fond du Lac,” said Deb Hoffmann, Women’s Fund Board Chair. “Additionally, Maria’s passion for nonprofit work that supports women and children will undoubtedly have an incredible impact on our community.”

Turner’s past work experiences align directly with the current focus of the Women’s Fund with its target focus on domestic violence and sexual assault. In 2014, the Women’s Fund launched the Fond du Lac Says No More campaign, and committed to increasing community awareness around these important issues associated to violence against women and girls.

“Maria’s expertise on these issues will be a wonderful addition to an already incredibly strong, community awareness campaign,” said Jenny Knuth, Women’s Fund board member.

Turner, who will begin her work with the Women’s Fund in late-March, will make her public debut at the upcoming Power of the Purse event on April 17.

“I am honored to serve the Fond du Lac Area Women’s Fund, alongside a dynamic Board of Directors, to work toward improving opportunities and the well-being of women and girls in this area,” Turner said. “I’ve dedicated my personal and professional life to raising awareness and community action surrounding issues that empower women and girls to believe they can achieve success through education, mentorship and personal tenacity. I’m inspired to bring my passion to the Executive Director position, looking toward continued mission-focused growth for the Women’s Fund and the Fond du Lac area nonprofit programming it supports.”