Lisa McDuffie

YWCA of Northwest Ohio

Lisa McDuffie is the President/CEO of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio and has been a part of the agency for 25 years. She oversees a $5 million budget, a staff of nearly 100, and a 20-county service area.

Mrs. McDuffie’s most recent accomplishment has been the startup of a new Domestic Violence Transitional program that can house 16 women. Doors opened February 2018. In 2010, Mrs. McDuffie oversaw to construction of a $10 million apartment complex that houses formerly homeless women and children.

Together with a 20-member board of directors, she ensures the empowerment of women and the elimination of racism is addressed in all mission-based YWCA programs, including: the Domestic Violence Shelter; H.O.P.E. Rape Crisis Center; Youth Development Teen Pregnancy Prevention; Child Care Resource & Referral, and the Healthy Connections breast cancer awareness programs.

YWCA of Northwest Ohio also has a strong advocacy arm that has led the community’s efforts in March’s voter registration and power to the polls, legislative outreach, and Dialogue to Change — a curriculum geared to discussing issues of Racism in Toledo and America.

Mrs. McDuffie has a master’s degree in Science and Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Findlay College, and is a licensed independent social worker with supervision status by the state of Ohio.

She is extremely active on various boards and committees in Toledo and Ohio, including: the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Board, Promedica Board of Trustees; board member of  Connecting Kids to Meals, board member of CareNet, Health Equity chair with Healthy Lucas County, chair of the Lucas County Prevention Council to End Child Abuse, treasurer of the Ohio Council of YWCA’s, member of Lucas County Parking Authority Board, campaign chair of the Lucas County Domestic Violence Task Force, and Metro-Parks board member.

Mrs. McDuffie is also an active member of the Toledo Chapter of the LINKS, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated,  Zonta Toledo Club I, and the  Downtown Rotary.

Mrs. McDuffie has been married to her husband, George, for 31 years and has two adult daughters, Victoria and Brittany.