Work for America Appoints Chief Operating Officer, Hires National Team Amid Rapid Organizational Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sophie McGrath, press@workforamerica.org
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
National nonprofit expands leadership team after growing from zero to 19 full-time staff in just 12 months
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Work for America (WFA), the nonprofit working to reimagine how governments recruit, hire, and inspire the public workforce nationwide, today announced the appointment of Kate Malekoff as the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer. The appointment comes during a period of rapid growth for WFA, growing from zero full-time employees to a 19-person national team over the past year.
Malekoff joins WFA as the organization expands both its internal operations and its flagship initiatives, including Civic Match, the national talent-matching platform helping connect experienced professionals with state and local government roles, Talent Accelerator, virtual workshops for city HR and operations leaders striving to improve their hiring systems, and Civic Reset, the creator initiative empowering today’s digital storytellers to inspire the next generation of public servants.
“Eighteen months ago, we were a scrappy team with a big idea,” said Caitlin Lewis, Executive Director of Work for America. “The demand we've seen since then – from governments, from talent, from partners – has outpaced even our most ambitious projections. Kate is someone who can help us see around corners and continue to grow our ambition without losing the spunk that makes us work.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how governments across the country are being asked to do more with less,” said Kate Malekoff, Chief Operating Officer at Work for America. “Meeting this moment requires exceptional talent in the public sector, and Work for America is approaching the challenges facing this workforce with the rigor and ambition it deserves. I’m honored to help lead this organization as it continues to develop and deliver innovative ways to strengthen the governments our communities depend on.”
Malekoff brings more than a decade of leadership experience building the infrastructure that allows mission-driven organizations to thrive. She previously served as president of The Branch, led talent for DoSomething.org and DREAM Charter Schools, and oversaw operations for Safe Passage Project. Most recently, Kate ran a consulting practice leading strategic planning and capacity-building initiatives for nonprofits and state governments. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
The leadership announcement comes alongside several additional hires across the organization, including Courtney Kishbaugh, joining WFA as Director of Civic Match. Courtney brings expertise in program management, strategy, process innovation, and human-centered design, with prior experience spanning Accenture, New Localism Associates, the Cleveland Innovation Project, and Results for America. WFA’s Civic Match team continues to expand, with new additions including a Civic Match Relationship Coordinator and a Civic Match Data & Insights Coordinator, reflecting growing demand from governments seeking talent and qualified candidates exploring pathways into public service.
As WFA scales nationally, the organization is also continuing to share the systems it is building internally. Earlier this year, WFA released its Proof of Life Hiring Playbook, a public resource outlining the organization’s structured, human-centered approach to hiring. The playbook details how WFA combines operational rigor with candidate care, including transparent timelines, paid assignments for finalists, and human review at every stage of the hiring process.
Read the Proof of Life Hiring Playbook here.
About Work for America
Honored by Fast Company as one of 2026 World’s Most Innovative Companies, Work for America (WFA) is a nonpartisan nonprofit rebuilding the talent pipeline into state and local government. We connect talented professionals to public sector roles, help governments modernize how they recruit and hire, and inspire the next generation of public servants to see government as the most powerful place to drive progress. By expanding pathways into government and telling a new story about public service, Work for America is helping communities build the teams they need to deliver results.
Our work has been recognized by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and TIME. Read more here.
