Leslie Abshier Hired as the New CEO for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, we are pleased to announce the hiring of Leslie Abshier as our next Chief Executive Officer. With over a decade of service to the Club as the Vice President of Resource Development, Leslie is a seasoned nonprofit leader who has consistently demonstrated a commitment to driving growth, fostering relationships, and implementing innovative solutions to propel the organization’s success. Leslie will assume the role on January 1, 2025 following the retirement of long-time Club CEO, Jeff Baldwin, at the end of 2024.

The Board of Directors hired a CEO Search Consultant earlier this year who assisted with a nationwide search that screened more than 100 candidates. Leslie was the clear choice through this process and is the ideal person to lead our organization into the future. Throughout her career, Leslie has demonstrated a knack for strategic thinking and execution, consistently driving results and exceeding goals. Her ability to forge strong connections with donors and stakeholders has been instrumental in her success and the success of the Club during her time. Her strengths include leveraging relationships to identify opportunities for growth and collaboration. Her vision for the future of the Club is rooted in these strengths.

Leslie’s experience as the VP of Resource Development for the Club means that she is a familiar face for the organization in our community and is well-respected amongst her peers. Building on a strong foundation established by retiring CEO, Jeff Baldwin, Leslie looks forward to continuing to grow the stellar reputation of the Club as a leader in the community in youth development, nonprofit management and fundraising. Leslie’s passion for the mission – empowering all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as caring, productive, responsible citizens – drives her to continue to do whatever it takes to make sure kids and families in our community have the tools and opportunities they need to succeed.

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Widely considered a fundraising leader for Boys & Girls Clubs, Leslie has received numerous honors for her exceptional work including the Outstanding RD Professional in the Midwest for BGCA and Professional of the Year for the Clubs Indiana Area Council. Leslie has received numerous awards locally for her exceptional citizenship and leadership including 10 Under 40, Fast 15 MVP, and Women Excel Bloomington (WEB) awards. Leslie’s dedication to professional excellence will benefit the Club for years to come with her at the helm.

Leslie has called Bloomington home for 20 years, since arriving to attend Indiana University where she received both a Bachelor’s and Master's degree. Leslie gives back to her alma mater by teaching as an adjunct faculty at IU’s O’Neill School in the areas of nonprofit management and fundraising. Leslie is also very active in the local community, currently acting as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Fairview Elementary School PTO, and a Teaching Pastor at Genesis Church. Leslie has been married to her husband Chris, a lifelong Bloomington resident, since 2011. They have two young boys, Jack and Charlie. Leslie says, “My family is invested and rooted in this community that we love to call home. It is my honor to serve the youth here who need us most in this new leadership role as CEO for the Club.”