Unbound announces Deborah Johns as chief growth officer

Unbound is pleased to announce Deborah Johns as its chief growth officer. Johns, who assumed her responsibilities in April, is the first to hold this newly created leadership role with the organization.​

Johns will lead the organization’s Growth and Revenue Development team with a strategic eye toward philanthropy, outreach, marketing, communications and public relations efforts.​

Passionate about doing work that aids in breaking the cycle of poverty, Johns has accumulated almost two decades of experience in the field of international development. She’s led philanthropy at a variety of organizations that are focused on serving vulnerable and marginalized individuals throughout the U.S. and abroad.​

While serving as vice president of philanthropy at Project C.U.R.E. — the world’s largest distributor of donated medical supplies and equipment, serving the sick and dying in 135 underdeveloped countries — Johns spearheaded revenue-generating initiatives focused on government and corporate relations, foundations, events and nationwide individual giving campaigns.​

A large part of Johns’ professional career was spent with World Vision International, a humanitarian aid, development and advocacy organization. There, she led philanthropic strategy across four states as part of a $1 billion campaign, and co-founded and expanded a volunteer engagement program that forged partnerships with 2,500 churches and hundreds of corporations, while mobilizing 500,000 volunteers. ​

Ashley Hufft, president and CEO of Unbound, said the new chief growth officer position represents the organization’s prioritization of growth over the coming years from a diversity of funding sources.

“Deborah is the perfect person to lead these efforts, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her at Unbound,” Hufft said. “She brings deep experience in not only fundraising but also in international development. She has a sponsor/donor-centric mindset and knows how to build lasting relationships, finding the connections between the passions and priorities of funders and impactful programs such as those at Unbound.”

A native of Washington state, Johns holds an undergraduate degree from Gonzaga University and a master’s in nonprofit leadership from Seattle University. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology from Harvard University.

Johns is a seasoned international traveler who believes in empowering individuals to become catalysts for change in their families and communities. In her leadership at Unbound, Johns said she is guided by the importance of collaboration and partnerships in fostering a better world for the vulnerable and marginalized.

“For over 40 years, Unbound has been working with families to chart their own path out of poverty,” Johns said. “With wisdom, humility and innovative programming, Unbound is transforming communities one family at a time in Africa, Asia and Latin America. I am incredibly honored to join this movement with the many staff, supporters and families in our programs who are collectively changing the face of poverty for good.”

Johns will divide her time working at Unbound’s global headquarters in Kansas City and remotely from Southlake, Texas, where she lives with her family.