Sister Donna Markham, O.P.

Look across the Catholic Church in the United States and, indeed, around the world, and you will find few individuals who have more compassionately and ardently championed the most vulnerable in our society as Sister Donna.

After serving in leadership roles as President of the Behavioral Health Institute of Cincinnati, president and CEO of the Sundown Institute in Canada, and Prioress of the Adrian Dominican Congregation, Sister Donna was President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA from 2015 until her retirement in 2023.

Under her leadership, Catholic Charities attained new heights in service of its mission to provide hope and support to those living on the margins.

She guided the organization’s pandemic response – providing emergency aid to its national network of Catholic agencies on the front lines of food insecurity, evictions, and unemployment.

Frequently heralded as one of America’s leading nonprofit executives, she received the 2023 Outstanding Leadership Award from the Leadership Conference of Religious Women. At the ceremony, President Joe Biden commended her “trailblazing leadership” of Catholic Charities and her legacy of service.

She has devoted her tremendous intellect, extraordinary leadership, and deep compassion to serving others.