Thurston Family Foundation Taps Carrie Masters to Strengthen Nonprofit Impact

The Thurston Family Foundation (TFF) has named Carrie Masters its new chief impact officer, bringing an experienced business executive and nonprofit leader into a role focused on helping organizations strengthen their operations and expand their impact.

Based in Scottsdale, Masters will work alongside nonprofit leaders to develop leadership, improve execution and build the systems and infrastructure needed for long-term growth. Her appointment reflects the foundation’s focus on equipping nonprofits with the tools and organizational capacity to advance their missions.

Masters brings more than two decades of leadership experience across the private and nonprofit sectors. She spent 20 years at LGE Design Build, beginning as a receptionist and eventually becoming chief operating officer and part owner. During her tenure, she helped grow the company from $40 million to $400 million in annual revenue, expand its operations into two states and increase its workforce from 30 to 150 employees. Her experience also spans architecture, real estate development, private equity and philanthropy.

Most recently, Masters served nearly four years as CEO of The Worker, formerly St. Joseph the Worker. During her tenure, she led the organization through significant growth, expanding its programs, housing initiatives, geographic reach and internal infrastructure. The organization served more than 40,000 individuals and secured more than $15 million in funding to support its mission and continued development.

“I’ve had the opportunity to experience growth from very different seats, and I’ve learned that great organizations are built through strong people, disciplined execution, and the infrastructure to support the mission,” Masters said. “Having sat in the nonprofit CEO seat, I also understand how challenging it can be to build organizational capacity while staying focused on the people and communities you serve. I’m excited to bring those experiences to TFF and work alongside nonprofit leaders as they strengthen and expand their impact.”

Ryan Flower, president and CEO of the Thurston Family Foundation, said Masters’ combination of business operations expertise and firsthand nonprofit leadership will strengthen the foundation’s ability to support the organizations it serves.

“Carrie brings a unique combination of business operating experience and firsthand nonprofit leadership,” Flower said. “She understands what it takes to scale an organization, develop strong teams and turn strategy into execution. She understands the realities nonprofit leaders navigate every day. Her perspective strengthens our ability to support leaders as they build organizations capable of sustaining and growing their impact.”

In her new position, Masters will draw on both sides of her career, applying the operational strategies she developed in the private sector and the lessons she learned leading a nonprofit. Rather than focusing on a single organization, she will work across TFF’s portfolio to help nonprofit leaders strengthen their internal operations, develop their teams and build a foundation for lasting results.

The Thurston Family Foundation describes itself as an innovative operating family foundation that advances a philanthropic model centered on strengthening nonprofit organizations through strategic systems, partnerships and funding. Its approach emphasizes building organizational capacity so nonprofits can deliver meaningful, lasting impact in the communities they serve. For more behind this Frontdoor, visit thurstonfamilyfoundation.org.