THE ORGANIZATION
INTRODUCING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME:
Kathy’s House is a nonprofit hospital guest house that provides lodging and a supportive environment to families who are facing personal illness or the serious illness of a loved one. A vital resource in the Milwaukee healthcare community, Kathy’s House is the only hospital guest house in southeastern Wisconsin that serves guests of all ages who are receiving care at any area hospital.
More than 1,500 guests each year travel more than 50 miles to stay at Kathy’s House while receiving care or caring for a loved one. Most are facing cancer, while others require transplants, heart care, or treatment following serious injury. Many come from rural communities in the Midwest where access to specialized care is limited, while others travel across the country to access advanced treatments and clinical trials available in Milwaukee. As a nonprofit, Kathy’s House relies on philanthropy to ensure that no family is turned away due to an inability to pay.
Kathy’s House has served the Milwaukee area since 2001 and has operated from its current home at the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center since 2021. The new facility was the result of a $12 million capital campaign, with a lead gift of $6 million from Froedtert Hospital. The intentionally designed “home away from home” operates 24/7/365 and features 38 private rooms and communal living spaces, including laundry, kitchen, dining, and gathering areas.
More than just a place to stay, Kathy’s House is a caring place where mutual support thrives. Guests can eat, sleep, and be with others when they want, or be alone when they need time, introspection, and quiet healing. They often praise the cleanliness, the thoughtful design, and the compassion and care they receive from staff and volunteers, in addition to the proximity to Froedtert Hospital, just footsteps away. The feedback that guests most often provide is: “You have thought of everything.”
The current Kathy’s House facility was built with a vision of serving as a national model in hospital guest housing, among the more than 200 members of the Hospital Hospitality Network (HHN). Kathy’s House operates at or near capacity, with consistent demand and an active waitlist. As healthcare grows more specialized and regionalized, the need for affordable, supportive lodging continues to rise. The next President & CEO will build on a strong foundation to expand access, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that every family who needs a place at Kathy’s House can find one.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The President & CEO provides strategic leadership and ensures a positive culture for the advancement of Kathy’s House's mission. Reporting to the board of directors, this role is responsible for the overall management and general operations of all functions of Kathy’s House including guest services and programs, safety and security, business development, fundraising and special events, marketing, communications, finance, human resources, and facilities management. The President & CEO ensures excellence in quality of service, a safe and welcoming place for guests, and continued fiscal solvency.
The President & CEO empowers and serves as a mentor to staff, creating a work environment that exemplifies the organization’s emphasis on compassionate service to families in medical crisis.
In addition to internal leadership, the role is external in nature, serving as the primary ambassador and lead communicator of the organization by developing strong relationships at the highest levels while generating support to advance the organization, its mission and brand. The President & CEO is the public face of Kathy’s House working to foster collaborations with a wide variety of stakeholders including referral sources, funding sources, community partnerships, and state/national groups.
