Demonstrated Strategic Leader in Social Impact, Philanthropy, and Communications Appointed to Newly-Created Chief of Staff Role
BOSTON, MA – Dec. 2, 2024 – Housing Partnership Network (HPN), a national member collaborative of over 100 affordable housing and community development organizations appointed Chris Hensman to Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff, effective today. The new role is the culmination of the nonprofit’s strategic investments and reorganization announced earlier this year to boost member value and sector change, made possible by a transformative gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s foundation, Yield Giving, in 2023.
The new role will draw on Hensman’s strengths in identifying and implementing creative solutions that maximize resources and increase capacity for mission-driven organizations. It will also free up HPN President & CEO, Robin Hughes, to take on a more prominent external role to execute on HPN’s bold and visionary strategic framework in advancing innovative policy and capital solutions and catalytic systems change. Chris’s key responsibilities cover governance, communications, fundraising, people and culture, strategic framework execution, and support to the chief executive officer.
“I am overjoyed to welcome Chris as a thought partner and strategic leader. He is well-rounded, humble, smart, and remarkably adept at strategic thinking – even his family has a mission statement,” said Hughes. “He has led large social impact efforts with complex internal and external stakeholder networks and helped organizations of all kinds increase their impact on the constituencies they serve.”
Hensman has a wide range of public and private sector experience, including leadership roles with Houston Habitat for Humanity, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Arnold Ventures, and a 15-year stint at the State Department as an advisor to the White House and international diplomats.
Most recently, as Chief Strategy Officer at Houston Habitat for Humanity, he led organizational-level change initiatives to scale the organization's impact to help everyone have a decent place to live. Other accomplishments include overseeing Rebuild Texas Fund programming for Hurricane Harvey-impacted counties in Southeast Texas at the Dell Foundation and establishing a $100 million housing investment fund at Arnold Ventures.
“With an impressive track record of impactful diplomacy, strategic leadership, and collaborative partnerships, Chris is well suited for success in this newly-created role,” said HPN Board President, Deidre Schmidt, President & CEO of Minnesota-based CommonBond Communities, “I cannot wait for members and partners to meet him at our Fall Member Meeting being held in Austin, Texas this week.”
“I am excited to join HPN," said Chris Hensman. "I am squarely focused on growing our members and their impact--helping the organization to fulfill its worthy mission of ensuring access to affordable housing."
Chris has a BA in Government from Connecticut College and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is active on several boards including early childhood issues, child welfare, and international affairs. He lives in Houston with his wife and three children.