Jennifer Sirangelo

Jennifer Sirangelo believes in young people and their capacity to change the world. As the first woman president and CEO in the National 4-H Council’s 100-year history, she leads Council’s mission to increase investment and participation in 4-H’s high-quality, positive youth development programs. .

Council is the nonprofit partner to the nation’s 4-H movement, supporting leadership development for nearly six million young people through diverse and inclusive programs in agriculture, science, health and citizenship through alliances with America’s philanthropic sector. Sirangelo joined Council in 2006. 

After doing volunteer work in college, Sirangelo began her career in the non-profit sector when she was only 23 years old, as the executive director of a small homeless shelter. Before joining the National 4-H Council, Sirangelo was regional vice president for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where she was responsible for Board development and fundraising strategy in 11 north-eastern states. 

Sirangelo is currently leading the Grow True Leaders Campaign, the largest brand and alumni activation initiative in 4-H history, in partnership with America’s land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension System as well as with the United States Department of Agriculture. 

Grow True Leaders promotes the diversity of 4-H programs and participants, with the goal of boosting membership from six million to 10 million by 2025. As Sirangelo knows—and hopes to convey to the world—4-H alumni can be found just about everywhere, from NASA to the NBA to Facebook, and including ten state governors and more than 50 members of Congress. Due to her direct outreach efforts, alumni social media engagement has grown by 40% and unrestricted giving has increased 27% in the past year alone. 

A Missouri native, Sirangelo received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and political science from William Jewell College and a Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University, and attended St. Peter's College at Oxford University. As an undergraduate, she was recognized as a Harry S. Truman Scholar. In 2017, Sirangelo was named to Fast Company’s annual list of the 100 Most Creative People in Business. She currently serves on the boards of AgriCorps and Imagine Science.

She has also served on the boards of America’s Promise Alliance and the National Human Services Assembly. She is a former member of STEM Connector, where she served the organization in two roles: as a member of the STEM Innovation Task Force and as co-chair of the Youth Committee of the Food and Ag Council.