Austin Hirsch named to Crain’s Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders list

Longtime governing board member and treasurer Austin Hirsch has been named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2021 Notable Nonprofit Board Leaders list.

The feature, published Oct. 11, highlights 70 nonprofit board leaders who “have advanced the cause of a nonprofit organization and raised its profile in the community.”

Hirsch, a partner in Reed Smith’s global corporate group, has served on the Bulletin’s board since 2010. He has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help protect and advance the Bulletin’s image and reputation.

“Austin’s legal and financial expertise has helped us in numerous ways and when it mattered the most,” said Bulletin president and CEO Rachel Bronson. “He advanced our reputation by protecting our globally recognized trademarks and negotiated a first-of-its kind publishing contract; provided guidance on our pursuit of a PPP loan during the pandemic and helped us secure our largest single gift among so many other meaningful contributions.”

Hirsch called his inclusion in the list “unexpected, satisfying, and humbling.”

“I feel I have learned much more from the Bulletin than I have contributed during my time as a governing board member and treasurer for the organization,” he said. “This role allowed me to meet, work with, and learn from so many special and committed people from the Bulletin’s volunteer leaders to its own distinguished leadership and team.”

Hirsch’s other accomplishments as a Bulletin board member include:

• Defending the Bulletin’s intellectual property rights.
• Assisting on contracts including a lease termination
• Revising governance guidelines and bylaws.
• Attracting new donors and board members.

Suzet McKinney, a member of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, was also named to the Crain’s list for her work as board president of Thresholds.