The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting has hired Hildie J. Lipson, a longtime nonprofit executive, as chief operating officer.
“Our organization is four years old and growing and we find we need to have an experienced non-profit executive oversee the business side of the Center,” said publisher John Christie in announcing Lipson’s appointment. “That will allow the Center to continue to work on sustaining itself and also devote more effort to journalism.”
Lipson spent 16 years working at MaineShare, which distributes donations to 40 groups statewide through payroll giving and direct contributions. While there, Lipson helped build and ultimately led a robust fundraising program that allowed MaineShare to increase annual distributions to member groups by 289 percent from 1996 through 2008.
Lipson will be responsible for the business and fundraising operations of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting.
Christie and executive director Naomi Schalit will continue to be the chief writers for the Center and make all editorial decisions.
Lipson, who lives in Wayne, is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
