Katherine Fritz
Steps Into Leadership

October 7 | Isabelle Panza

A New Chapter for Long Island Cares: Katherine Fritz Steps Into Leadership

Katherine Fritz starts her mornings with questions. Not the easy kind, but the ones that matter: What will help people today? What can we do better? As the new President and CEO of Long Island Cares, she will approach her role by listening first—taking the time to understand the needs of the people the organization serves and the communities it supports. 

Her leadership is rooted in connection and values formed early in life. Growing up close to the land, Katherine learned resourcefulness, resilience, and self-reliance. A photograph of her father in traditional Native American regalia, displayed in her office, serves as a reminder of those roots. “If my brothers and father didn’t know how to hunt, fish, and grow, we might have been food insecure,” she recalls. That early connection to the natural world instilled a deep respect for hard work, preparation, and the ways communities care for one another—principles that continue to guide her career and vision for a Long Island where no one has to wonder where their next meal will come from. 

Her professional journey reflects those lessons. From directing a small environmental center in Connecticut to leadership roles at a community hospital and the American Cancer Society, Katherine built a career defined by results, compassion, and connection. She later led national fundraising efforts for the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s VetDogs, overseeing budgets exceeding $18 million and shaping strategies that sustained programs for years to come. 

Katherine joined Long Island Cares as Vice President for Development and Communications just before the pandemic, a period that tested the resilience of communities across Long Island. She focused on connecting philanthropists to the organization’s mission and raising  awareness of its vision for a hunger-free Long Island. Now, as CEO, she will continue to prioritize firsthand understanding of the communities the organization serves, combining insight from pantries and Member Agencies with strategic partnerships and advocacy efforts to address the root causes of hunger. 

“Change can be scary,” she admits. “But it’s also necessary.” 

 Guided by her philosophy of “listening before leading,” every decision will reflect the needs of the people Long Island Cares serves while honoring the organization’s history and dedicated team. 

Even in her office, the walls speak to her approach. Among photographs and mementos, one quote stands out: Old ways don’t open new doors. It is a reminder that while tradition guides her, innovation and courage are essential for progress. 

As Katherine Fritz takes on this role, it is clear she is ready to not only open new doors for Long Island Cares, but to do so with empathy, humanity, and a deep understanding of community.