Esther Cohen

Esther Cohen is a nonprofit executive who has devoted her career to ensuring that internal operations support and promote organizational mission and strategy. Her love of the nonprofit sector has led her to work in the arts, education and international development. Cohen serves as Board Chair of Heifer International, having joined the board in 2013.

Cohen recently retired as Chief Operating Officer for Episcopal Relief & Development, the international humanitarian agency of the Episcopal Church. Leading the day-to-day operations of the organization since 2010, Cohen managed financial and operational growth to ensure the organization’s mission of partnering with locally led organizations around the world to advance lasting change in communities impacted by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change.

Cohen worked for 20 years in Off-Broadway theatre, including serving for 11 years at New York Theatre Workshop, where she was the General Manager for the original production of Rent.

Cohen received a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration from Columbia University. She resides in New Jersey with her husband, is active with her church, enjoys travel and loves the Jersey shore.