January 15, 2025
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As NAMI approaches its fiftieth anniversary as the nation’s largest grassroots mental health advocacy organization, NAMI’s Chief Development Officer is chatting with our Chief Innovation Officer, Darcy Gruttadaro. Throughout their conversation, listeners will hear about NAMI’s updated strategic priorities, our plans for growing our impact in 2025, and how we plan to expand our impact for individuals and loved ones experiencing mental illness.
You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.
We hope this podcast encourages you, inspires you, helps you and brings you further into the collective to know: you are not alone.
Episodes will air every other Wednesday and will be available on most major directories and apps.
Jessica Edwards directs the strategy, direction and coordination for all fundraising efforts that support NAMI’s mission and strategic plan. She identifies and encourages philanthropic opportunities and engages in meaningful donor and funder relationships. She works with strategic partnerships that touch all corners of the organization and alliance.
Jessica joined NAMI in 2011 as a coordinator of corporate affairs and governance. Since then, she has worked her way up in the organization overseeing the corporate, foundation and strategic partnership areas of Strategic Alliances & Development. She holds an undergraduate degree in Public Relations from West Virginia University and a Master’s Degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from Georgetown University.
Darcy Gruttadaro is leading the innovation team in their work advancing NAMI’s strategic goals by addressing the mental health needs of youth and young adults; developing and highlighting effective justice diversion initiatives; and focusing on cross-cultural innovation and engagement. She will also be leading our efforts around workplace mental health with
NAMI’s StigmaFree initiative and related work.
Before returning to NAMI in 2022, Darcy directed the American Psychiatric Association Foundation (APAF), Center for Workplace Mental Health. In that leadership role, she expanded the Center’s national reach through new strategic partnerships and by creating a broad array of high impact tools, trainings and resources for public and private organizations in diverse industries. Darcy’s outstanding work was recognized with the 2020 APA Leadership Award.
Darcy is pleased to be returning to NAMI, where she previously served in multiple senior level roles, including leading NAMI’s work on the mental health needs of youth, young adults and their families and serving as Director of Public Policy.
NAMI HelpLine is available M-F, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET. Call 800-950-6264,
text “helpline” to 62640, or chat online. In a crisis, call or text 988 (24/7).
