Jennifer Godfrey
CEO | Utah Community Action (UCA)
Jennifer Godfrey has transformed UCA through exceptional leadership of 500 employees across 30 sites. Her transparent approach includes monthly town halls and regular site visits, creating an organization recognized as Utah’s Best Public Preschool and Best Community-Based Organization.
In 2024, UCA served nearly 48,000 individuals, provided 650,000 meals and educated 2,194 young children. Jennifer pioneered innovative programs including a social entrepreneurship kitchen serving 600,000 meals annually, a homeless diversion program and a landlord-tenant mediation service. Her strategic priorities focus on affordable housing, expanding early childhood services and creating workforce opportunities that remove barriers to self-reliance.
What emerging market trends or disruptions are you preparing your company for?
One of the key disruptions I am preparing the agency for is the potential reduction in funding. UCA is significantly federally funded, meaning we operate primarily through federal awards and federal pass-through dollars. As discussions around funding shifts continue, it is imperative that we proactively explore alternative revenue sources to ensure the agency’s sustainability and its ability to serve the community effectively.
What are you most looking forward to accomplishing in 2025?
In 2025, I am most looking forward to advancing some of UCA’s most exciting and impactful projects. One of our key initiatives is bringing affordable housing to our community, with a focus on seniors and families with young children. … Additionally, we are incredibly excited to launch a public-private partnership model for expanding access to early childhood education. This initiative represents a new and innovative approach to ensuring young children receive the strong foundation they need to thrive.
