Jatrice Martel Gaiter

Jatrice Martel Gaiter serves as the executive vice president of external affairs at Volunteers of America’s National Office in Alexandria, Va. Her responsibilities include developing brand messaging and supporting the implementation of Volunteers of America’s Aging with Options^TM and Family Strengthening strategic initiatives. As a member of the executive leadership team, she directs efforts to raise national awareness and increase capacity to serve clients through the organization’s development, communications and public policy departments.

Martel Gaiter joined Volunteers of America in 2008, and she immediately focused on leading the challenge of positioning the organization as a recognized thought leader and comprehensive provider of health, housing and human services. Prior to her arrival at Volunteers of America, Martel Gaiter served as the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. During her eight years with Planned Parenthood, she built a solid network of donors and activists and managed five health clinics.

“The needs and issues surrounding our country’s most entrenched social problems are significant and complex,” says Martel Gaiter. “Building and growing relationships with individuals, organizations and policy makers—and working together—is the only way we can address and respond to those in need.  By joining together to empower and uplift all people, we ultimately strengthen whole communities.”

Martel Gaiter has a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland and Juris Doctorate from the Syracuse University College of Law. She has received numerous awards, including Washingtonian Magazine’s 2006 Washingtonian of the Year, Choice USA’s Mentor of the Year Award, Women’s Information Network’s Karen Mulhouser Award and the Washington Free Clinic Heart of Gold Award.   

She is currently a member of the board of the National Human Services Assembly and Generations United, and a member of the Independent Sector Public Policy Committee, Leadership Washington, the National Capital Philanthropy Day Co-Convener/Awards Committee, and the National Press Club. She is a Robert Woods Johnson Nursing Fellow mentor.