James Minehart Named Role of President & CEO; Steve Jacobson Takes on Title of Founder & CRO

JCA is excited to announce that James Minehart, PMP, has been named President & Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1. Steve Jacobson, who founded the organization in 1988 and led it for 38 years, will take on the title of Founder & Chief Relationship Officer, leveraging his longstanding relationships to help nonprofit executives address evolving technology and operational challenges.

As JCA’s President & Chief Operating Officer, Minehart has long been the driving force behind the organization’s day-to-day operations — overseeing administrative, operational, and financial functions and ensuring the quality and consistency of JCA’s work. His elevation to President & CEO formalizes a leadership structure that clients and partners have effectively experienced for some time.

A Legacy Built Over 38 Years

When Steve Jacobson founded Jacobson Consulting Applications in 1988, he had a clear conviction: that nonprofits deserved technology partners who understood their missions as deeply as they understood their operations.

Steve began his career in the corporate world, first as a research associate on the domestic economy for Rinfret Associates and then as a senior consultant with Data Resources, Inc. (DRI), where he used various computer resources — from mainframes to early PCs — to build econometric models and decision support systems. That foundation proved immediately valuable when JCA landed its first client, NYU Medical Center (now NYU Langone), where he leveraged his for-profit technology background to transform how Development could increase engagement and raise more money.

What followed was nearly four decades of growth, ingenuity, and trusted partnership. Under his leadership, JCA evolved from a boutique consultancy into a respected industry leader in technology services and consulting, serving thousands of nonprofit clients across North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia and building a team of professionals who shared his commitment to the community.

Among Steve’s many meaningful achievements:

• Building a client roster that reflects the breadth and depth of the nonprofit sector. Over his tenure, Steve brought JCA’s services to some of the most recognized institutions in the country, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the American Museum of Natural History, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the National Constitution Center.

• Investing in the community beyond JCA. Steve has long believed that strengthening the nonprofit sector goes beyond working with individual nonprofits. As a past Adjunct Instructor at New York University’s Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising, he brought technology education directly to the next generation of fundraising professionals. He served on the board of the New York City Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for 12 years, including two years as President. And through his board service with the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Cooperative, he has been a consistent voice for the sector at large. Steve has also been actively involved with various trade groups including the International Ticketing Association (INTIX), the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), and the Museum Computer Network (MCN).

• Shaping JCA’s culture and team. Steve built JCA’s culture around the idea that the best technology partners don’t just understand systems, they understand people. Over nearly four decades, he assembled a team of professionals who brought that same care to every client relationship, every implementation, and every challenge that came their way.

• Delivering technology solutions that matter. Steve led JCA through an ever-evolving technology landscape, tackling the full range of challenges nonprofits face. From requirements assessments and system selections to integrating complex, disparate platforms and building cutting-edge software products, he helped organizations across the sector change the way their work gets done. As he puts it: “When you combine persistence with cleverness, you often get success.”

His legacy is not simply what JCA has built — it is how JCA operates: with integrity, with genuine care for nonprofit missions, and with an unwavering belief that the right technology, thoughtfully implemented, changes lives.

“As I look back on the past 38 years of leading JCA, I feel blessed. I’m so proud of my incredible JCA colleagues who have worked alongside me to build this firm into what it is today. Along this journey, we have partnered with over 2,300 nonprofit organizations to help them leverage technology, build better processes, and enable their teams to better serve their constituents. We have changed the way nonprofit work gets done.

“As we enter this next chapter at JCA, I look forward to passing the CEO role to James Minehart, a trusted colleague whom I’ve worked alongside for the past 18 years. I know that James will lead JCA with the same care, vision, and purpose as I have done.”

— Steve Jacobson

The Leader Carrying It Forward

James Minehart joined JCA in 2007, beginning in a consulting role and growing into progressively senior leadership positions before assuming the COO role. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), he brings rigor and discipline to his leadership approach. He is also a recognized voice in the sector, having spoken at national and regional conferences including CASE and AASP.

Before joining JCA, James built his foundation in nonprofit operations, holding roles at Lewis & Clark College, the YWCA of Greater Portland, and the Manhattan Theatre Club — giving him firsthand experience of the operational challenges nonprofits face. That perspective has never left him, and it shapes how he leads JCA today.

James steps into the President & CEO role with deep roots in this organization and respect for what Steve has built. In his words:

“Stepping into the role of CEO is an extraordinary honor, and I am deeply grateful to Steve for his leadership and the legacy he has built at JCA. His commitment to our clients and the nonprofit sector has shaped who we are, and I am honored to carry that forward. As we look ahead, I am energized by the strength of our team, the trust of our clients and partners, and the meaningful work we support each day. Our mission has never been more important, and I remain committed to delivering insight and impact for the organizations we serve.”

— James Minehart

Looking Ahead with Confidence

As we enter this next chapter, our commitment to our clients and partners remains unchanged. Our focus on serving the nonprofit community is as clear and energized as it has ever been.

We are proud of what has been built and excited about what will come next.