Veteran Civic Philanthropy Activist to Lead Sunlight Foundation

Chris Gates, the head of a nonprofit network that works to link philanthropy with civic action and democratic reform, has been tapped to be the next president of the Sunlight Foundation, Politico reports. He will replace Ellen Miller, a co-founder of the watchdog group that promotes transparency in politics, October 1.

Mr. Gates is executive director of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement, an affiliate of the Council on Foundations, and previously led the National Civic League. He said “dark money” and other undisclosed levers of political influence “drive citizens to disengage from politics” and that groups like Sunlight play “this incredibly important role of making data available … to shine some light on how decisions get made and who’s behind them.”

Read a Chronicle of Philanthropy article about Ms. Miller’s tenure at the Sunlight Foundation.