This is STAGING. For front-end user testing and QA.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy logo

Leading

Salesforce Foundation Promotes Becky Ferguson to CEO

presttransitions-0804-becky-ferguson.jpg
Salesforce

August 3, 2023 | Read Time: 4 minutes

Salesforce Foundation

Becky Ferguson, senior vice president of philanthropy at Salesforce and chief operating officer at the Salesforce Foundation, has been promoted to CEO of the software company’s philanthropic arm.

Before she joined Salesforce in 2017, she worked for nine years at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Douglas Roberts has been promoted to president and CEO.

He has served as interim co-CEO of the museum since April and previously was vice president of science education and director of the Frost Planetarium.


Rockefeller Foundation

Christopher Weaver is now executive director of its Economic Opportunity Coalition, the $7.5 billion foundation’s public-private coalition to address economic disparities and create economic opportunities in marginalized communities across the United States. He most recently served as senior fellow for Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.

Elena Gelosa, director of alumni community at Bocconi University, is also joining Rockefeller as vice president of its Bellagio Center, in Italy. She succeeds Pilar Palaciá, who has led the center for 18 years and is now departing.

More New CEOs

Jameson Gilpatrick, chief financial and administrative officer at Trenton Health Team, has joined Commonwealth Youthchoirs as executive director.

Jess King has been hired as executive director for WITF Inc.’s Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement. Most recently she was chief of staff for Mayor Danene Sorace of Lancaster, Pa.

Janice Lee, chief operations officer at Childhaven, has been tapped as CEO and president of the Tacoma Urban League.

Nancy Wolanski, executive director of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island, will be the first director of the United Way of Rhode Island’s Nonprofit Resource Center.


ADVERTISEMENT

Other Notable Appointments

Stephen Bayer will become vice president for development and alumni relations at Rice University on September 26. Most recently he was senior associate vice president of alumni engagement and development at Duke University.

Tim Bond, artistic director at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, has been hired as artistic director at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He starts his new role on September 1.

Leah Heister Burton, deputy director and chief advancement officer at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation, has been appointed chief advancement officer at U.S. Soccer.

Mike Deetsch, senior director of learning and engagement at the Toledo Museum of Art, has been promoted to director of development.

Ashley Ferro-Murray, senior curator of theater and dance at the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, is joining the Doris Duke Foundation as director of its arts program.

Josh Fertitta, senior director of development at Catholic University of America, is now vice president for development and corporate relations at CHC: Creating Healthier Communities. In addition, Nick VanDemark has been hired as senior director of social impact and development. He previously was major-gift officer for strategic partnerships at the ProMedica Foundation.


ADVERTISEMENT

Pat Layman, a major-gift officer at Phillips Academy, has been appointed director of development at the Cape Ann Museum.

Kelly Marmol, director of development at Florida Atlantic University, has been named vice president of philanthropic services at the Community Foundation of Broward.

Juan McGruder has joined Meharry Medical College as senior vice president of institutional advancement. Most recently he was vice president of advancement at Oglethorpe University.

Jocabel Michel Reyes, director of advancement for Jhpiego, has joined Catholic Charities of Baltimore as chief development officer.

Maryanne Murphy, chief financial and operations officer at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, has been appointed chief financial officer at the Barnes Foundation.

Giovanna Sardelli, artistic associate and director of new works at the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, has been promoted to artistic director.


ADVERTISEMENT

Departures

Evelyn Diaz will step down after eight years as president of Heartland Alliance on September 1. Don Laackman, chief program officer, will serve as interim president during its search for a permanent successor.

Larry Kramer, who has served as president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for 11 years, will depart at the end of the year. He is leaving the $13 billion grant maker to lead the London School of Economics and Political Science. (The Hewlett Foundation is a financial supporter of the Chronicle.)

Send an email to people@philanthropy.com.

We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.

About the Author

Senior Editor, Solutions

M.J. Prest is senior editor for solutions at the Chronicle of Philanthropy, where she highlights how nonprofit leaders navigate and overcome major challenges. She has covered stories on big gifts, grant making, and executive moves for the Chronicle since 2004. Her work has also appeared in the Washington Post, Slate.com, and the Huffington Post, and she wrote the young-adult novel Immersion. M.J. graduated from Williams College and after living in many different places, she settled in New England with her husband, two kids, and two rescue dogs.