Exit Interview: Greg Chaillé, President, Oregon Community Foundation

Why he’s retiring: Mr. Chaillé, 60, has been with the Portland foundation for 30 years, the last 23 as president. “You want to leave an organization when it is the strongest it’s ever been,” he says. “This is a great time for leadership transition and for me to discover some new sides to myself.”

The next chapter: Mr. Chaillé will officially step down December 31, but will continue working with the foundation for up to three years as a senior adviser. In his new role, he will introduce his successor to the community fund’s constituents around the state while also working on some special programs, including the Chalkboard Project, which seeks to improve elementary and secondary education.

Biggest accomplishment: Creating a network of 1,600 volunteers across the state that help the foundation and its myriad projects in various ways, such as by serving on the organization’s investment and scholarship committees, evaluating grant proposals and recommending the causes to focus on. “That has been the key to our success,” says Mr. Chaillé. “By engaging them we are building social capital, a citizen corps that cares about their community beyond the work of community foundation.”

Biggest challenges: Managing a statewide organization and its rapid growth. Under Mr. Chaillé’s watch, the foundation’s assets have increased from $38-million to $1.1-billion, making it the ninth wealthiest community foundation in the country. He says it’s tough to figure out where and when to add regional offices—currently there are six—to serve specific parts of the state.

Background: Shortly after receiving a master’s degree in social sciences from San Francisco State University, Mr. Chaillé landed his first job, evaluating foundation and corporate grant programs at the Community Council of the Capitol Region, a now-defunct nonprofit group affiliated with the United Way, in Hartford, Conn.

Salary: $255,000

Volunteerism plans: Aside from his advisory role. Mr. Chaillé wants to get involved in helping people directly, possibly through mentoring children, as well as do some work related to reducing poverty in other countries.