November 12, 2021 | Read Time: 5 minutes
George Gund Foundation
Anthony Richardson will become its next president, effective in January. Since 2019, he has been executive director of the Nord Family Foundation.
Richardson will succeed David Abbott, who is retiring after 19 years at the helm of the $585 million foundation in Cleveland.
While he was still a program officer at the Nord Family Foundation, Richardson spoke to the Chronicle about how grant making can best help people in need.
Open Society Foundations
Natalie Samarasinghe will become global director of advocacy on January 18, a new role at the organization, established by the billionaire investor George Soros.
Currently she is CEO of the United Nations Association-UK.
Pew Charitable Trusts
Ralph Leslie has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer. In January, he will also begin serving as the charity’s chief financial officer.
Leslie most recently worked at Northwestern University as chief financial officer and associate dean of finance and business operations for the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.
Strada Education Network
Stephen Moret will become its next president and CEO in January.
Since 2017, he has been president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
More New CEOs
Richard Belden, interim president and CEO at SourceAmerica since September 2020, will continue in the role permanently. He was previously chief operating officer at this group, which helps people with disabilities find fulfilling careers within government and corporate workplaces.
Jeffrey Brown, interim CEO and director since April 1, will stay on as CEO of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. He has served as a trustee at the museum since 2012, and previously was executive vice president and chief administrative officer at the Newman’s Own Foundation. The museum will conduct an executive search to hire a new director to work alongside Brown.
Tollie Elliott Sr., chief medical officer at Mary’s Center, will become its CEO on January 1. He will succeed Maria Gomez, the nurse who founded the medical clinic in Washington. She is departing after 33 years at the helm.
Corina Gardner, executive director, has been promoted to CEO of the IDP Foundation. She succeeds its co-founder Irene Pritzker, who will remain the Chicago family foundation’s chairwoman. Pritzker is the former wife of the late hotel heir Bob Pritzker, and she created her foundation to make grants to advance education in Africa, medical research in the United States, and other areas.
Jocelynne Rainey, president and CEO of Getting Out and Staying Out, has been picked as president and CEO of the Brooklyn Community Foundation. She follows Cecilia Clarke, who departed in July after eight years in the role.
Borealis Philanthropy
Alicia Bell, founding director of Media 2070 at Free Press, has been named director of the group’s Racial Equity in Journalism Fund.
Ashley Crawford Starck has also joined Borealis as a program officer for its Black-Led Movement Fund. Most recently she was a program associate on the Healthy Communities team at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
RSF Social Finance
The nonprofit financial-services organization for social entrepreneurs has hired five new staff members.
Michael Jones has been hired as senior relationship manager for social enterprise lending. Previously he was first vice president at New Resource Bank.
Vic McKellips, membership manager at Oceanside Museum of Art, has become client development manager.
Ellie Pickrell, senior portfolio manager at CBRE, has been named relationship manager for social enterprise lending.
Ali Robinson, director of commercial lending at the Housing Development Fund, is now senior relationship manager for social enterprise lending.
Dana Stranz will now serve as director of credit and portfolio management. Most recently she was manager of portfolio management at the Nonprofit Finance Fund.
Other Notable Appointments
Mary Carrasco has joined Grenzebach Glier and Associates as senior vice president in the firm’s independent schools practice area. Most recently she was assistant head of school for advancement at Sidwell Friends School.
Ola Duru, senior director of operations and finance at Black Girls Code, has joined Common Impact as chief operating officer.
Adam Greenwald was promoted from director of development to vice president of development at Aviva Family and Children’s Services.
Eric James, chief financial officer at the NEA Foundation, will become chief financial officer at Washington Performing Arts on January 3.
Lisa Kennedy, managing director of development and principal gifts at StoryCorps, has been promoted to chief development officer. In addition, Mary Beth Smith has joined the media organization as chief marketing officer. Most recently she was chief marketing and audience engagement officer at Oakland Museum of California.
Mel Michelle Lewis will join American Rivers as vice president for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Most recently, they were program director of the ecosystems, sustainability, and justice program at the Natural Dye Initiative at Maryland Institute College of Art, as well as faculty lead and grants project director.
Danielle Palmisano, senior director of intensive services, has been promoted to co-chief program officer at JASA. She will work alongside Alan Cohen to lead JASA Programs, which provides critical services to 40,000 older adults in New York City. Palmisano succeeds Amy Chalfy, who is retiring after 35 years there.
Bo Peretto, senior vice president of the Ethics Initiative and communications at the Daniels Fund, has been promoted to senior vice president of legacy and donor intent. Laura Giocomo Rizzo, senior vice president of external affairs at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, will succeed him as senior vice president of communications.
Sally Pietsch, chief financial officer at the Family Place, has been tapped as chief financial officer at the Dallas Museum of Art.
Keisha Sedlacek has joined the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Federal Affairs Office as federal legislative and policy attorney. Most recently she worked as director of regulatory affairs at the Humane Society Legislative Fund.
Brie Griset Smith, chief development officer at the Discovery Science Foundation, is joining the Inland Empire Community Foundation as senior vice president of charitable giving.
Departure
Greg Baldwin plans to step down as CEO of VolunteerMatch, pending the selection of a successor. He founded the organization in 1998.
Legacy
William Conway, who worked at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York for 43 years, died on October 21. He was 91. The Wildlife Conservation Society manages several major urban parks, including the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium. He began his career at the Bronx Zoo in 1956 as assistant bird curator and became general director of the New York Zoological Society, the previous name of the Wildlife Conservation Society, in 1966. He retired in 1999.
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