New Leadership Team Elected to Lead Community Foundations

Members to serve as a strong voice, advocate, and resource for community foundations

Arlington, VA—The Council on Foundations today announced that four new members have been elected to the Community Foundations Leadership Team (CFLT), joining three nominees re-elected to three-year terms. Community foundations are recognized leaders and valued partners in strengthening communities through effective philanthropy and convening based on intimate knowledge of the community experience. The CFLT provides strategic direction for the community foundation field and enables members to act effectively on their own behalf and on behalf of philanthropy as a whole.

“The members of the CFLT not only are leaders in the philanthropic sector, but provide diverse backgrounds and perspectives in foundation work. They represent both the different regions of the country and the different types of communities across America and abroad. Each has demonstrated active engagement in their communities, not only through foundation work but also in their personal lives. I look forward to working with such an energetic team as the role of community foundations continues to expand from one of community service to one of community leadership,” said Steve Gunderson, president and CEO of the Council on Foundations.

The four new members of CFLT are:

Sidney Hargro, CEO of the Community Foundation of South Jersey
Sidney’s career in philanthropy has spanned 14 years. He has held his current position since November 2009, serving the southern eight counties of New Jersey.

John Kobara, executive vice president and COO of the California Community Foundation
John has been actively involved in leading nonprofit and for-profit organizations for more than 30 years. He was appointed to his current position in 2009 and is responsible for operating the 48th largest foundation in the nation.

Lauren Casteel, vice president of Philanthropic Partnerships at The Denver Foundation
Lauren has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1990. Previously she served as a communications adviser to the mayor of Denver and as a broadcast journalist. Her numerous honors include the Community Resource Center’s Legend Award and the “Trailblazer Award,” by the Denver Branch of the  American Association of University Women.

Brian Byrnes, president and CEO of the Santa Fe Foundation
Brian has been leading foundations for more than a decade, being appointed to his current position in 2009 where he has successfully promoted philanthropy and social change in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.

Those re-elected are:

Brenda Chumley, senior vice president of administration for the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Brenda has worked at the Foundation since 1993. During that time she developed the organization’s first online grantmaking system and improved the Foundation’s infrastructure to better serve rural communities.

Mike Batchelor, president and CEO of The Erie Foundation
Mike was selected as the first executive director of the Foundation 21 years ago. During his tenure he has increased the organization’s assets from $20 million to $253 million while investing its resources in reducing poverty, increasing access to post-secondary education and training, and health care, and serving nonprofits.

Judy Sjostedt, executive director of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation
Judy has served in her current position since 1999. Under her direction the Foundation has received national recognition, including the Effie™ Award for Community Leadership from Effective Communities LLC and the Critical Impact Award for Grantmaking from the West Virginia Grantmakers Association.

The group joins Chair Terry Mazany, president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust, and Vice Chair Teri Hansen, president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, in forming the upcoming CFLT. Each of their terms runs from May 1, 2011, to April 30, 2014.

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The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,750 independent, operating, community, public, and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.