Diana Anderson

Diana Anderson was named Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) new President and CEO in January 2015 after serving as interim President and CEO since August 2014. Diana joined SWIF as Development Director in 2001, leading SWIF’s fundraising and starting SWIF’s community foundation program. In 2007, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this newly-created position, Diana provided leadership and oversight to SWIF’s internal operations and functions, including strategic planning, management team leadership and program design. In 2011, she was again promoted to Vice President and COO, playing a more visible role in program development and delivery, working alongside SWIF team leads in communities across the southwest Minnesota region.

Prior to joining SWIF, Diana spent 11 years in administration at Sanford Canby, as well as the South Dakota Newspaper Association and Hendricks Pioneer newspaper. Diana received her degree from Augustana College in Sioux Falls and later continued her education at the U of M School of Public Health. She has a background in communications, business administration, and healthcare administration.

Current board service includes Community Foundation National Standards, GiveMN.org, Vacker Place dba Lakeview Ranch, and Aveyron Homes, Inc. Diana has been a Rotary International member since 1989, the first year that women were allowed to join.