In early November, The Chronicle of Philanthropy published The New Generation of Foundation Leaders is Younger and More Diverse, noting, “Philanthropy is undergoing what some are calling a sea change in leadership.” The statistics on foundation leadership change are impressive.

“Many of the new foundation presidents are from Gen X. More women also fill the top spot. And perhaps most notably, the percentage of private foundation leaders who are people of color has grown by 40% since the racial-justice protests of 2020, according to a survey conducted by the Council on Foundations.”

I was quoted in the article, saying too great a focus on “radical” foundation leadership change would obscure the fact that while there might be changes in how new leaders would set priorities and manage and communicate, there would also be instances in which they would “adhere to the intent of the grantmaker’s original donor.”

Leadership transitions in all organizations, including foundation leadership change, inevitably lead to internal questions – and anxiety – about continuity of mission and operations. A narrow focus on those instances where new leadership has incited radical change in a foundation’s mission would, however, miss the bigger story – continued adherence to donor intent, even as foundation leadership changes and operational processes evolve.

Hannah Skandera, appointed in 2021 as president and CEO of Colorado’s Daniels Fund, continues to follow Bill Daniels’ values in the range and manner of its grantmaking. The donor’s abiding patriotism is manifested in Skandera’s expansion of the foundation’s work in civics education. This includes a $4.5 million grant to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to scale the National Civics Bee to all 50 states by 2026.

During a period of foundation leadership change, under the leadership of Romanita Hairston, appointed CEO of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in 2022, the trust has explored the future of philanthropy and the many roles philanthropy can play beyond grantmaking. Whether acting as advocate, convener or knowledge generator, Murdock remains committed to strengthening the Pacific Northwest region’s educational, spiritual and cultural base by bringing innovation and additional capacity to the nonprofit organizations with whom the foundation partners. In short, the trust continues to adhere to and move forward Jack Murdock’s vision.

Read the full article about foundation leadership change by Joanne Florino at Philanthropy Roundtable.