Council on Foundations Announces New Director of Community Philanthropy
The Council on Foundations is pleased to announce that Brad Ward has been named its new Director of Community Philanthropy. He joins the Council’s member relations team led by Paula Wolferseder Yabar to expand the Council’s support of community foundations and other philanthropic organizations focused on community- and place-based philanthropy.
Brad comes to the Council from Dubois County Community Foundation, where he served as its Chief Executive Officer for the past three years. Prior to that he was the Executive Director of the Huntingburg Foundation, where he led a merger with the Dubois County Community Foundation to create a unified county community foundation. He and his team grew the merged foundation’s asset base from $15 million to $30 million in just three years.
“Having led two community foundations, Brad understands the catalytic power of community philanthropy. His deep understanding of community foundation operations will inform his work to support place-based funders,” said President and CEO of the Council on Foundations Vikki Spruill. “In this role, he will work closely with our community foundation members to ensure the Council continuously provides them relevant support and integrates their interests into all aspects of our work.”
During Brad’s tenure the Dubois County Community Foundation served as a springboard to the philanthropic sector and community leaders seeking innovative new ventures and catalytic work in support of the region. It cultivated philanthropists through its Emerging Leaders Giving Circle, ventures for entrepreneurism through Current Blend, Inc., and repurposed a historic theatre for contemporary performing arts through the Next Act, Inc. With each of these movements, Brad fostered leadership in the next generation of philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders.
A graduate of DePauw University in 2005 with a degree in sociology and a concentration in political science and conflict studies while at University College Cork, Ireland, Brad has also contributed more than 2,500 volunteer service hours across Europe, the United States, and South America.
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About the Council on Foundations
An active philanthropic network, the Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), founded in 1949, is a nonprofit leadership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. It provides the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance and sustain their ability to advance the common good. With members from all foundation types and sizes, the Council empowers professionals in philanthropy to meet today’s toughest challenges and advances a culture of charitable giving in the U.S. and globally.
