The Boston Foundation launches President and CEO search with Spencer Stuart

BOSTON - The Boston Foundation announced today it has formally opened its search for a new President and CEO, in partnership with executive search firm Spencer Stuart. The search will be led by a Search Committee comprised of members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, chaired by Elyse Cherry and J. Keith Motley.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated and exacerbated inequities in education, housing, health and economic development that have being a continuing focus of the Foundation’s work,” said TBF Board Chair Sandy Edgerley. “The Boston Foundation can and must play a leadership role in working to close these inequities, and it will require a talented, nimble leader who shares our commitment to equity to lead our talented, hardworking staff in this new era.”   

“I appreciate the opportunity to work alongside Spencer Stuart as we search for TBF’s next President and CEO,” said Search Committee Co-Chair J. Keith Motley. “Our goal is to find and engage with a variety of candidates who are as diverse as the communities we serve. Spencer Stuart will assist with efforts to identify candidates that share our mission of building and sustaining a vital, prosperous city and region where justice and opportunity are extended to everyone.” 

As expert advisers on candidate assessment and the CEO selection process, Spencer Stuart has placed leaders in over 1,100 nonprofit organizations over the past five years with a significant majority of those being in top leadership positions.  They have extensive experience and strong relationships across Greater Boston and New England, and have worked closely with some of the top philanthropic organizations throughout the country including leading community foundations.

“We are dedicated to recruiting exceptional leaders for organizations that advance the public good,” said Mary Gorman of Spencer Stuart. “We are committed working with the search committee to find a leader who can ensure that the Foundation remains at the epicenter of philanthropy in Greater Boston.”

“For more than a century, the Boston Foundation has been an important partner to Greater Boston residents in our mutual effort to promote shared prosperity and a vibrant future for our communities,” said Search Committee Co-Chair Elyse Cherry.  “We are committed to a fully inclusive, national search that demonstrates the Foundation's continued commitment to those values.”

Spencer Stuart and the search committee will engage with community and the many constituencies of the Foundation to develop a job description which will be posted in the coming weeks.  Individuals interested in applying for or nominating someone for the position can email TBFCEO@SpencerStuart.com.

Paul Grogan, who announced in January that he planned to step down, will continue as President and CEO until his successor is named.