Katherine (Kathy) Milam recently announced her decision to retire from her position as Executive Director of The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, effective June 30, 2024. Kathy stated that serving in this role for the past five years has been a profound privilege, which offered her a unique perspective on philanthropy and complemented her previous extensive experience in grant writing.
In reviewing her years as Executive Director, Kathy takes pride in the achievements of The Foundation. During that time, the organization’s assets experienced substantial growth, increasing from $37.8 to $57.4 million. Annual grants and scholarships awarded rose from $1.3 to $1.7 million, and the number of funds managed by The Foundation increased from 151 to 183.
Kathy has accomplished much important work with The Foundation, most notably collaborating with donors to establish scholarships and endowed funds. Kathy stated, “Every new fund created represents a donor’s passion or values. Memorial funds, established for loved ones, pull at your heartstrings.” Noteworthy examples of new endowed funds include The Free Clinic of Danville Fund, dedicated to preserving The Free Clinic’s legacy and perpetuating its mission, and the Danville Historical Society Endowment Fund, supporting the preservation of the National Tobacco Textile Museum’s collections.
Kathy also played a key role in the establishment of the Unrestricted Community Fund, which was initially funded by a gift of $882,000 from an estate. This fund provides vital support for the Foundation’s annual Competitive Grant Cycle. The creation of a Coronavirus Relief Fund demonstrated the organization’s adaptability in responding to unforeseen challenges, rallying generous donors to provide urgent assistance to nonprofits affected by the pandemic. The board of directors subsequently established an Emergency Preparedness Fund with a long-range plan to have substantial funding immediately available for future crises.
The sale of the Faith Home property provided a significant boost to the Faith Home Fund, another unrestricted fund that supports grants throughout the community. Recently, the settlement of the Estate of Robert T. Marshall stands out as a blessing, marking the largest gift to The Foundation to date, thanks to Mr. Marshall’s generosity.
Kathy also applied for and received approval for two major three-year grants from the Danville Regional Foundation. The funds awarded are for regranting purposes during The Community Foundation’s annual Competitive Grant Cycle.
During Kathy’s tenure, The Foundation twice applied for and received reaccreditation approval from the National Standards for Community Foundations. This accreditation indicates that The Foundation meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence.
Thanks to Kathy’s leadership, the staff’s active participation in the Virginia Funder’s Network and attendance at conferences such as the Annual National Conference for Growing Community Foundations has highlighted The Foundation’s dedication to continuous learning and collaboration.
Kathy stated that working for The Community Foundation requires not only a passion for the great work of nonprofit organizations and students in our region, but also the desire and drive to grow the funding available to help organizations and students thrive. She added that the work requires compassion as well as a high level of accountability, problem solving, and attention to detail. The Foundation’s continued development is guided by the vision and strategy outlined in the five-year Strategic Plan adopted by the board of directors in 2022.
Kathy ended by saying, “It is with much gratitude and respect for the team of staff and board members with whom I have worked closely during the past five years, that I joyfully turn the page to the next chapter of my life. Every day was a genuine pleasure, working and learning alongside such an intelligent and caring group of people.”
The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region improves and enriches the lives of the region’s residents by encouraging and facilitating donations; managing, investing and distributing these donations in accordance with donors’ wishes while meeting community needs; and ensuring these donations create a lasting legacy of growth and opportunity throughout the region.
About The Foundation
The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region was founded in 1996; we now manage approximately 180 charitable and scholarship funds with assets of over $50 million. Last fiscal year, The Foundation awarded grants totaling more than $1.4 million to area organizations and 133 scholarships totaling more than $279,000.
Executive Director Position Announcement
The Board of Directors is seeking an Executive Director who believes in the mission of The Foundation and is equipped to provide leadership as we work to achieve our mission. The Executive Director will guide The Foundation’s overall direction, business strategies, and the coordination and implementation of The Foundation’s fundraising activities.
Principle responsibilities will include:
Manage daily operations and guide Foundation staff members.
Expand the financial base for The Foundation, pursuing philanthropic funding sources and other creative sources of revenue for the organization, including community fundraising projects, as approved or recommended by the Board.
Position The Foundation as a leader in gathering financial resources through relationships with community, business, and public-sector leaders in the region to support the mission of The Foundation.
Serve as The Foundation’s liaison to donors, prospective donors and the community.
Maintain The Foundation’s investment accounts and implement investment strategy as directed by the Board.
Maintain, update and implement The Foundation’s strategic plan.
The Executive Director must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, at least five years of experience in a business environment, and a high level of efficiency with technology including proficiency in MS Office. Experience with a foundation, the not-for-profit sector, legal practices, financial processes, and accounting principles is desired.
Our next Executive Director must possess:
The capacity to raise funds and secure investments from individuals, businesses, private foundations and other potential contributors.
Skill in effective written and oral communication and the capacity to engage in genuine conversations with a diverse group of individuals.
The ability to work with accountants, investment firms, and investment advisors.
Strong administrative, management and organizational skills.
The ability to provide engaging public presentations regarding The Foundation and our mission.
A passion for and dedication to the communities served by The Foundation.
Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, life insurance, retirement contributions, and holiday, sick and annual leave.
Finalists for the position will be required to provide references, a credit report, and information for a background check.
Once hired, the Executive Director will be required to reside full-time within our region of service, which includes the City of Danville, the counties of Pittsylvania and Halifax in Virginia and Caswell in North Carolina.
Applicants must submit a resume and a cover letter detailing their interest in the position and outlining their applicable experience. All materials must be received at The Foundation by March 8th, 2024. Applications and resumes will be treated as confidential.
Information can be submitted by mail to:
The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region Attention: Search Committee 541 Loyal Street Danville, VA 24541
by Traci Petty
with Comments Off on 2023-24 Scholarships Awarded
$337,608.95 AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO LOCAL STUDENTS
The Community Foundation of the Dan River Region announces today a total of 151 scholarship awards to 140 local students. The scholarships, totaling $337,608.95, are the result of The Community Foundation’s 2023-24 scholarship cycle.
With 269 qualified students applying, the awards were made to 140 students from 64 separate scholarship funds. The Foundation awarded scholarships to 87 high school seniors and 53 undergraduate or graduate students.
The Foundation’s annual scholarship reception was held Sunday, June 4th at the Pittsylvania County Community Center to celebrate scholarship recipients who attend, or attended, the following schools: Bartlett Yancey High School, Chatham High School, Dan River High School, Galileo Magnet High School, George Washington High School, Gretna High School, Tunstall High School, Halifax County and Westover Christian Academy. There were also awards made to homeschool students. To view the Scholarship Reception Program please visit https://www.cfdrr.org/scholarships/2023-scholarship-reception-program/
Check out The Foundation’s latest e-news, including the closing of our competitive grant cycle and the Fund for Halifax grant cycle opening. Read more here: https://conta.cc/3b3Ynjv.
Check out The Foundation’s latest e-news, including announcing our upcoming competitive grant cycle and grantee words of impact and gratitude! Read more here: https://conta.cc/3Md99Bm
New Staff Member, Traci Edwards Petty, Grant and Scholarship Administrator.
Check out The Foundation’s latest e-news, including announcing our upcoming competitive grant cycle and grantee words of impact and gratitude! Read more here: https://conta.cc/3Md99Bm
Check out The Foundation’s latest e-news, including new staff introduction, CFDRR fund spotlight, advocacy for CFDRR partner programs, and grantee impact stories! Read more here: https://conta.cc/3uFpd7p
Don’t forget: CFDRR is still accepting scholarship applications through Tuesday, March 1, 2022! Click here to apply online. Please contact us with any questions at (434) 793-0884. Read more in our e-news: https://conta.cc/35N4oy1.
Pictured: Walter and Gail Gunn and 2019 recipients of the Gail and Walter Gunn Scholarship. #cfdrr #scholarships2022
