Michelle Foster, president and CEO of the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, gave her first address to the community during the foundation's 15th annual report Tuesday evening in the Clay Center Grand Lobby.
Leslie Crutchfield, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University, also spoke, delivering the event's keynote address titled "The Courage to Change." Crutchfield is a nationally recognized speaker and has co-authored two books, most recently "Do More Than Give: The Six Practices of Donors Who Change the World."
Foster was introduced by Charles Loeb, vice chairman of the foundation's board of trustees. Loeb recounted the 'highly competitive, year long process" of finding the foundation's new president. He then congratulated Foster for being chosen out of 95 applicants from a number of national private and community foundations.
"Our committee unanimously and enthusiastically recommended Michelle Foster to serve as our foundation's next CEO," said Loeb. "In Michelle, we found a leader in our own backyard. In Michelle, we found a fearless person with a passion of excellence in everything she does."
During her state of the foundation address, Foster thanked the board of trustees for choosing her and recognized the 147 active volunteers for their contributions to the foundation. Additionally, Foster offered her thanks to predecessor Becky Ceperley, who was the president and CEO of foundation for 15 years prior to her retirement in June 2015.
"My chief aim in taking over the reigns from Becky is to reserve the vitality of this renowned organization while encouraging its progression to the next level," Foster said.
Foster said that the foundation received more than $4.7 million in contributions and distributed more than $6.2 million in grants and scholarships during the 2015 fiscal year. At the end of the fiscal year, the foundation had more than $216 million in assets under management.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have examined the many facets of our community foundation, including our assets, our community investments, our operations and our relationships and it is my pleasure to report that the state of the foundation is strong," she said.
Foster said that delivering her first address to the foundation was nerve-racking, but that she's excited to see what the future has in store for her, the foundation and the community.
"I just look forward to moving great things along in our community and really effectuating change," she said. "I'm energized and encouraged about what can happen in our community."
After Foster reported on the state of the foundation, Crutchfield delivered her keynote address. Crutchfield celebrated the act of philanthropy but said that modern philanthropists need to go beyond writing checks and volunteering in order to solve the complex problems society faces today.
"So many of the problems seem to persist and grow," said Crutchfield. "The way that philanthropy traditionally operates just isn't adding up to the change that you all seek in your community and we seek nationally."
Crutchfield talked about 20th century philanthropic endeavors, such as the Carnegie Corporation, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation and compared them to those of today. The donors behind these foundations systematically donated in order to solve problems within their respective communities, said Crutchfield.
"That's why, donors like Carnegie, they funded hospitals to help ease suffering, but they also funded research to try and find the root cause," Crutchfield said.
Crutchfield recommended that nonprofits and organizations join forces to do good within their communities and find the heart of their problems. When nonprofits and organizations work together, they have greater power and can, ultimately, have a "collective impact," Crutchfield said.
A book signing with Crutchfield was held at the end of the event, as well as a reception for those in attendance.
Reach Jared Casto at jared.casto@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4832 or follow @JaredCasto on Twitter.