Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Phillip P. Lanham.

We have big, exciting news! I am thrilled to announce that Phillip P. Lanham, CAP, is Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s new president|CEO. Lanham will join Gulf Coast on June 1 following the national search conducted by the Board of Director’s CEO Search Committee and executive search firm Russell Reynolds. 

Lanham currently serves as the Chief Philanthropy Officer at Greater Cincinnati Foundation, a foundation founded in 1963 that has provided $1B plus in community impact. He has successfully partnered with the Greater Cincinnati area donors, businesses, private foundations and nonprofits to positively impact community issues with a focus on systemic advancement of equity and opportunity. He is widely considered as a strategic, results-driven executive with a 20-plus-year career focused on philanthropy and community impact. Lanham received his undergrad and MBA from University of Cincinnati.

I am excited, confident and thrilled to welcome our new leader. Lanham’s business and philanthropy background is the perfect fit for this region and our organization. Gulf Coast’s organizational priorities, regional initiatives and donor services are expected to grow exponentially under Lanham’s leadership. Lanham brings the talent, passion and excellent experiences to enhance and positively impact our donors and our nonprofit partners. Our team is excited and ready to welcome Lanham to our community, working together to continue to advance our mission, vision and values which we hold close to our hearts.

As I hand over the mantel of leadership, I am grateful for the 15 years I have had with Gulf Coast Community Foundation, eight of those years serving at the helm. We worked extremely well as a team and our organization has been recognized as a National Best Place to Work six times including this past year. Together with our donors, we have surpassed $510 million in grants to support health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Together with our nonprofit partners, we have tried to build a beautiful and thriving Sarasota region better than how we found it. And Phillip P. Lanham will be the next great leader to continue our success.

I look forward to spending my retirement in Venice and Colorado, reading the pile of books I have stacked on my bookshelves, and taking up fun challenges that will round out my life, like star gazing with my newly gifted telescope from the team at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

My Gulf Coast teammates left me with this quote I will never forget: “Only the curious have something to find. Thank you for setting our course to the stars!” It has truly been my honor. So here’s to a stellar future for our new Gulf Coast leader and our Gulf Coast region!

Mark Pritchett is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Phillip P. Lanham.