Community Foundation of East Central Illinois
Launches Search for Next CEO to Lead Continued Excellence as Current CEO Departs
Champaign, IL – After five years of dedicated service, Angie Hatfield Marker, President & CEO of the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (the Foundation), has announced her resignation to pursue a new professional opportunity. The Board of Trustees expresses its gratitude for Angie’s outstanding leadership and contributions during her time with the Foundation.
Angie joined the Foundation staff in 2018. Since then, the Foundation has experienced unprecedented growth. With record amounts of new gifts and contributions and careful stewardship of its investments, the Foundation has increased its assets by more than 68% to $32 million, established 100 new funds, and secured another $30 million in planned estate gifts and other expectations. The Foundation also increased its grantmaking considerably, distributing a record $1.6 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofit partners last year. Today, the Foundation partners with 500 nonprofits in east central Illinois through grant-making and other leadership activities.
With her guidance, the Foundation achieved all its strategic goals and objectives set in 2021, modernized its systems, added to its staff and Board of Trustees, increased and enhanced its Center for Nonprofit Excellence and Community Solution Incubator offerings, launched two new giving initiatives, strengthened its relationships with local partners across the sectors and positioned itself as a community leader, convener and trusted local philanthropic partner and funder.
“Angie’s dedication to our mission and unwavering commitment to making a difference in east central Illinois certainly leaves a lasting legacy at the Foundation,” said Board Chair Mark C. Palmer. “We are grateful for her leadership.”
The Board of Trustees is launching a comprehensive search for a new CEO to continue the Foundation’s mission and build upon the strong foundation laid by Angie. The Board of Trustees is committed to finding a dynamic leader who possesses a deep understanding of the community’s needs and can move the organization toward continued success.
The ideal candidate for the CEO position is a bold, strategic leader who will continue to grow its philanthropic impact. The CEO will provide strategic vision and professional leadership to the Foundation by assisting the Board of Trustees in maintaining an effective and viable organization. The Foundation is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is actively seeking candidates who share its commitment to these values.
For the next month, Angie will work closely with the Board to ensure a seamless handover of responsibilities and a smooth transition for its staff, partners, and stakeholders. The Foundation’s Director of its Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Genevieve Kirk, will assume the role of interim director of the Foundation. The Board of Trustees is confident that this process will set the stage for a bright future for the Foundation.
“Serving in this role has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Angie Hatfield Marker. “I have loved working with dedicated individuals truly making a difference in our community. I will miss these relationships. But I believe to achieve healthy leadership transitions we must make space for–and be supportive of–new voices, new ideas, new perspectives, and new leadership experiences. I have every confidence the Foundation will continue to thrive under new leadership, and I look forward to witnessing its continued growth and impact.”
The job posting for the CEO position may be found here. Applications are now being accepted.
Contact: Foundation Chair Mark C. Palmer, cfeci.ceo.search@gmail.com
About the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois
The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) tax-exempt philanthropic organization created in 1972 to encourage and receive contributions establishing endowments for the long-term benefit of east central Illinois. It does not conduct programs of its own, nor is it a fund-raising organization. It supports and serves its donors by managing and administering endowed funds that have been donated for philanthropic purposes. For more information, please visit www.cfeci.org and follow us on Facebook.