National Search to Recruit New President and CEO for The Pittsburgh Foundation

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Apr 14, 2014, 11:01 ET

PITTSBURGH, April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pittsburgh Foundation will this month launch a national executive search in its task to recruit a successor to Grant Oliphant, the organization's President and CEO, who was today named as the new President at The Heinz Endowments.

Mr. Oliphant will take up his new position by June 2014. The move marks his return to the Endowments – an organization he previously served for more than 10 years in various senior positions – following six years as head of The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The Pittsburgh Foundation will shortly announce the appointments of members of its Board of Directors to serve on a special search committee led by Board Chair, Dr. Edie Shapira. A national recruitment firm will be appointed to assist with the search.

Dr. Shapira said that the Foundation plans to name its new President and CEO by the fall, 2014. "We will be looking at candidates locally and nationally," said Dr. Shapira. "While our primary focus will fall on southwestern Pennsylvania, our search will extend beyond this region in our efforts to recruit a successor who will continue the transformative and innovative work that has been accomplished so successfully under Grant's tenure."

Dr. Shapira commended Mr. Oliphant for his "immeasurable contribution" to The Pittsburgh Foundation since he joined the organization in February 2008. Since then he has led a major transformation in the organization's engagement of key constituents, its efficient stewardship and investment strategies and the development of key initiatives to enhance community outreach and maximize grantmaking impact.

"World class talent attracts world class opportunities and Grant Oliphant has both," said Dr. Shapira. "The Pittsburgh Foundation has been extremely fortunate to have had the benefit of Grant's leadership. He has brought our organization to new heights of effectiveness, stability, and community leadership.

"He richly deserves this chance to lead The Heinz Endowments. They have chosen well, and so has he. We will dearly miss him, but we look forward to a great partnership with him in his exciting new role. Truly, this is great news for Pittsburgh. We congratulate Grant, the Heinz family, and The Heinz Endowments."

Grant Oliphant became the fourth head in The Pittsburgh Foundation's 69-year history when he moved to the organization from The Heinz Endowments, one of the nation's leading family foundations. Almost 100 applications were received for the position.

Prior to leaving the Endowments, Mr. Oliphant held the position of Vice President for Programs and Planning, responsible for managing the Endowments' $70-plus million annual grantmaking portfolio and undertaking a leadership role in guiding special task forces promoting civic design, school reform and stronger links between environmental stewardship and economic development.

The Pittsburgh Foundation is one of the oldest community foundations in the U.S., and is the nation's 14^th largest. The Foundation has more than 1,900 individual donor funds with assets that in 2013 exceeded $1 billion for the first time in its history. The Foundation last year awarded grants of more than $40 million.

SOURCE The Pittsburgh Foundation