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Long-time CNY Community Foundation President and CEO stepping down in June

Scott Willis
/
WAER News
CNYCF President and CEO Peter Dunn announces the organizations LeadSafe CNY program at the Southwest Community Center in 2018. Seated is CNYCF board member Tim Penix.

The long-time President of the Central New York Community Foundation is stepping down this summer. Buffalo native Peter Dunn has led the philanthropic organization for 15 years. During that time, CNYCF’s assets nearly quadrupled to nearly $400 million, annual grantmaking more than tripled to $18 million, and the staff grew by nine to 25. All of that led to an increase in scope and visibility across the region, including an endowment for Say yes scholarship program, the LeadSafe program to end childhood lead poisoning, and a grant program to fund black-led community projects.

In a release, Dunn said this change is happening at a time when the organization is in a position of enormous strength.

“The Community Foundation has never been stronger over its 95-year history than it is today," Dunn said. "We are in the midst of a strategic planning process that will outline a clear vision for our future. This is a good time for a new leader to take the Community Foundation through its centennial and beyond.”

The board of directors will conduct a national search for a successor. Board vice chair Bea González says Dunn has done an incredible job boosting the Community Foundation’s impact, reputation, and financial position.

“We will be looking for an energetic individual who can build upon this progress and further the Community Foundation’s bright future,” González said.

Dunn will step down in June. CNYCF is a supporter of WAER.

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.