News & Event
CINCINNATI (May 13, 2015) — The Greater Cincinnati Foundation recognized the legacy of our retiring president/CEO, Kathryn Merchant, on May 12, 2015 at Music Hall.
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Merchant announced her retirement in June 2014, and Ellen M. Katz will be taking over as CEO/President on May 18, 2015.
Many joined us to celebrate Kathy's many accomplishments. We thank the following speakers for sharing their thoughts about Kathy's legacy:
In recognition of Kathy's legacy of collaborative leadership, we invite you to support the revitalization of Music Hall along with GCF. If you would like to join us, you may give securely online for Music Hall's Save Our Icons Fund or make a check payable to The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, 200 W Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202., and indicate "Save Our Icons - Music Hall" in the memo line.
CINCINNATI (June 9, 2014) - Kathryn E. Merchant, who has served as President/CEO of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) since 1997, has announced that she will retire in June 2015, after more than 18 years at one of the nation’s largest community foundations.
Pete Strange, Chairman Emeritus of Messer Inc. and Chair of GCF’s Governing Board said, “We are proud of Kathy’s tireless work to make this region and this community resource stronger since the day she set foot in Cincinnati. During her tenure, GCF has grown to more than a half billion dollars in permanent charitable assets and provided crucial leadership to issues like cradle-to-career education, racial equity, workforce development, and stronger neighborhoods, to name just a few. Many of the initiatives that Kathy has helped drive, like impact investing, are becoming national models.”
“I have become very attached to my friends and colleagues in Cincinnati, and to my home in Prospect Hill, during nearly two decades of living here,” Merchant said in her announcement. “I look forward to continuing to be engaged in areas of philanthropy where I have strong personal passion, and to remaining an active member of this community.”
GCF, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013, made important strides during Merchant’s tenure, including:
The Board will conduct a national search for Kathy’s successor.
Strange said, “A measure of Kathy’s leadership is the strength of the GCF team, at both the staff and the board level; and the strength of the partnerships she has created across the community. In typical Kathy fashion, she has led the board through proactive and thoughtful planning for succession and she has committed to staying with us through a successful search process. GCF is well prepared to grow into the future.”
Cincinnati - October 4, 2011 - The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) will present two awards at its 2011 Annual Luncheon on Wednesday, November 2, 2011. The Jacob E. Davis Volunteer Leadership Award will be presented to Dr. Myrtis H. Powell and the Bridge Builder Award will be presented to William L. Montague of Frost Brown Todd LLC.