Richard E. Ward appointed Director of Grantmaking at the Boston Foundation

Boston –The Boston Foundation has announced the appointment of Richard E. Ward as Director of Grantmaking for the Foundation. In this position, he will be responsible for managing the discretionary grantmaking process and will manage relationships with the nonprofit community about the Foundation’s policies and procedures.

In this role, he succeeds Cindy Rizzo, who recently left the Boston Foundation to join the Arcus Foundation in New York City.

“Richard brings extraordinary knowledge and experience of the nonprofit community to his new role, as well as proven skills as a leader and a manager,” said Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “This is an excellent fit of talent and experience in a role that is critical to our grantmaking.”

Ward joined the Foundation as a Senior Program Officer in 2000, with a primary focus on youth development, education and public safety. Earlier, he served the community in leadership roles at a number of nonprofit organizations, including a term as Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston, Roxbury Clubhouse. He also served as Executive Director of the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center in Boston, and with the Committee for Boston Public Housing. In Worcester, Ward served as Senior Program Officer for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

“We take very seriously the need to stay connected to area nonprofits and to demystify the application process,” said Terry Lane, Vice President of program at the Foundation. “Richard is well equipped to strengthen both these efforts. And we will continue to count on his oversight for community safety and youth development.”

In 2003, Ward was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney to serve on the Governor’s Commission on Criminal Justice Innovation. Romney appointed him in 2004 to serve on the Department of Conservation and Recreation Stewardship Council, which oversees the Commonwealth’s state parks, beaches.

One theme that runs through Wards professional and personal activities is his commitment to young people, and he has served as a mentor as well as a seasoned and widely respected community mediator.

Ward’s interest in sports extends to his public service. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Youth Enrichment Services and for the Boston Ski Party, where he manages youth ski and race programs. He is a former All-American athlete in Track & Field, and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 meter hurdles.

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The Boston Foundation, Greater Boston’s community foundation, is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the nation, with an endowment of over $750 million.  In 2005, the Foundation and its donors made more than $60 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and received gifts of more than $70 million.  The Foundation is made up of some 850 separate charitable funds established by donors either for the general benefit of the community or for special purposes.  The Boston Foundation also serves as a major civic leader, provider of information, convener, and sponsor of special initiatives designed to address the community’s and region’s most pressing challenges.  For more information about the Boston Foundation, visit www.tbf.org  or call 617-338-1700.