Isaiah M. Oliver, a longtime staple at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, has long talked about pursuing “work that matters, that is purposeful and aligns with my core values.”

Now, Oliver will have a significant opportunity to show that passion for Flint and its residents through his new role as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. Previously, Oliver was the CFGF’s vice president of Community Impact.

Oliver, the fifth chief executive in the Foundation’s 29-year history, is unique because he is the first of its leaders born and raised in Flint. He will start in his new role in June 2017. The highly competitive national search to find CFGF’s new leader, which began in January this year, attracted over 126 applications and was conducted by DHR International.

Shannon White, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and head of the search committee, said Oliver is the right person for the organization.

“We are thrilled to welcome Isaiah’s leadership at such at a pivotal moment in our history. He brings inspiring vision, hometown perspective, and deep community knowledge to the role of President and CEO of the Community Foundation,” White said in a statement.

“The board strongly believes his energy and insight are well matched to shape and guide the Foundation’s expanded mission focused on community engagement and civic leadership, while continuing to provide an expansive range of philanthropic services,” White added.

Oliver said he is honored to take this new position and serve the greater Flint community.

“With all that’s in front of this community, the stakes and the importance of our work are high,” Oliver said in a statement. “Working together, we will navigate big, tough decisions and create new opportunities for all of us. I am ready to do that with this board, with this Foundation and with this community.”

Oliver replaces Kathi Horton, who has led the Foundation since 2004. Horton is retiring, but she will continue to lead the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network Steering Committee.

His background includes extensive community leadership and executive oversight experience. He served five years on the Flint Community Schools Board of Education, including two years as board president. His executive experience also includes serving four years on the Hurley Medical Center Board of Managers. He previously served as Associate Administrator for Workforce, Community and Grant Development at Mott Community College. Isaiah advocates for an inclusive approach to philanthropy that listens to and works with the people of the community in order to develop a true partnership. This approach allows both the people of a community and engaged philanthropists to be fully vested in and empowered to develop solutions.

A graduate of Flint Northwestern High School, Oliver earned a bachelor of applied arts degree from Central Michigan University. He is immediate past president of the Flint Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and active member of numerous other community organizations. He and his wife, Shay, live in Flint with their daughters, Zaiah Rene and Carrington Elyse.

He will lead CFGF during a significant period of growth. In 2016 the foundation set a new record for grantmaking — $9.9 million. At the same time, CFGF became the home for gifts from over 18,000 donors who gave $18 million to the Flint Child Health & Development Fund. To steward these significant resources, CFGF created the Foundation for Flint, a supporting organization of CFGF. In addition, Flint Kids Learn (FKL), another newly created supporting organization of CFGF, will steward the FKL Building Fund for the construction of a new early childhood development center in Flint.

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of Genesee County. CFGF enables people with philanthropic interests to easily and effectively support the issues they care about – immediately or through their will. Donors can establish a charitable fund at the foundation by contributing a variety of assets. Those assets are then invested by the foundation.

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  Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Flint, Isaiah Oliver, Kathi Horton