April 22, 2011
Cameron Foundation’s president and CEO announces resignation
The Cameron Foundation announced today that Handy L. Lindsey, Jr., will resign as Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation effective January 31, 2013. When interviewed, Mr. Lindsey indicated this was a very difficult decision that was based on family considerations rather than any dissatisfaction with his work at the Foundation, which he has found to be “stimulating and rewarding.”
Mr. Lindsey has worked as a professional in the field of grantmaking since 1980 and is recognized nationally as a leader in the field. In February, 2004, he left the position of Chief Executive Officer of The Field Foundation of Illinois to come to The Cameron Foundation as its first Chief Executive Officer. It was largely a result of his experience and his leadership that the Foundation was able to make its first grants in October 2004, which was an unusually rapid response for a new organization in a community with limited experience with the grantmaking process. Since his arrival, Mr. Lindsey has assisted the Board of the Foundation in developing its policies and procedures relating to grantmaking and has introduced major initiatives in the areas of capacity building, technical assistance and emergency grantmaking. He also has assisted in the planning of the new state-of-the-art office building of the Foundation that opened in January of this year and provides space for use by community organizations for meetings, seminars and training.
Mr. Lindsey indicated that his relationship with the Board of The Cameron Foundation has been “unique” and “exceptional.” He has worked closely with Cleveland A. Wright, who was the first Chair of the Board, and Ann C. Taylor, who is the second and current Chair of the Board, and he considers his relationship with them and the other members of the Board to be a “partnership for success.” Together, they have caused the Foundation to mature from a start-up to an efficient model of the best practices in grantmaking. In reflecting on Mr. Lindsey’s many contributions during his tenure at the Foundation, Mrs. Taylor observed that “he is a remarkable man, and we will miss him dearly. His energy and his ability to find innovative solutions to the economic and other problems in Petersburg and the surrounding area have enabled the Foundation to make a significant difference in the quality of the lives of so many people.”
When asked to explain the unusual length of time between his announcement and the effective date of his resignation, Mr. Lindsey indicated he wanted to give the Board of The Cameron Foundation sufficient time to identify his successor and insure a smooth transition in leadership, “without impacting the stability and quality of the grantmaking process.” It is anticipated that the Board will conduct a nationwide search, with the assistance of Mr. Lindsey and an executive search consultant.
The Cameron Foundation is a private foundation that was established to promote and provide support for programs and activities that benefit the residents of the City of Petersburg and the surrounding area, as well as other areas historically served by the hospital now known as Southside Regional Medical Center. To date, the Foundation has distributed more than $50,000,000 to local nonprofit organizations.
The new office of the Foundation is located at 228 South Sycamore Street in Petersburg’s historic Poplar Lawn District.