Wayne White has been named president and CEO of the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) after a nationwide search.
White comes to the job with 30 years of corporate and non-profit leadership experience, most recently as a senior executive at the American Cancer Society, CFT said in a press release.
“I am very excited to lead the team of experts at Communities Foundation of Texas,” White said. “To join such a well-established and impactful organization and to have the opportunity to build on the achievements of the past 70 years through this role is a true honor, and one that I take very seriously.”
White, who was born in Jamaica and grew up in Philadelphia, will be coming to Texas from Chicago.
“I am eager to build a community of my own here as I make the move from the Midwest to North Texas,” White said. “I firmly believe that the most effective solutions are created through collaboration, dialogue, and active involvement of stakeholders. I look forward to learning from, listening to, and partnering with all who make CFT’s work possible.”
White will join the 70-year-old nonprofit on July 31. He replaces CEO Dave Scullin, who retired in March after six years with the organization.
“The path to this decision spanned many states and ZIP codes and ultimately resulted in the successful recruitment of a talented leader to join our North Texas community,” said Richie Butler, CFT’s board chairman and chair of the CEO search committee. “Wayne brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for positive change.”
CFT was named one of The Dallas Express‘ most influential community organizations in a January report.
The organization aims to overcome community issues such as the income gap and create educational and economic opportunities. As such, CFT works with its donors, other nonprofits, and philanthropy-focused business partners to invest in the growth and expansion of the DFW community.
“With his exceptional leadership skills coupled with extensive business and nonprofit management experience, the board’s search committee is confident that Wayne is the right leader to guide our foundation toward achieving even greater heights in alignment with our mission and vision. We’re eager for our region to experience the impact that Wayne has made across the nation,” Butler added.
CFT said the national search was conducted by Lochlin Partners and included 280 candidates. Frank Risch, a former CFT board chair and businessman, was the interim special advisor to the board after Scullin stepped down and during the hiring process.
The search committee members included Butler, vice chair Connie O’Neill, trustees Debra Brennan Tagg, Matrice Ellis-Kirk, Chris Kleinert, and past board chair/trustee Alfreda Norman.
“In addition to his professional accomplishments, Wayne brings a collaborative and inclusive approach to our work. He firmly believes in the power of partnership and community engagement to affect meaningful change,” O’Neill said. “Wayne’s ability to bring diverse stakeholders together, foster collaboration, and inspire collective action will be instrumental in strengthening our foundation’s impact and forging new connections across our communities.”
At the American Cancer Society, White was an executive vice president for the nonprofit’s north central region. He oversaw an $80 million portfolio across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Crain’s Chicago Business reported.
Previously, he worked for companies such as Alcatel, Motorola, Kobo, Verizon Wireless, AT&T, and General Electric, his biography says.
His charitable work includes working as a board member of Gleaner’s Food Bank, Haven Domestic Violence, and The National Kidney Foundation of SE Michigan. He has worked with Big Brother/Big Sisters and Junior Achievement.
