Nora Grace-Flood photo
DuBois-Walton: A new top-level civic challenge.
(Updated) The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, the region’s largest philanthropy guiding efforts to improve civic life, has tapped veteran community leader Karen DuBois-Walton to guide it into a new era.
DuBois-Walton will succeed Will Ginsberg, who has served as CFGNH’s CEO since 2000.
Ginsberg announced the leadership change, which takes place in November, during a reception held Thursday night for board members, donors, beneficiaries, and other city leaders at the The Estate event space on Townsend Avenue.
Update: The community foundation followed up with an email press release Tuesday early afternoon celebrating DuBois-Walton’s appointment as the next president and CEO “of the region’s community endowment and largest grant maker to local nonprofits.”
“My vision for the future is one where we work together to create a more equitable and inclusive Greater New Haven — a region where every resident in all 20 towns has the chance to thrive, regardless of their background or zip code,” DuBois-Walton is quoted as saying in that press release. “This is the work I have committed to in my personal and professional career and it is what I am most excited to continue at The Foundation. This work requires bold and collaborative solutions and my work is known for that.”
“Karen is a great member of our community and a longtime inspirational community leader,” Ginsburg is quoted as saying in that same release. “She is a perfect fit for The Community Foundation because she knows our community, she understands our community and she loves our community. The Foundation’s Board could not have made a better choice.”
DuBois-Walton has served as CEO of the Housing Authority of New Haven since 2008. She previously served in a number of top roles in the DeStefano administration, including chief of staff. She has held numerous civic leadership roles, including chair of the state Board of Education.
“Leading the $800 million umbrella organization, she has spearheaded initiatives to address systemic inequities in housing and community development, education and economic access and opportunity,” Tuesday’s press release states. Click here to read a previous Independent article about DuBois-Walton’s track record of renovating and redeveloping public housing across the city. Click here, here, here, and here about some of the upcoming new-construction projects the housing authority has taken on as DuBois-Walton has prioritized trying to build new affordable places to live.
The community foundation reported assets of $748 million as of Dec. 31, 2023.
The housing authority’s board is expected to consider the transition to a new CEO at its October meeting.
During a brief speech Monday night, Ginsberg praised DuBois-Walton for her professional accomplishments and commitment to New Haven. He said the foundation’s search committee selected DuBois-Walton following a national search. The foundation’s search committee included Board Chair Marcella Nunez-Smith, Board Vice-Chair Fernando Muñiz, board members Greg Pepe and Valarie Shultz Wilson, and former Board Chair Khalilah Brown-Dean.
Community Action Agency New Haven Deputy Director Jenell Lawson, who was in attendance at Monday’s reception, praised the foundation’s pick. “This is exciting, having a Black woman lead the community foundation for the first time,” she said. “It’s historic … This presents an opportunity for fresh air to breathe into New Haven’s philanthropic community. Karen knows how to partner and will bring new perspectives and priorities to the foundation.”
Ginsberg’s retirement caps a decades-long career in public service, starting as city development administrator in the 1980s DiLieto administration. He went on to serve as CEO of Science Park Development Corporation, then to a number of roles in the federal Clinton administration including chief of staff to the late Commerce Secretary Ron Brown, before returning home to New Haven to run the Community Foundation.
Paul McCraven, who worked with Ginsberg during their time at Science Park years ago and who is now the chief operating officer for ConnCORP, was enthusiastic about the CFGNH transition. “She’ll be fantastic,” he said of DuBois-Walton. “She will do a great job and be a worthy successor to Will. She has experience and brings a unique perspective and vision on what the New Haven community needs. She brings communities together and focuses on the next generation, particularly in low-income communities.”
Paul Bass contributed to this report.
At The Estate on Monday.