Central New York Community Foundation selects its next president & CEO

Littlejohn succeeds Peter Dunn, who served as the Community Foundation’s president & CEO since 2008. Until Littlejohn assumes her new role on March 1, Thomas Griffith will continue to serve as the Community Foundation’s interim president and CEO, the Community Foundation said.

Littlejohn earlier this month announced her plans to retire from National Grid in February, per the announcement. She leads a team responsible for engaging with customers, key community leaders and policy makers across New York State to ensure processes, planning and best practices were delivered consistently.

“Melanie is the right leader to take the Community Foundation to the next level of community leadership and impact,” Daniel Fisher, chair of the Community Foundation board of directors, said in the news release. “She is a humble, empathetic, servant leader who has intimate knowledge and passion for the community and its needs. We believe Melanie will build on the foundation laid by previous leadership and the strengths of our outstanding staff to provide bold and courageous leadership and build trust by being present with those we serve.”

Littlejohn was selected after an eight-month search that included input and feedback from many constituencies of the Community Foundation and the greater Central New York community, the organization said.

Littlejohn plans to apply her career and life experiences to the Community Foundation’s work by “supporting community transformation and fully engaging residents, including those impacted by specific issues and donors of varying backgrounds,” the organization noted.

“For me, there is no better place to be than with this foundation and in this tremendous community,” said Littlejohn. “After almost 30 years at National Grid, I understand the power of service and the importance of collaboration to leave our communities and neighborhoods a little better than we found them. This is truly a transformative time for Central New York, so leading the Community Foundation at this moment of great promise is an honor.”

Under Dunn’s leadership, assets nearly quadrupled from $110 million in 2008 to nearly $400 million in 2022, the Community Foundation said. Annual grantmaking increased from $5.2 million in 2008 to $18.1 million in 2022 and the staff grew from 16 employees to 25.