Board Forms Search Committee, Retains Recruiting Firm

May 23, 2012

NEW YORK – The Board of Directors of Funders for LGBTQ Issues (“Funders”) today announced that Richard Burns has been named Interim Director, to serve while the search for a President is conducted. Burns will begin his duties during the week of June 18 in advance of Karen Zelermyer’s departure on June 29.

The Board also announced the formation of a Presidential Search Committee, and that Isaacson, Miller has been retained to provide executive recruiting services. Tim McFeeley, Vice President & Director, will lead the search on behalf of the firm.

“We are extremely fortunate to have tapped Richard Burns to serve as our Interim Director,” said Andrew Lane, Executive Director of the Johnson Family Foundation and Board Chair of Funders. “Richard’s history with the LGBT movement and within philanthropy will be great assets in his role as steward of Funders.”

Burns’ experience with the LGBT community includes service as Executive Director of the New York City LGBT Community Center (1986-2009); Chief Operating Officer of the Arcus Foundation (2009-11); and Interim Executive Director of the Stonewall Community Foundation (July 2011-March 2012). He is a co-founder of GLAD and CenterLink and currently serves on the board of the Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York. Burns holds degrees from Hamilton College and Northeastern University School of Law.

“For thirty years Funders has worked effectively to increase the resources devoted to the LGBT justice movement,” said Burns. “I’m proud to follow Karen and contribute to the work in this time of opportunity and change.”

The Board announced membership on the Presidential Search Committee as follows:

Andrew Lane, Executive Director, Johnson Family Foundation (Chair)

Surina Khan, Director of Gender Rights & Equality, Ford Foundation

Jesse King, Founding Partner & Managing Director, Fulcrum Advisors

Katherine Peck, Senior Vice President of Programs, Gill Foundation

Cindy Rizzo, Vice President of Organizational Learning & Grants Management, Arcus Foundation

Mitchell Singer, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

The search process will commence immediately, with a new President expected to start before the end of the year. Additional information about the search will be available shortly at www.imsearch.com.