McBride, Hillman to retire from Trust, making way for new position
Today, two Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust senior program officers – Laura McBride and David Hillman – announced their retirements. After many years of dedicated community and environmental grantmaking in Arizona and Indiana, McBride and Hillman are retiring in August and October, and the Trust will begin recruiting for a new environmental senior program officer position.
“David and Laura have been instrumental in fostering strong relationships with our nonprofit community partners, significantly advancing the Trust's goals to help people and improve environmental conservation,” said Jeff Small, the Trust’s vice president of programs. “Their dedication has driven a meaningful environmental giving strategy, ensuring lasting improvements in the White River and Verde River watersheds for years to come.”
Hillman and McBride have a combined 33 years at the Trust. McBride joined the Trust in 2017, bringing with her more than 37 years of experience in journalism, community relations and grantmaking. Her career in Phoenix included work as a reporter and editor at The Phoenix Gazette and The Arizona Republic and in corporate giving at Arizona Public Service. McBride served on numerous boards and committees, including Read On Arizona, Common Sense Arizona, Arizona Grantmaker’s Forum, New Life Center, Arizona Together for Impact, Leadership West, Westmarc and Arizona State University’s Nina Scholars Advisory Council. At the Trust, McBride oversaw the Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars program at ASU, spearheaded the environmental grantmaking strategy in Arizona, and developed more than a hundred grants to Arizona nonprofits helping underserved youth, people experiencing homelessness and food instability, and vulnerable families and seniors.
Laura McBride
“I’m so proud of the work that the Trust does but, more importantly, I’m honored to have worked alongside our nonprofit partners that make such a difference in our community,” said McBride. “It’s been a privilege to serve them.”
Hillman came to the Trust in 2000, shortly after the Trust was established. Prior to joining the Trust, Hillman earned his doctorate in optometry, became the first executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Indiana Chapter and served as the executive director at the Indiana Equal Justice Fund. Hillman has volunteered on several nonprofit boards and community committees, including the United Way of Central Indiana’s Capital Projects Fund Committee, the White River Vision Plan Stakeholder Committee, Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute’s Indiana Advisory Board, and the IU Indianapolis Nina Scholars Advisory Council. For the Trust, Hillman oversaw the Partners for the White River initiative and the Nina Scholars program at IU Indianapolis, led the environmental grantmaking strategy in Indiana, and developed hundreds of grants to Indiana nonprofits helping people in need.
David Hillman
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work at the Trust as a senior program officer for more than 25 years,” said Hillman. “I am grateful to our trustees, staff, and grantees for allowing me the opportunity to work with them to help thousands of Hoosiers and make central Indiana and the state better places to live.”
Next week, the Trust will begin recruiting for the environmental senior program officer position. This position will play a key role in shaping the Trust’s environmental giving strategy in Arizona and Indiana and manage strategic giving programs in the White River and Verde River watersheds. They will serve as a key member of the Trust’s grants team and work closely with potential grant applicants and recipients to identify high-impact giving opportunities for the Trust. Interested candidates should send their cover letters and resumes to hiring@ninapulliamtrust.org by May 30, 2025. For more information about this position, visit www.ninapulliamtrust.org/career-opportunities/.