Wayne County Foundation Welcomes New Executive Director
The Wayne County Foundation has selected Rebecca Reising Gilliam as its next Executive Director. The announcement follows a national search and selection process undertaken after current Executive Director, Steve Borchers, announced earlier this year his intention to retire after 14 years in the role.
Gilliam is expected to transition into the role next month, working alongside Borchers until the end of the calendar year.
“Ms. Gilliam showed the Search Committee that she will hit the ground running,” said Amy Noe Dudas, Wayne County Foundation Board Chair. “Her energy and passion for nonprofit community service was apparent at the outset. We feel she will bring a fresh perspective to the role while honoring the successes of the Foundation’s operations. Ms. Gilliam’s long experience in collaborative fund development, operations management, and strategic planning will serve the Foundation well. We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her home to Richmond.”
A Richmond High School graduate, Gilliam has held the position of Vice President - Visitor Experiences at Minnetrista in Muncie, IN, since 2004, leading a talented team of professionals that create dynamic experiences for the East Central Indiana region. She has worked to cultivate relationships, create innovative programs that advance strategic goals, and participate in leadership activities that impact the regional community.
Gilliam began her professional career at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as Environmental Educator and Manager of Richey Woods Environmental Education Center and continued working in the museum field at Hook’s Discovery and Learning Center as Director of Education - successfully bringing science education to children and families.
“I am excited to join the team at the Foundation, and my family looks forward to moving back to Richmond,” Gilliam says. “My husband, Chad, and daughter, Nellee, are up for the new adventure, and being close to family is an added bonus!”
Members of the community will have the opportunity to meet Gilliam at the Foundation’s annual Holiday Open House on Wednesday, December 4, at the Foundation Building.
The Wayne County Foundation was established over forty years ago and currently has over $45 million in total assets under management. Its mission is to foster and encourage private philanthropic giving, to enhance the spirit of community and to improve the quality of life in Wayne County. The Foundation is spearheading the Forward Wayne County initiative, designed to better align community resources, foster a vibrant economy, and promote prosperity through a collective impact approach. In 2018, the Wayne County Foundation awarded over $2 million in grants, distributions, and scholarships throughout the community.