The Heritage Fund Board of Directors is pleased to announce Edie Blakeslee as the new president and CEO of the community foundation.
Blakeslee brings more than 20 years of experience in grantmaking, community engagement and fundraising to Heritage Fund where she is eager to return to community foundation leadership following her most recent position as vice president of Grantmaking and Community Leadership at the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina (CCF) and consultancy work.
Blakeslee held a number of positions during her tenure at CCF, starting in a support position, then advancing to officer, then director before moving into the vice president role for her final six years at the community foundation. She advanced trust-based philanthropy, donor stewardship and partnership across the nine-county region it serves. CCF holds $450 million in assets and awards $20 million in grants annually in its work to create communities rich in equity, opportunity and well being.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Blakeslee moved to Charleston, S.C., in 2000 where she supported students at The Citadel before joining CCF in 2002. She was drawn to Heritage Fund’s community-focused mission and Midwest setting and is excited to amplify the foundation’s impact. Edie and her husband, Brian Hussain, will move to Columbus this summer, along with their beagle and two cats. Their daughter, Natalie, starts school in Virginia this fall.
“Heritage Fund’s history is impressive in its reach and service to Bartholomew County. It’s a strong foundation, with assets of $111 million, and I look forward to cultivating deep relationships, focusing on Bartholomew County, and growing the foundation,” Blakeslee said, adding that it will be a joy to become part of the community fabric.
Blakeslee succeeds Tracy Souza, who is retiring July 15 after 14 years with Heritage Fund.
“Edie joins a relatively short list of Heritage Fund CEOs as the foundation enters its 50th year of service to Bartholomew County. She brings a fantastic opportunity for HFBC to learn about another community foundation. Community foundations do similar things, but each does them in a way that reflects the uniqueness of their community,” Souza said.
Following a national CEO search led by Campbell & Company, with participation by Heritage Fund board members and several community leaders to help identify excellent candidates, the board unanimously approved Blakeslee’s appointment effective Monday, June 16.
“Edie’s deep experience in operating a community foundation, collaborating to solve complicated issues, developing staff and her intense desire to include all members of our community in the work that we do elevated her as a top candidate,” said Lori Thompson, Heritage Fund Board and Selection Committee chair. “We hope that her unique perspective will build on the strength of our organization and help us move to the next level in Indiana community foundations.”
