FLINT, Michigan, March 19, 2018 – After guiding the Ruth Mott Foundation’s pivotal shift to north Flint, President Handy Lindsey Jr. has announced he will retire in November 2018 or when a successor is found.
With gratitude for his four years of service in Flint, the Board of Trustees accepted Lindsey’s decision and will begin a national search in early April to find the next president.
Lindsey, 65, was instrumental in the development of the Ruth Mott Foundation’s long-term strategic plan, adopted in 2016, which will chart the course of the Foundation’s future in Flint. The Board applauds Lindsey and staff for their faithful and vigorous implementation of that plan.
“Handy has provided exceptional leadership amid our transition to north Flint, and cultivated many relationships in the neighborhoods that we serve. His impact on the Foundation and in the community has been nothing short of outstanding,” said Board Chair Maryanne Mott. “While the Board recognizes that this is a well-deserved retirement, we know he will be sorely missed by all as president, as a community partner and as a champion for Flint.”
“The next president will inherit a strong program, remarkable staff, and a resourceful and supportive Board, all working to advance the mission of the Ruth Mott Foundation,” Lindsey said.
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“My experience in this role has truly been the capstone of my 40-year career,” he said. “Our work in north Flint has been incredibly rewarding and I am so thankful to this organization and the community. I have no doubt that the Foundation will maintain the momentum that has been built around the priorities voiced by residents.”
During Lindsey’s tenure, he has overseen a number of initiatives and projects benefiting the Foundation and its focus area of north Flint. Some of his accomplishments include:
• Carrying out the strategic plan, including a series of community fora involving hundreds of residents who shaped the Foundation’s four priorities for grantmaking: youth, safety, economic opportunity and neighborhoods.
• Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Applewood, the Charles Stewart Mott Estate, in 2016, which included regular visitor hours and opening up the home for public tours for the first time in its history.
• Opening a Ruth Mott Foundation office in north Flint.
• Implementing the Board of Trustees’ designated funding to aid in the Flint water crisis.
• Establishing new staff positions, including a Learning Officer and Community Engagement Officer, which brought new expertise and expanded the Foundation’s presence in the community.
• Overseeing the creation of the new Ruth Mott Foundation Community Dashboard, an online tool that displays north Flint data and generates visual reports that show progress around key indicators.
• Convening community partners to shape solutions around the Flint water crisis and re-entry services for ex-offenders.
Prior to joining the Ruth Mott Foundation, Lindsey served as president and CEO of the Cameron Foundation in Virginia. Other previous roles include CEO of the Field Foundation of Illinois and executive director of the East St. Louis Community Foundation.
Lindsey will continue to guide the Ruth Mott Foundation for the next eight months.
The Ruth Mott Foundation is a private family foundation established in Flint, Michigan, by Ruth Mott, a philanthropist and wife of automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott. The Foundation’s mission is to stimulate and support community vitality through its focus on four priority areas in north Flint: youth, safety, economic opportunity and neighborhoods.