Board Member
Ernie "Tito" Gutierrez
Effectice March 1, 2008, Ernie Gutierrez was named acting president of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. His appointment follows the departure of Ellen Barclay as president in late 2007.
“The Forum’s board and staff, along with the entire family of regional associations of grantmakers around the country, are excited to bring Ernie on board at this vital moment of transition,” said Colin Lacon, president of Northern California Grantmakers and chair of the Forum board. “He brings considerable experience and leadership skills as the organization solidifies its work.”
A native of Washington, D.C., Ernie Gutierrez has been active for many years as a grantmaker. Most recently, he retired as a program director from the Kresge Foundation, of Troy, Mich., after more than 18 years of service. At Kresge, he directed capital resources to a broad range of organizations in higher education, health care, the arts and humanities, communications, and human services. He has been engaged and involved as a volunteer with the Council of Michigan Foundations as part of his work at the Kresge Foundation.
While Director of National Allocations for the Campaign for Human Development in the nation’s capital, he was responsible for numerous grants to grass-roots and community self-help development groups. He later served as executive director of the Boston Fair Housing Commission. He also completed a three-year term as a board member of the $100 million Detroit Empowerment Zone Development Corporation.
Ernie Gutierrez led a board and staff effort within the Kresge Foundation that created one of the foundation’s first national, trustee-directed initiatives. Operating over six years, the program provided $18 million to build the institutional advancement, development and fund raising capabilities within historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
At present, Mr. Gutierrez serves as vice chairman of the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, also chairing the development committee. In 2007 he served on the Council on Foundation’s committee on inclusiveness, and on the ethics and accountability committee of Independent Sector. Before that, he rotated off of the board of directors of the national Funders for Lesbian and Gay Issues, after completing three years of service as the co-chair. He also helped lead the campaign committee of Affirmations, a community center in Ferndale, Mich., overseeing a $5.7 million campaign for a replacement facility.
Ernie Gutierrez holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a master’s degree from American University. He has completed the Senior Executive Management training program at the Boston University School of Public Management. He is bilingual in English and Spanish, fluent in French and conversant in both Italian and Portuguese and has lived and traveled extensively overseas.
The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (the Forum) is a national philanthropic leader and a network of 32 regional associations of grantmakers. The Forum supports, connects and expands geographic associations of grantmakers to strengthen and increase philanthropy. Visit our Web site at www.givingforum.org for more information.