The new structure is designed to focus the work of NCCF’s affiliates and communities statewide, ensuring effective, impactful grantmaking and connecting donor engagement with community leadership, said Tolle Whiteside. “We believe that this new department will allow us to strengthen our philanthropic presence in North Carolina by connecting our primary constituents – fundholders, affiliate leaders and community partners,” she said. “We take our responsibility to serve our state very seriously, and this new structure will allow us to more effectively serve our communities.”
The new department combines the Grants and Scholarships Department with the Community Leadership Team, which included all of the regional directors who work directly with our affiliates, communities and giving circles across the state. Jackson had served as director of Grants and Scholarships. Sally Migliore had served as director of Community Leadership until her retirement last month. Jackson will now manage the regional staff in addition to the Grants and Scholarships team.
Jackson has been with NCCF since 2011, when she joined as program associate. She was later promoted to director of Grants and Scholarships, a position she held until 2019. “Leslie Ann has proven herself as a leader and innovator since her arrival at NCCF,” said Tolle Whiteside. “We were delighted to be able to promote from within for this key new role.”
Jackson said she was excited about the new opportunity. “I’m thrilled with this expanded role and the potential that this new alignment and focus will have on our work across North Carolina,” she said.
An alumna of Wake Forest University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Jackson completed graduate studies from the College of William & Mary and the certificate for Nonprofit Management at Duke University. She is an active community volunteer, working with SAFEchild, serving as chair of the advisory council of Read and Feed and as a member of the board of Wake County Smart Start. She is a past president of the Junior Woman’s Club of Raleigh and a 2018 graduate of Leadership North Carolina.
About NCCF
The NCCF is the single statewide community foundation serving North Carolina and has administered more than $145 million in grants since its inception in 1988. With more than $270 million in assets, NCCF sustains 1,300 endowments established to provide long-term support of a broad range of community needs, nonprofit organizations, institutions and scholarships. The NCCF partners with a network of affiliate foundations to provide local resource allocation and community assistance across the state. An important component of NCCF’s mission is to ensure that rural philanthropy has a voice at local, regional and national levels.
For more information, visit nccommunityfoundation.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @NCCF.