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The Fredericton Community Foundation will have a new executive director beginning June 5th. Kate Rogers, who is also the Deputy Mayor of the City of Fredericton, will be taking over from Tim Fox, who is retiring after four and a half years with the Foundation and more than 30 years in public and community service.
“Tim has not only increased the profile of the Foundation, but he’s also moved the Foundation toward a much stronger leadership role in our community. We are not just funding charities, but working hand in hand with them to resolve complex social issues,” notes Bob Scott, Chair of the Board of the Fredericton Community Foundation. “I’m thrilled that Kate Rogers is taking over the reins from Tim. Kate knows our community well and brings strong community leadership qualities to the role. We’re fortunate to have her leading the Foundation forward.”
Fox is also excited to be passing the torch to Rogers. “Kate is the right person for the job. She’s been so involved in the social and cultural growth of Fredericton. She understands the needs and interests of our community and she has a deep appreciation for those people who work within the charitable field as well as the philanthropists who support their work.”
Rogers, who was one of 37 applicants for the position, has a master of arts degree in political science from UNB and was previously the executive director of the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, managing director of the NB Social Policy Research Network, executive director of the NB Crafts Council and college coordinator for Renaissance College.
She is extremely active in the community, currently sitting on the NB Social Policy Research Network Advisory Board and serving as an advisor to the ArtsLink Board of Directors. She is also the Founding Co-Chair of the Fredericton Arts Alliance.
Rogers is looking forward to her new role, saying, “I welcome the opportunity to contribute my skills and talents to advance our community and bring about positive change. In Fredericton, we are blessed to have many citizens and organizations committed to enhancing the social and cultural fabric of our community to improve the lives of all. I’m excited to work with the Fredericton Community Foundation to further these important efforts.”
The Fredericton Community Foundation provides grants to about 100 different charities in the greater Fredericton region and provides roughly 45 scholarships and bursaries each year.
Under Fox’s tenure, the assets of the Fredericton Community Foundation have grown from $7.5 million to over $13 million, and almost $5 million in new donations has been raised. The bulk of the donations made to the Foundation are endowed, meaning that the capital is invested, and a prescribed amount of the income generated is used to make grants. Over the past two years, the Fredericton Community Foundation has provided more than $1 million in grants to local charities.
“The dollars have come in because donors know the value of what we do,” notes Fox. “The Foundation has been around for more than 60 years, but I feel that in the past few years we’ve really started to become much better known in our community. People understand that they can come to us to help them fulfil their philanthropic wishes, and charities know that they can come to us to seek financial support.”
Fox will remain with the Fredericton Community Foundation until June 30th, to provide transition support to Rogers as she begins her new role.
