So, here I was, planning to spend the rest of my working life as president of the John Locke Foundation. Its a great job, the kind of job I wanted to do since I was a teenager. I helped found the organization nearly 25 years ago and have worked for it ever since. But then — speaking of teenagers — I finally opened my mind and my heart to one of todays most popular philosophers of life, who said: “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” I dont think Taylor Swift had me in mind when she wrote that, but you never know. In any event, it put me in the right frame of mind when I received the offer to become president of the John William Pope Foundation, a grantmaker based in Raleigh, NC. Ive known the Pope family even longer than Ive been a JLF employee — indeed, John Pope and his son Art were driving forces in getting the think tank set up in 1989-90 — and have long admired the Pope Foundations generous support of educational, public policy, humanitarian, and artistic endeavors in North Carolina and beyond. So after considerable thought, and consultation with she who must be obeyed, I said yes. I will become president of the Pope Foundation in January 2015. (Just to be clear, friends and foes, I will remain chairman of the board at JLF and continue writing my columns, appearing on TV and radio programs, and making speeches on its behalf. As the spider said to the fly, youre stuck with me.) Do I have mixed feelings about changing jobs after 25 years? Do I have a lot to learn about philanthropy from the giving rather than the receiving end? Will I miss working every day alongside my JLF colleagues and friends? Sure. But lets face it: the wisdom of Taylor Smith is not easily dismissed. jwpf.org/pope-foundation-announces-new-leadership/
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:02:40 +0000
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