FFTC CEO Michael Marsicano Named to 2018 Power & Influence Top 50

It's always good company when you share an honor with Bill & Melinda Gates or best-selling author Wes Moore. That's where FFTC President and CEO Michael Marsicano found himself when he was named to the 2018 Power & Influence Top 50 list. 

Mariscano joins the leaders of the AARP, MacArthur Foundation and YMCA of USA, as well as the aforementioned Moore, on the 2018 list of top nonprofit executives in the nation, as announced by the NonProfit Times. The Gateses -- along with other luminaries such as Gen. Colin Powell -- were previously named to the list that honors nonprofit leaders for their innovation and influence on the broader sector.

The list is produced by the NonProfit Times -- the leading business publication for the nonprofit sector. Honorees will be celebrated at the NPT Power & Influence Top 50 Gala at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on Sept. 13.

“I’m honored to join my colleagues in the nonprofit sector on this list,” said Marsicano. “And certainly, we owe much of the Foundation’s achievements to our generous fundholders, partners in the community and our professional team. I’m delighted to receive any honor that calls attention to the work of the philanthropic sector, both locally and across the country.” 

He was cited for his leadership with economic opportunity and upward mobility, as well as increased high school graduation rates and the Foundation’s work with disaster recovery related to Hurricane Matthew through its E4E Relief subsidiary. He was also noted for his refusal to “shy away from tough decisions and challenges.”

Marsicano began his career in Charlotte in 1989 as head of the Arts & Science Council. Under his direction, the arts fund moved to the nation’s highest in per capita annual giving, and ASC become one of the largest endowed arts councils in the US. 

He joined FFTC in 1999 as just the third head of the organization. Since then, the Foundation has grown from assets of $240 million to $2.5 billion and from the 35th-largest community foundation in America to the sixth largest in the nation. Under his leadership, contributions to FFTC-held funds have topped $4 billion.

Marsicano serves on the boards of Duke University, Duke University Health System, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and Charlotte Center City Partners. He has chaired the boards of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Queens University of Charlotte and the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies (now Americans for the Arts).

He has received numerous honors and awards, including the Selina Roberts Ottum Award given annually to the top arts administrator in the nation, the Vision Award from Charlotte Center City Partners, the Arc of Triumph Award from Johnson C. Smith University, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award from the Urban League of Central Carolinas, the distinguished service award from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte, and Father of the Year, sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. In 2017, Charlotte Magazine named Marsicano No. 1 on its list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Charlotte.