Foundation for the Carolinas Announces New Executive Leadership Roles
Sherri Chisholm Named Chief Impact Officer and President of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership; Tracy Russ Named Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Foundation for the Carolinas today announced that Sherri Chisholm has been named Chief Impact Officer and President of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, and Tracy Russ has been promoted to Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer. Chisholm and Russ will join the executive leadership team at FFTC, helping guide the community foundation’s strategic vision and deepening its impact across the region.
Chisholm will officially begin her role in early 2027. Russ will continue advancing FFTC’s civic leadership efforts, in addition to his expanded role, until then.
As Chief Impact Officer and President of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership, Chisholm will lead the Foundation’s flagship civic leadership platform and oversee the Community Programs & Civic Leadership team. Chisholm will guide the vision, strategy and impact of the Robinson Center, shaping FFTC's efforts to address the region's most pressing opportunities and challenges.
"Sherri is a transformational leader with a proven ability to bring people together around shared goals and drive meaningful, measurable results," said Laura Clark, President of Foundation for the Carolinas. "In this new role, Sherri will shape the next chapter of our civic leadership work and strengthen connections between philanthropy, community leadership and impact. Her leadership will help us deliver even greater value and lasting results for the people and communities we serve."
Chisholm most recently served as Executive Director of Leading on Opportunity, where she led the decade-long community effort focused on improving economic mobility in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. During her tenure, Charlotte's ranking for economic mobility improved from 50th to 38th among major U.S. cities, and the initiative helped direct more than $1 billion in public and private investments toward increasing opportunity and economic mobility. Previously, Chisholm served as a management consultant and held senior leadership roles across education and other large institutions. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's degree from Harvard University.
"Foundation for the Carolinas has played a vital role in bringing our community together to tackle complex challenges, and I’m honored to build on that legacy," said Chisholm. “My first priority will be listening, learning and engaging with community leaders, nonprofits, fundholders, residents and partners to understand today’s challenges and how FFTC and the Robinson Center can create meaningful progress for the future."
As Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer, Russ will serve as a strategic partner to the FFTC President, lead the development and advancement of Foundation-wide strategies, oversee key strategic initiatives, identify opportunities and deepen FFTC's engagement with community, civic and philanthropic partners.
"Tracy is a thoughtful and forward-looking leader who brings a unique combination of strategic vision, innovative thinking and deep knowledge of our organization," said Clark. "As Chief Strategy Officer, he’ll play a critical role in shaping FFTC's long-term direction, aligning our priorities and investments, and ensuring we’re well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of our fundholders, nonprofit partners and community.”
Russ brings more than 25 years of experience advancing civic engagement, philanthropy and collaborative problem-solving in the nonprofit, corporate and government sectors. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Civic Leadership Strategy & Impact at FFTC, creating and launching fftc:FWD and leading Agility Together to strengthen the local nonprofit ecosystem. He also led Wells Fargo’s Beyond Open program for the Charlotte region, awarding more than $16 million in grants to local small businesses. Russ holds a bachelor's degree in English with a concentration in political science from Guilford College.
"Foundation for the Carolinas has long been a trusted institution for bringing people together around shared aspirations and solutions," said Russ. "I look forward to working to shaping and advancing the Foundation's strategic priorities through innovative approaches, strengthening collaboration and growing partnerships and relationships that advance our mission and impact.” Earlier this year, Elizabeth Sterling joined the Foundation’s executive leadership team as Chief Financial Officer, and Beverly Ladley was named Chief Philanthropy and Investments Officer.
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About Foundation for the Carolinas
Founded in 1958, Foundation for the Carolinas is a community foundation serving a 13-county region across the Carolinas. Remarkable impact is at the heart of the Foundation's mission, and the driving force of that impact is the thousands of nonprofits, families and companies who partner with FFTC to amplify the power of giving. Visit www.fftc.org or www.philanthropyFOCUS.org.
Media Contact: Timothy Hager, thager@fftc.org or 704.973.4570