Gund Foundation president announces retirement plans

David Abbott, president of The George Gund Foundation since 2003, today informed the Board of Trustees that he plans to retire at the end of this year. 

“It has been an enormous honor to work at this foundation and, through it, to fight to make Cleveland and our country better,” Abbott said.  “But change is inevitable and it is simply time for me to hand the baton to a new leader.”  Abbott noted that he will be just a few weeks shy of 70 by the end of 2021.

Catherine Gund, chair of the foundation’s board, said, “Dave’s patient and steady moral leadership has made the Gund Foundation a stronger organization whose complex components of progressive philanthropy, thoughtful human partnership, financial investment, and justice-seeking staff and board are all more closely aligned than ever before. He will be leaving the organization at peak capacity for sustainable impact.” 

Gund said the foundation would conduct a national search for a new president.