NC Community Foundation CEO to Step Down After 20 Years

Jennifer Tolle Whiteside built the North Carolina Community Foundation into a $600 million philanthropic force over two decades. Now the Raleigh-based organization is preparing for life without her.

NCCF announced that Tolle Whiteside will step down as president and CEO at the end of 2026, closing a tenure that began in October 2006 when she became only the second person to lead the foundation since its founding in 1988. Under her watch, the organization's assets grew more than sixfold and the number of donor-established charitable funds climbed from 900 to more than 1,300.

"Since my very first day, I have been deeply honored and humbled by the opportunity to work with generous North Carolinians who put their trust in us to support their charitable giving," Tolle Whiteside said. "We have built a caring, talented team to support their generosity and, after two decades, the time is right for new leadership. I look forward to seeing what comes next for the foundation."

Before joining NCCF, Tolle Whiteside served as the first CEO and president of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina. She brings more than 40 years of experience in nonprofit management and civic affairs to a role that demanded both financial stewardship and statewide relationship-building, particularly in rural communities the foundation has prioritized.

John Willingham, chair of NCCF's board of directors, credited Tolle Whiteside with reshaping the foundation's reach from the coast to the mountains. "Communities from Manteo to Murphy have benefited, and that is a legacy that will continue in perpetuity," Willingham said. "She is leaving NCCF well-positioned for continued growth and substantial impact in the years ahead with a strong board, leadership team and staff."

NCCF operates by working with donors to establish permanently invested charitable funds that support causes and organizations of the donors' choosing, generating long-term giving intended to outlast any single leadership era.

A national search is now underway for the foundation's next president and CEO. The foundation said additional details will be posted on its website as they become available.