Executive Director of Civic Center Conservancy will become
the 22-year-old Foundation’s third CEO
Denver, CO—Following an extensive national search, Rose Community Foundation has named Lindy Eichenbaum Lent as the organization’s president and CEO. Lent comes to the Foundation from the nonprofit Civic Center Conservancy, where she has served as executive director since 2009.
Rose Community Foundation began its search for a new president and CEO following the unexpected death of its 18-year leader Sheila Bugdanowitz in December 2016. Lent will assume the role on November 27, 2017.
“We are very excited to bring Lindy’s energy, vision and passion for the community to Rose Community Foundation,” said Jerry Glick, president of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and chair of the search committee. “We strongly believe that she is the right person to lead the Foundation in its next chapter.”
As executive director of the Civic Center Conservancy, Lent has lead the organization’s nationally-recognized public-private-nonprofit partnerships to revitalize downtown Denver’s historic Civic Center Park through advocacy, capital improvements, community engagement, fundraising and programming – including the creation of now-iconic Denver traditions like Civic Center EATS and the annual Independence Eve concert and fireworks. Prior to leading the Civic Center Conservancy, Lent served as communications director and senior advisor for then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.
“There is no greater honor than to follow in Sheila Bugdanowitz’s legendary footsteps and build on the legacy of community impact that she created with Rose Community Foundation’s incredible staff and board members – past and present,” said Lent. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead an organization so rich in history, values and mission while giving back to the Metro Denver community I love. I am eager to work with the Foundation’s staff, board and philanthropic partners to bring creative and sustainable solutions to important issues facing our community.”
Named a 2017 Denver Business Journal “Thought Leader” and one of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s “Top 25 Most Powerful Women” of 2016, Lent is a member of the Colorado Women’s Forum and currently serves on the Lowry Redevelopment Authority board of directors. She is a member of Temple Emanuel in Denver, and previously served on the boards of the University of Colorado Cancer Center Fund, the Golden Triangle Creative District, the American Jewish Committee/Colorado Chapter and the Denver Preschool Program Advisory Board. She received her Bachelors in Political Science from Stanford University and her Masters in Journalism from Northwestern University.
Anne Garcia, the Foundation’s chief financial and operations officer, took on the added role of interim president and CEO since last December. She will continue to serve the Foundation as CFO/COO.
About Rose Community Foundation
Rose Community Foundation uses leadership, grantmaking and donor engagement to invest in strategic and innovative solutions to enduring problems and emerging issues. The Foundation has granted more than $255 million since it was founded in 1995. To learn more, please visit rcfdenver.org.