Communities Foundation finds its next leader at the American Cancer Society in Chicago

The Communities Foundation of Texas, one of the nation’s largest community foundations, has a new leader.

Wayne White, 59, a senior executive at the American Cancer Society in Chicago, has been named president and CEO of the Dallas-based nonprofit that professionally manages more than 1,200 philanthropic funds. White most recently led the cancer society’s north central region and national partnerships.

Thursday afternoon’s announcement comes after a six-month national search following the retirement of former CEO Dave Scullin in March.

“Wayne brings a wealth of leadership experience and a passion for positive change,” said Richie Butler, chair of the foundation’s board of trustees and its CEO search committee, in a statement. “We’re eager for our region to experience the impact that Wayne has made across the nation.

“Further, we believe that he’s an excellent cultural fit for our growing organization, and that he’ll be able to meaningfully engage with and champion each of our employee leaders across their varying areas of expertise.”

The announcement cited White’s success in ramping up philanthropic giving and introducing a collaborative incentive plan that was adopted nationally.

Jury duty causes no-show

White wasn’t able to participate in the announcement or speak to the foundation’s staff because he’s serving on a jury. The trial is expected to continue next week, said foundation spokesperson Nicole Paquette.

He’ll officially take the helm on July 31.

In a prepared statement, White said he’s excited and honored to “join such a well-established and impactful organization and to have the opportunity to build on the achievements of the past 70 years.”

White was born in Jamaica and grew up in Philadelphia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master of science degree in telecommunications from the University of Pittsburgh, and an MBA in marketing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

He started his career as a member of General Electric’s management development program and subsequently held positions with AT&T, Ameritech, Verizon Wireless, Motorola, Kobo and Alcatel.

When he was 38, Crain’s Detroit Business named White, then regional vice president of Verizon Wireless, as one of its 40 Under 40 for 2002. White told the publication that his biggest achievement to date was overseeing SBC Communications’ prepaid-card service from 1997 until 1999, and taking it from a startup to $40 million in annual revenue.

White’s career has taken him to numerous U.S. and Canadian markets. This will be his first job in Texas.

“I got there as fast as I could,” he said from Illinois.

He has served on the boards of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Haven Domestic Violence, and the National Kidney Foundation of Southeast Michigan. He’s also been a big brother for a number of years in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program of Chicago and as a junior achievement mentor.

Communities Foundation of Texas is the seventh-largest foundation in Texas and has awarded more than $2.4 billion in grants since its founding in 1953.

Big job ahead

In September, North Texas Giving Day, the foundation’s online community philanthropy event, pumped nearly $63 million into more than 3,000 local nonprofits. Money came from 94,000 donors in every state and more than 40 countries.

All told, Giving Day has helped generate more than $500 million for community initiatives since 2009.

The foundation is one of several local funders of The Dallas Morning News’ community-funded journalism initiatives, including teams reporting on education and the arts. The foundation is a fiscal sponsor of The News’ Education Lab and manages the initiative’s donations and how its dollars are spent.