Foundation Announces changes to the Community Impact Team
March 18, 2021
The Erie Community Foundation proudly announces the promotion of Pat Herr to Vice President of Community Impact. He succeeds Court Gould who served the Foundation for three years in the capacity of Vice President. “While presently focused on my duties through the end of April, afterwards, I will seek new opportunities to contribute to Erie’s progress. In my three years, I have become very fond of Erie, am here to stay, and am grateful to have had a hand in furthering the Foundation’s community impacts,” said Gould. Gould joined the Foundation in 2018. Prior to his work at the Foundation, he served as founding Executive Director of Sustainable Pittsburgh for twenty years.
With over 20 years of experience working in human services, Herr joined the Foundation as the Director of Community Impact in 2014. He manages the Helping Today grant program, the Urgent Request grant program, and assists the Philanthropic Services team operate the Donor Partners program. He earned his BA in English from Washington and Jefferson College and received a master’s degree in Social Work from Edinboro University in 2005. “I am honored by this promotion and look forward to continuing the work of strengthening our nonprofit sector, which ultimately makes our community healthier,” said Herr.
The Community Impact team of The Erie Community Foundation is responsible for the grants processes and works closely with the nonprofit sector. Each quarter, the team, on behalf of the Foundation Trustees and donors, distributes approximately $200K worth of grants from unrestricted endowments. The team delegates grants from three programs: Helping Today, Shaping Tomorrow and Transformational Philanthropy, which totaled over $17M in 2020.
“We thank Court for his dedication to the Foundation and his good work,” said Foundation President Mike Batchelor. “Because Court and Pat worked closely together, the transition will be seamless and Pat’s extensive experience with the nonprofit executives will further the Foundation’s mission and help us connect donors to their favored causes.”