Dear Friends, 

I write today to share the news that President Peter Taylor has decided to step down from his role at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation by the end of the year. After his eight-plus years at BTCF, Peter leaves the organization in a strong position, with committed and experienced staff and board members focused on the Foundation’s continued growth and impact. He will be exploring new professional opportunities in philanthropy and nonprofit management as he continues to reside in the Berkshires with his wife, Stephanie Taylor.   

Peter shares, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have led BTCF, to be a member of such a talented staff team, and to work with a strong and supportive board of directors. We have accomplished a lot in partnership with our generous donor community and expert nonprofit partners. While this has been a difficult decision, I believe the time is right for someone else to take the helm of this phenomenal organization. High-performing organizations like BTCF can benefit from new leadership that will bring fresh energy and ideas to advance its mission.” 

[Read a Message from President Peter Taylor]

A search committee of board members will advance the hiring efforts for Peter's successor, and they are currently interviewing a select list of consultants to conduct a national search. David Offensend, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, is heading the board search committee and shares, “Under Peter’s leadership, BTCF has developed a focused strategy and shown dramatic growth. This forward momentum puts us in an excellent position to recruit our next leader.” 

Peter has indeed overseen tremendous growth of the Foundation. During his time as president, the Foundation has nearly doubled in size, including the number of staff, the total assets, and the amount of funds being invested in the community. His vision to make the Foundation more impactful and responsive to the needs of the region has come to fruition on so many levels. We will miss Peter, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter.

Below, I include an overview of the many ways the Foundation has grown under Peter’s leadership, and we are grateful for the many community partners that have made that growth possible. From our engaged donor community to our vital nonprofit organizations, and the volunteers, local leaders, and professional advisors who collaborate with us to improve life in our region—the dedication of this community is the bedrock of our work, and we look forward to sustaining and building our relationships as that work continues.

Sincerely, 
Pam

Pamela R. Green, Board Chair Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Areas of Growth Under Peter Taylor’s Leadership

• Increasing foundation assets from $130 million in 2016 to nearly $240 million today.
• Expanding staff from 12 to 22 made possible due to growth in the operating budget from $1.7 million to $3.5 million in 2024.
• Shaping a new strategic direction with staff, and other stakeholders to provide community leadership on critical issues including education, economic development, and community engagement. 
• Establishing strategic initiatives in collaborations with donors, other funders, and staff, including leveraging over $3 million to strengthen community engagement through the arts in Berkshire County in partnership with the Barr Foundation and over $2 million to increase early literacy and access to fresh and healthy food in Columbia County. 
• Building coalitions to expand support for emerging and existing entrepreneurs resulting in over $1 million invested through philanthropic and government funding, focused primarily on establishing EforAll Berkshire County in 2019.   
• Leading BTCF’s collaborative pandemic response in partnership with other funders and foundation donors resulting in over $4.4 million being raised collectively to support a multi-phased effort focused on relief, response, and recovery across the four-county region.   
• Designing and implementing with partners in 2020 the Bridging Divides/Healing Communities Initiative, a multi-year effort involving grantmaking, a forum series, and strategies to engage youth to address widening disparities across race, income, and politics.
• Supporting and helping to lead the creation of a multipronged foundation Equity Initiative to build philanthropic resources in partnership with leaders of color to advance goals identified within communities of color. 
• Serving as a philanthropic leader in and for the region, with Taylor currently serving as board chair for Philanthropy MA, the statewide association of foundations.