Dear Philanthropy Southwest Members and Supporters,
I am writing you today to let you know that after leading Philanthropy Southwest for 22 years, Lucille DiDomenico will be leaving the organization at the end of May. During the past two decades, Lucille guided the transition of our membership from a small group of family foundations to a professional association that claims more than 200 foundation members making grants with disbursements that exceed $2.5 billion annually. She led us through an innovative rebrand several years ago that positioned Philanthropy Southwest as a leader in the region, and she has been a strong voice for our sector nationally. 
When asked to reflect upon her time at Philanthropy Southwest, Lucille said “It has been my honor to serve the members of Philanthropy Southwest for more than two decades, to support them through their growth and observe them expand their vision. From founders and board members to CEOs and grant officers, I value the many deep friendships I have made over the years.” After successful careers in banking, teaching and nonprofit management, Lucille plans to enjoy some well-deserved time off before launching a consulting practice.
As board president, I appreciate that Lucille has been the face of Philanthropy Southwest and has helped countless foundations build lasting valuable relationships to help them better achieve their grantmaking goals. We are grateful for her long service, and we wish her well in her next endeavor. The board of directors plans to honor Lucille formally at this fall’s 70th anniversary Annual Conference in Galveston, so we hope you’ll join us for that special occasion.
Philanthropy Southwest is in the midst of a board-led strategic direction-setting process, during which we are re-evaluating our strategy, offerings, and approach. Our organization currently offers educational programs across the Southwest, including the Annual Conference, which serves as the premiere opportunity for our members to engage with each other and learn about the philanthropic sector. Many of you have already had a voice in that process, and we will be reaching out to all of our members soon to provide direct input into both our strategy and the characteristics you would value in new Philanthropy Southwest leadership.
Philanthropy Southwest will soon name an interim executive director to lead the organization for several months. We plan to take our time to solicit your feedback and engagement as we continue to build the organization into a relevant grantmaking association for you. We anticipate launching a search for a new executive director later this fall.
We want to thank all of our members and supporters for all that you do in making your communities stronger and making Philanthropy Southwest all that it is today and will become for tomorrow. We believe our future is bright, and we look forward to engaging you fully in helping us define that future.
On behalf of Lucille and the entire Philanthropy Southwest Board, thank you all, and we look forward to being in touch again soon.
Best regards,
Amy M. Meadows
President, Board of Directors, Philanthropy Southwest
President, Parks for Downtown Dallas