Editor’s note: Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca is leaving the helm of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, where he has worked for a quarter of a century and served as President since 2000.
The foundation’s chair sent the following letter to the organization’s supporters and colleagues, thanking DeLuca for his leadership and commitment to the foundation’s mission to achieve economic, social and environmental justice.
Dear Friends and Colleagues of the Noyes Foundation,
It is with immense respect and gratitude that I announce the retirement of Vic De Luca as President of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation. Vic has committed the last 25 years to the Foundation, starting as a Program Officer in 1991 and becoming President in 2000. He will leave the Foundation at the end of November.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to work at Noyes,” said Vic. “When I arrived, after 16 years of organizing in Newark, we were just getting our feet wet on social justice grantmaking and now we’re fully immersed. I am proud of our efforts in making Noyes a respected and effective grantmaker that has influenced philanthropy and been a key supporter of social change work across the United States.”
“It has been my privilege to have worked with a terrific staff and dozens of great Board members. I’ve also enjoyed working with hundreds of funder colleagues on various boards, committees, and projects over the years. And I can’t say enough about the thousands of people I’ve met over the last quarter century who are engaged in the struggle for justice. My life has been enriched by their courage, creativity, and determination.”
We are grateful to Vic for his skillful and fearless leadership and his wonderful sense of humor. Vic’s clear vision, deep values and unwavering belief in the power of grassroots social movements in achieving economic, social and environmental justice have made an indelible mark. Whether in advocating for racial, ethnic and gender diversity, responsible investing, or greater accountability to the nonprofit sector and the public, Vic’s efforts will have long-lasting impact.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Vic for all that he has done for the Noyes Foundation, the philanthropic field and our collective work for justice. We have begun the search for a new President and look forward to continuing and growing the legacy of the Noyes Foundation’s work in the years to come.
Wendy Holding
Board Chair
