Sheffield — The Board of Directors at Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation (BTCF) announced today that President Peter Taylor has decided to step down from his role by the end of the year. After his eight-plus years at BTCF, Taylor leaves the organization in a strong position, with committed and experienced staff and board members focused on the foundation’s continued growth and impact. Taylor will be exploring new professional opportunities in philanthropy and nonprofit management as he continues to reside in the Berkshires with his wife Stephanie Taylor.
“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,” said Taylor. “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.”
BTCF Board Chair Pamela Green said that Taylor has overseen tremendous growth in the foundation during his tenure. “During Peter’s time as president, the foundation has nearly doubled in size. That includes the number of staff, the total assets, and the amount of funds being invested in the community. Peter’s 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. We thank him for his service, and we wish him all the best in his next chapter,” said Green.
A search committee of board members will advance the hiring efforts for Taylor’s successor. The search committee is interviewing a select list of consultants to conduct the national search. “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,” said David Offensend, vice chair of the Board of Directors and head of the board search committee.
“The work of the foundation depends on many people coming together, and we are grateful for the many community partners that help bring BTCF’s vision to life. From our engaged donor community to our vital nonprofit organizations, and the many volunteers, local leaders, and professionals who collaborate with us to make life even better for everyone in our region—the dedication of everyone working with the foundation is our bedrock, and we look forward to sustaining and building our relationships as that work continues,” said Green.
Areas of foundation growth under Taylor’s leadership include:
- 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 collaborations with donors, other funders, and staff to implement strategic initiatives, including leveraging over $3 million to strengthen community engagement through the arts in Berkshire County in partnership with the Barr Foundation and over $1 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 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 Massachusetts, the statewide association of foundations.
“BTCF will continue to grow and expand its many impacts in the region under new leadership because of the extraordinary staff, dedicated board, and generosity of our donor community,” Taylor added. “It has been an honor to serve the communities and nonprofits of our region.”
