Dyson Foundation’s Leadership to Change in June

 

After leading day-to-day operations of the Dyson Foundation for nearly a quarter century, Diana M. Gurieva has decided to step away from her role as president of the Mid-Hudson Valley’s largest charitable foundation. Andrea L. Reynolds, the longtime president of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, will become the Dyson Foundation’s new president when the transition takes place in June, 2015. 

 

“I am profoundly grateful to Diana Gurieva for so faithfully representing my family’s charitable interests over the last 24 years,” said Dyson Foundation Chairman Robert R. Dyson. “Equally important, Diana has served the people of the Hudson Valley just as faithfully. Her tireless efforts have literally helped hundreds of thousands of people. Her legacy is well established and greatly appreciated.”

 

Ms. Gurieva, who will continue to serve the Foundation as an advisor following the transition, said she looks forward to her new role. “I thank Rob Dyson and his family for entrusting me with the supervision of this remarkable institution.  It has been an honor and a privilege to represent the Dyson Foundation for so long,” said Ms. Gurieva. “My role with the Foundation is not ending, just changing. I can’t think of anyone more suitable to assume the task of President of the Dyson Foundation going forward than Andrea Reynolds, who has the right mix of talent, experience, and temperament necessary to continue its important work.”

 

President and CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley since 2005, Ms. Reynolds said:  “I am truly honored that the Board of Directors and the Dyson family have chosen me to serve as the Dyson Foundation’s next president. I recognize the critical role this venerable institution holds in the Mid-Hudson Valley and I will do my best to follow the sterling example that Diana Gurieva has established over the last 24 years. Meanwhile, I want to thank the board of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley for the remarkable opportunity I’ve had working with them over the last decade. We have accomplished much together.”

 

Nancy Rossi Brownell, chairperson of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley, said: “The Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley are forever indebted to Andrea Reynolds for her leadership over the last decade. She has taken our philanthropic institution to new heights. We will miss her terribly but understand that this is a fantastic opportunity that she could not pass up. We wish her well and look forward to working with her in the future.”

 

After becoming the Dyson Foundation’s first professional staff person in 1991, Ms. Gurieva led the Foundation during a period of major expansion and civic engagement, overseeing an increase in total assets from $12 million to its current $235 million and growth in its grantmaking from $4 million to $18 million annually. She also managed and implemented several of the Foundation’s special initiatives during this time, including the Community Pediatrics Training Initiative, the Many Voices One Valley studies, the Walkway Over the Hudson project, and the creation of Upper Landing Park in the City of Poughkeepsie. 

 

Ms. Gurieva has been a board director of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation, the Walkway Over the Hudson, the Board of Directors of the Grantmakers Forum of New York, and the national Committee on Family Foundations of the Council on Foundations. She has also served on the boards of directors or committees of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association of America. Prior to joining the Dyson Foundation in 1991, Ms. Gurieva worked for 20 years in reproductive rights and women's health, having served as the CEO of three of the nation's largest Planned Parenthood organizations.  

 

Since becoming the president of the Community Foundation of Dutchess County in 2005, Ms. Reynolds has led the organization throughout a period of sustained expansion. Under her direction, the Community Foundation grew to include Ulster and Putnam counties, becoming the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley and increased its total assets from $22 million to $51 million. Ms. Reynolds manages a staff of six and oversees more than 530 charitable funds with annual grants of $3.2 million. 

 

Ms. Reynolds previously worked at the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis for ten years, holding a variety of positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the then $250 million organization. Previous to her work in the community foundation field, she was a senior associate in allocations for United Way of the Mid-South helping to allocate $5 million annually.