from staff reports



Roman Herrington, executive director of the Community Foundation of East Mississippi, is leaving the organization he has headed since March of 2005.

Herrington’s last day on the job is Friday. He served as the first director in the Community Foundation of East Mississippi’s 25 year history, guiding the organization through a period of growth in helping support the philanthropy of individuals in the region.

“Roman’s tenure at the Community Foundation helped us move forward in this community in so many ways,” Ronnie Walton, the organization’s board president said. “And while he will be missed, our core institutional strengths will always remain: a strong board of directors and a generous community who believes in giving back to important causes.”

Herrington accepted a position as Donor Services Director with the Communities Foundation of Texas located in Dallas. His responsibilities will include managing donor relationships, stewarding grantmaking programs and providing opportunities for overall donor engagement.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed every part of my work at the Community Foundation of East Mississippi,” Herrington said. “It is a wonderful job – helping individuals give back to the causes that they care about while also learning more about the work of our area nonprofits.”

Some of the Community Foundation’s accomplishments Herrington oversaw include:

• Securing compliance with National Standards for Community Foundations;

• Developing internal operating policies and procedures;

• Tripling the assets of the Foundation to more than $3 million (as of September 30, 2009);

• Overseeing a grantmaking program that awarded more than $700,000 over a four-year span.

Community Foundation of East Mississippi board member Michael Reich, has been named as interim director while a search is conducted for a permanent replacement.

“Mike brings a ton of institutional memory to the table and his unique talents and skill sets will allow the foundation to carry on its work without interruption during this period of transition,” Walton said. Reich is scheduled to begin working on a part-time basis Monday.