Welcome Renée Byng Yancey as the Community Foundation's Next President and CEO

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia welcomes Renée Byng Yancey as its new President and CEO beginning January 29, 2024. This appointment follows an exhaustive nationwide search led by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors, in consultation with Executive Search Firm Sterling Martin Associates.  Renée is the outgoing Chief External Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and is a long-term resident of Northern Virginia.

An experienced nonprofit and philanthropy executive, her early career in banking began as a young professional in her hometown of Philadelphia, working and simultaneously pursuing her undergraduate degree while helping to care for a parent who became disabled when Renée was an adolescent. She then joined the Urban League of Philadelphia and continued working full time, later earning a master's degree from Drexel University as she served as Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Peirce College. After working at the Community Foundation of Southwest Washington and Washington State University, she relocated to the DC region in 2007. Renée is an active volunteer serving on the Board of Directors of Peirce College and was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters (Honorary degree) by Peirce. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Chi Omega Chapter.

Community Foundation's Board Chair, Bob Kipps, said, “We are so excited to have Renée at the helm to lead us going forward. She brings a wealth of experience to the Community Foundation, including time as the Chief Development Officer for the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, as Vice President of the Council on Foundations, and as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Equal Measure. We are excited to continue CFNOVA’s work to advance equity across the region, and we know that Renée’s experience will help evolve and accelerate our impact.”

Renée shared the following: “The power of philanthropy to advance positive change in Northern Virginia is alive and well and filled with possibilities. Together, we will continue to help build a community that works for everyone. I am honored to take on the baton of leadership following Eileen’s successful 18-year tenure. I thank the members of the Board of Directors for this opportunity. My team and I look forward to serving the community with excellence.”