Community Foundation of Westmoreland County director moving to Pittsburgh Foundation

Officials at the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County are launching a search for a new executive director, following the announcement Tuesday that Phil Koch is moving into a new post at The Pittsburgh Foundation.

Koch will maintain his post with the Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, where he served for five years, while officials seek a successor. Koch will transition into the role of vice president for Policy and Community Impact at The Pittsburgh Foundation.

The 25-year-old Westmoreland foundation merged its back office operations with The Pittsburgh Foundation a decade ago. Koch said the partnership has allowed the local foundation to focus on the community, while its assets, now considered part of the total assets of the Pittsburgh Foundation, have grown dramatically.

“Year over year, we’ve seen a significant growth in assets, larger growth than we’ve ever seen in our history. Our grant making has increased to $2.2 million annually,” Koch said.

Community foundations are grant-making public charities that manage multiple funds benefiting a specific geographic area — Westmoreland includes about 200 individual funds that benefit a variety of charitable endeavors.

In recent years, it has taken on an expanded role in the county.

Koch said he was proud of the Community Foundation’s role in the redevelopment of New Kensington, coordinating an effort to obtain $4.3 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund recruitment and training of 500 volunteer firefighters in the county and supporting the human services sector through the covid-19 pandemic by organizing a unified response.

Even before that, Koch said Westmoreland began to shift its emphasis toward supporting vulnerable populations, including those living at or below 200% of the poverty line, single mothers and those struggling with addiction, housing and food insecurity.

He said he’s encouraged by the way local nonprofits have leveraged their work through the WestCo Nonprofit Network. Koch established the coalition of more than 160 organizations that provide opportunities for those groups to work together to strengthen their presence in the county.

Brian Lenart, chair of the foundation’s advisory board, commended Koch’s efforts in a statement announcing the pending change.

“Phil has poured his heart and soul into Westmoreland County over the last five years,” Lenart said. “He has been a tireless steward of community collaboration and philanthropy. His creation of the WestCo Nonprofit Network and dedication to assisting our most vulnerable communities will be a legacy that will last generations.”

Officials hope to begin interviewing candidates this month and fill the position in January. The job description seeks a candidate with 10 years of experience in development or donor-centered fundraising and at least five years of experience in nonprofit management.

Officials with the Pittsburgh Foundation said Koch’s new role will include partnering with foundation leadership and other staff to set public policy priorities, working with outside stakeholders to implement them and developing opportunities for community investments.

“Phil has had tremendous success positioning our affiliate, The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County, as the builder of networks and partnerships in the area it serves, and we now want him to continue that work region wide,” Lisa Schroeder, Pittsburgh Foundation president and CEO, said in announcing his appointment. “The quality-of-life improvements that have resulted from his use of the foundation’s convening and advocacy powers have been impressive. We’re excited that he will be extending these benefits to other communities in the region.”