Syracuse, N.Y. – Melanie Littlejohn, who for years has traveled the state as the human face of utility company National Grid, is leaving that job to take on a new leadership role.
Littlejohn, 59, was confirmed Wednesday as the next president and CEO of the Central New York Community Foundation, the Syracuse area’s biggest charitable foundation.
It seems like a job Littlejohn was destined to end up in.
She has long been one of the most visible community advocates in Syracuse, volunteering as a board member at organizations as diverse as the Boys & Girls Clubs and CenterState CEO.
When Gov. Kathy Hochul named the members of the Micron Community Engagement Committee, Littlejohn was tapped to be co-chair. The group will advise the chip maker on how to invest $500 million in Central New York.
As part of her day job at National Grid, where Littlejohn is vice president for customer and community engagement, she has guided the utility’s philanthropic investments in things like affordable housing, food giveaways and community dialogues on race.
Now Littlejohn will take the helm of a foundation with nearly $400 million in assets and a new mandate to be “more bold” in addressing things like child poverty, racial equity or other critical issues. It’s a good fit for her, she said.
“I feel like this is my coming home moment,’’ she said.
She is the first Black person to hold the job. Littlejohn takes over from Peter Dunn, who left in June after 15 years for a similar position in Worcester, Mass.
After an eight-month nationwide search, the Community Foundation hired Littlejohn. The foundation board confirmed her on Wednesday.
Littlejohn will retire Feb. 1 from National Grid, where she has worked for 29 years. She starts the foundation job March 1.
Founded in 1927, the Community Foundation receives contributions from donors and invests them, averaging an annual return of about 7%. At last count, the organization held assets of $393 million.
Each year, the foundation…
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