Denver, CO (November 5, 2019) – The Buell Foundation is pleased to announce the promotion of Susan J. Steele to President and CEO. Ms. Steele will be the first ever staff member to rise to the C-Suite at the Buell Foundation.
Ms. Steele has led the daily operations of the Foundation as Executive Director since 1998. Over the last 20 years, she has helped guide the Foundation to prominence as a leader in early childhood development throughout the state of Colorado. In this new role, Ms. Steele will lead strategy development and actively engage with broad stakeholder groups to promote best practices related to the Foundation’s areas of interest.
She is currently the co-chair of Colorado’s Early Childhood Leadership Commission, which advises the Office of Early Childhood on early childhood priorities and best practices. In addition, Susan is a founding partner of Colorado EPIC as well as Early Milestones Colorado and remains an active member on both governing boards today. She also serves as secretary for the Denver Preschool Program board, and is a past chair of Philanthropy Colorado.
In response to this change at the Foundation, Board Chairman Dan Ritchie commented, “I have worked beside Susan for more than 20 years and believe that she has the values, the experience, and the commitment to be a great President and CEO. I believe she will be good for Colorado and for Buell.”
At the time of Ms. Steele’s promotion, and in the spirit of responding to the growing needs of the Foundation and of the communities in which we serve, the Board of Trustees elected Daniel L. Ritchie to the role of Chairman of the Board. Mr. Ritchie has been on the Board of the Buell Foundation since 1993 and has been President/CEO of the Foundation since 1995. He continues to be a consistent driving force in the development of the Foundation’s strategy, focusing on the earliest years of a child’s life, and is a pillar for the Buell Foundation.
The Buell Foundation is a Colorado grantmaker, with more than 60% of its grants going to areas outside of metropolitan Denver or programs that serve the entire state. Founded in 1962, the Foundation is dedicated to supporting the positive development of children across the state through grants and partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Grants are awarded in the areas of early childhood education and development and teen pregnancy prevention. Since inception, the Buell Foundation has awarded more than $200 million in grants.