We are thrilled to welcome David N. Cicilline to our dynamic board of forward-looking community foundation CEOs from across the country.
We are so pleased to have someone of David’s caliber join our Board of Directors at CFLeads. He is already engaged in our work through the current Executive Leadership Institute and is a partner as we develop our new work around democracy. I look forward to the thought leadership he will bring to our team.”
David Cicilline is the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, the state’s only community foundation and one of the oldest, and largest community foundations in the country.
David represented Rhode Island’s first congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, beginning in 2011. Prior to being elected to Congress he was mayor of Providence for two terms from 2003 to 2011- the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital city – and earlier served in the Rhode Island General Assembly for four terms from 1995 to 2002.
During his time in Congress David was a leader on issues that align squarely with the Rhode Island Foundation’s values and strategic priorities—including ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity; access to quality, affordable healthcare and the means to live a healthy life; and supporting educators and students as they strive for success in school and beyond.
David was a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Committee on the Judiciary. He’s worked with his colleagues in the Rhode Island congressional delegation to secure federal funding for Rhode Island to support infrastructure improvements, neighborhood centers, public safety, and local programs and services.
In addition, David was a co-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and has led efforts to promote equality for all Americans. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he’s also worked to promote human rights around the world.
He is a graduate of Brown University and the Georgetown University Law Center and resides today in Providence.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the mission of CFLeads. Community foundations are a bold, uniting presence – bringing diverse people and perspectives together to address the challenges we face. By enhancing their work, we will improve outcomes for the people we all serve.”
