Contact: Wyoming Community Foundation
CEO & President Samin Dadelahi
307-721-8300 or samin@wycf.org
Samin Dadelahi Named Wyoming Community Foundation President & CEO, Showalter Retires
April 29, 2022 – Laramie, Wyoming – The Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) and its Board of Directors announced Samin Dadelahi will lead the organization as its new President & CEO on May 1st. Current President & CEO Craig Showalter will retire later this summer.
In its 33 years, WYCF has connected people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming, granting more than $100 million to charitable causes.
“Without question, they picked the best and most qualified candidate for the job,” says Showalter. “The board completed a deliberative and thoughtful process, and we are delighted that Samin is the board’s unanimous selection as WYCF’s next CEO.”
Dadelahi has a 20-year tenure at the community foundation. She started in grants administration and continued working on WYCF’s statewide grant programs for ten years. In 2012, she moved from Senior Program Officer to Chief Operating Officer. As COO, Dadelahi focused on creating an organizational culture based on respect, integrity, and humor. She implemented paid parental leave and employee flex time. She is known as a strategic thinker and has deep relationships across the state. An important aspect of her work has been expanding nonprofit learning and funding opportunities in the state by working with national foundations.
She holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Wyoming in Entomology and a graduate minor from the Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources. Dadelahi also serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Wyoming and sits on the National Kids Count steering committee for the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
“In my 20 years at WYCF, the best part of my job is that I help make lives better,” stated Dadelahi. “Visiting communities all over the state, I have met hundreds of gracious volunteers, dedicated nonprofit staff, and visionary donors. I am lucky to have their shared wisdom and expertise to use as a platform for the Community Foundation’s good work. I am deeply honored by the opportunity to lead this organization.”
“The Board of Directors is excited to have Samin as the next CEO & President,” says Joni Kumor, WYCF chair. “WYCF is a well-known, established organization thanks to the excellent leadership of Craig Showalter over the past eleven years.,” says Kumor. “Samin’s keen understanding of the public sector, community needs, and philanthropy is evident, and we are looking forward to seeing where she will lead this organization.”
Dadelahi will assume her responsibilities as CEO on May 1st with Showalter taking the title as Immediate Past President until August 1, 2022.
“As I ready myself for retirement and the next phase of my life, I feel great about the position of the Wyoming Community Foundation,” says Showalter. “Thanks to the exceptional leadership I know Samin will provide to the most talented staff that I have ever had the pleasure to work with, I am confident that WYCF’s future success is assured.”
The Wyoming Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works with donors to support the charitable causes they care most about. In 2021 the Wyoming Community Foundation granted over $8 million to charitable causes across the state. For more information visit wycf.org.
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