Brian Fogle, who has led the Community Foundation of the Ozarks through a period of growth in finances, prestige and impact for the good of the Springfield region, has announced plans to retire later this year or early in 2024.
In a press release July 3, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) announced it is launching a national search for Fogle's replacement.
Fogle, CFO's president and chief executive officer, announced to the CFO Board of Directors and staff earlier this year his intention to retire in late 2023 or early 2024. The Foundation is in the midst of celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Fogle, who will be 67 at retirement, joined CFO in 2008 as its third president, following the late Jan Horton and Dr. Gary Funk.
A native of Aurora, Fogle brought experience from his career in banking, higher education and community development. His tenure has emphasized the growth of the CFO’s nonprofit partnerships to more than 700 today, the launch of the mission-related investment program, and a broad array of local, regional, state and national leadership activities.
“We are extremely fortunate to have had Brian’s business acumen and his natural instincts to build relationships and partnerships for the past 15 years,” said CFO Board Chair Dean Thompson, a vice president at Springfield City Utilities and currently a loaned executive at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “But we respect his desire to move into his next phase of life as the CFO also starts its new chapter after celebrating its first 50 years in June. We are fully confident he has laid the foundation for a successful transition to the CFO’s next leader.”
Missouri State University President Clif Smart was among community leaders to salute Fogle on the news.
“Brian's retirement signals the end of an era,” Smart said in a statement to the Hauxeda. “No one leads with such grace, compassion and love for our community as he does. I will miss him in leadership meetings and on chamber trips when he retires, but look forward to having many more good times with my friend.”
Longtime Springfield banker Rob Fulp, a friend from Fogle's childhood in Aurora, said: “Brian has always been the ultimate professional in everything he's ever done. In addition to being a best friend, he is a wonderful husband, father and friend to this entire region — and we owe him a high-level appreciation for what he's done for all of us.”
Fulp, who recently joined Great Southern Bank as regional managing director of commercial lending for markets in Springfield, southwest Missouri and Arkansas, added: “I've known him for 60 years, and I know he will have one more chapter to fulfill his professional life.”
Springfield Mayor Ken McClure said simply: “There is no one like Brian Fogle. He will be missed.”
McClure continued: “Brian Fogle has served this community in superb fashion over several decades in a variety of capacities. His leadership of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks has strengthened CFO's position as both a Springfield and regional influencer.”
McClure added: “Personally, he has been a very strong encourager to me and one who consistently provides wise and pragmatic counsel. I am grateful.”
Janet Dankert, a frequent collaborator with Fogle in her role as president and chief executive officer of Community Partnership of the Ozarks, said Fogle “has had such a tremendous impact on our community through his leadership, collaborative spirit, and genuine kindness and compassion.
“He has positively shaped philanthropy for our region, helping create more ways for donors to give back while investing in our nonprofit community to ensure we can easily meet critical needs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dankert said. “He's also had significant impact on so many people, including me. I count Brian as a great friend and a mentor and will miss working with him at CFO.”
Greg Burris, another community leader who frequently collaborates with Fogle on projects, noted Fogle's roots in Aurora, saying: “Brian grew up in a small town. He still carries those values with him. I believe it’s part of what drives his regional and rural focus.”
Burris, president and CEO of the United Way of the Ozarks, said: “Brian is the type of person you can’t help but like and admire. He is inherently likeable and incredibly smart. He reads a lot, and he likes to share articles. I learn a lot from the articles he sends.
“There are people in every community who are good at looking at things from 30,000 feet. In our community, Brian is one of those people. He sees the big picture and wants to fix things that need fixing. Our region has been incredibly fortunate to have Brian at the helm of CFO for so many years. He is deeply and widely respected by his peers.”
“I’m proud to call Brian my friend. We share a love of community and a love of music. Brian has a deep knowledge of music.”
Matt Morrow, president and chief executive officer of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said Fogle “is such a compassionate and gifted leader with a genuine heart for the good of others.
“He is a treasured friend who sets a tremendous example as he leads and serves our communities in countless ways, seen and unseen” Morrow continued. “He selflessly leverages his considerable talents and expertise, and the power of philanthropy, for the good of a growing and vibrant community and region. With gratitude, I wish him the very best in his next chapter.”
In a recent “In Our Town” podcast interview with Tom Carlson, publisher and founder of the Daily Citizen, Fogle talked about CFO’s humble beginnings, its extraordinary growth and impact on Southwest Missouri.
Fogle shared that leadership and collaboration with other organizations and government was particularly important to him during his tenure. “We like to take the lead on a lot of things when we don't see others doing that,” and that he has viewed CFO's role as a convener to bring others to the table to get people talking and make positive change.
Prior to joining CFO, Fogle spent nearly 30 years in the banking business in Springfield. He has his bachelor's and master's degrees in banking and finance from the University of Mississippi. Among many honors and awards, Fogle received the Springfieldian Award in 2010 from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He received and honorary doctorate of humane letters from Drury University in December 2011.
Search process announced
The executive search process is the next step in a planned succession to ensure a smooth leadership transition for the region’s largest public charitable foundation, the press release said.
The search process is being conducted by Scion Executive Search under the direction of the CFO’s governing officers. Scion was selected after directing a previous successful leadership search process for the CFO.
Details of the position announcement are available at cfozarks.org/careers.
According to the press release, CFO is seeking a highly qualified individual with experience at a community or other foundation or relevant management level; financial and investment expertise; a record of community leadership and collaboration; and a commitment to place-based philanthropy that is the core of a community foundation’s mission.
CFO is currently the 69th largest of about 900 U.S. community foundations. It holds assets of about $415 million in some 3,600 funds held on behalf of donors, nonprofit partners and a network of 53 regional affiliate foundations.
Founded in 1973, the Community Foundation of the Ozarks serves a network of donors, 53 regional affiliate foundations and nonprofit partners across central and southern Missouri through its mission of resource development, community grantmaking, collaboration and public leadership.
Editor's note: The Hauxeda, a nonprofit news organization founded in 2021, is a partner with CFO, which provided a fiscal sponsorship until the IRS approved nonprofit status for the Daily Citizen. CFO maintains a project fund to accept donations for the Daily Citizen.