Bob Eckardt Recognized for Leadership

At its Annual Meeting in Phoenix, GIH awarded the prestigious Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy to Bob Eckardt, senior vice president for programs and evaluation at The Cleveland Foundation. Dr. Eckardt was recognized for his leadership and commitment to innovative approaches to grantmaking, as well as his vision in bringing the resources of philanthropy to important health issues. "The vision and leadership Bob has shown in bringing attention to neglected issues, fostering collaboration, and working tirelessly with colleagues to strengthen the practice of philanthropy reflect and honor the values embodied by Terrance Keenan and the award that bears his name" said Lauren LeRoy, president and CEO of Grantmakers In Health.

The Terrance Keenan Leadership Award is the highest honor that GIH and the health philanthropy community annually award. It recognizes a grantmaker those whose leadership and thoughtful application of philanthropic resources has had an impact on human health at the local, regional, national, or international level. The award--established in 1993 in honor of Terrance Keenan--is intended to inspire others in the field to strive toward his same standard of excellence that Mr. Keenan exemplified throughout his 40-plus years as a grantmaker. Nominations are accepted each year starting in the spring for the following year's award. After the submission deadline in June, a committee of health grantmakers weighs nominations from across the health philanthropy community to choose a winner, making The Terrance Keenan Leadership Award a true recognition of excellence in grantmaking from the recipient's peers in health philanthropy.

A Career Marked by Dedication and Innovation

Dr. Eckardt has spent the last 24 years of his career at The Cleveland Foundation, joining the staff in 1982 as program officer. He was promoted to senior program officer in 1988 and in 1996 was given additional responsibility as manager of grant evaluation. In 2000 he was promoted to the position of vice president for programs and evaluation, and in 2005 to his current position of senior vice president. Dr. Eckardt is responsible for providing overall direction and supervision for grants that total about $60 million annually. He also has responsibility for managing activities related to program evaluation throughout the foundation and directly supervises ten senior program staff and provides overall supervision and leadership for a program staff of more than 25 individuals. He serves as a member of the foundation's management committee and is a corporate officer of the foundation.

Dr. Eckardt graduated with honors from Grinnell College in Iowa. After graduation, he spent two years as a Thomas J. Watson Traveling Fellow studying care of the elderly in Europe. He resided in Madrid and Copenhagen and worked with the Spanish Office of Social Security, The Danish Institute for Social Research, the European regional office of the World Health Organization, the Jonkoping Gerontology Center, and the Norwegian Gerontological Institute.
After his return to the U.S., he attended the University of Michigan for graduate studies. In 1977 he received both his master's degree in public health (health planning and administration) and a certificate of specialization in aging. In 1984 he enrolled in the Pew Doctoral Program at the University of Michigan and received his doctor of public health (health policy) degree in 1990.

He moved to Cleveland in 1977 as a planning associate for the Federation for Community Planning. In this capacity, he worked on improved methods to meet the long-term care needs of greater Clevelanders. He also directed a federally funded program of the Federation, the Benjamin Rose Institute and Case Western Reserve University to improve education in geriatrics and gerontology.

Dr. Eckardt has served as a board member of several national philanthropic groups, including Grantmakers In Health, Grantmakers In Aging, Funders Concerned About AIDS, the Grantmakers Evaluation Network and the Health Policy Institute of Ohio and has consulted with foundations throughout the country. He is an active member of several professional organizations, such as American Public Health Association, American Society on Aging, and is an elected fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.