Ellen Carter
Connecticut Health Foundation
Ellen Carter, an experienced leader in nonprofits and philanthropy, is joining the Connecticut Health Foundation as Vice President of Program. She will oversee the foundation’s programmatic strategy, which includes grantmaking, policy, strategic communications, leadership, and evaluation.
Ms. Carter joins the foundation after nine years at the Connecticut Community Foundation in Waterbury, Connecticut where she most recently served as vice president of program and strategy. In that role, she helped to guide strategy and leadership direction for grantmaking, evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement work. She spearheaded the community foundation’s COVID-19 response, working closely with community organizations and city agencies. She previously worked at the Connecticut Association for Human Services, serving as Director of Programs, Financial Education Programs Coordinator, and an Outreach Advocate and Coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
She is involved in many local and statewide organizations, including the Bridge to Success Community Partnership, Greater Waterbury Health Partnership, the Connecticut Healthy Living Collective, Age Well Steering Committee, Health Equity Trust Planning Committee, Waterbury Juneteenth Committee, and the Waterbury School Readiness Council.
Contact: Arielle Levin Becker at 860.724.1580 or arielle@cthealth.org.
Sarah Thompson
Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust announced that seasoned economic and community development executive, Sarah Thompson, joined its Impact Team on September 7 as Vice President of Impact – Economic Opportunity.
In this role, Ms. Thompson is responsible for the visioning, development, and implementation of ambitious economic impact strategies that will increase pathways to high-quality and more equitable employment opportunities for Western North Carolinians. She will also lead efforts to increase support for micro and small business opportunities for under-resourced and marginalized communities.
Ms. Thompson most recently served as the Executive Director for Southwestern Commission. In this role, she directed operations of the regional council of government which serves the seven most western counties in North Carolina through community and economic development, workforce development, and area agency on aging.
Prior to her role with Southwestern Planning and Economic Development Commission, Ms. Thompson was the Executive Director of the Downtown Sylva Association. She also serves on several boards including the NC Rural Economic Development Center Board, Thread Capital, Jackson County Planning Board, Town of Sylva Commissioner, and the Downtown Sylva Association Board of Directors. Ms. Thompson has also served as a member of the Dogwood Board of Directors. She took a leave of absence from that role prior to entering the search for this role. She has officially resigned from the board in order to take the position.
Contact: Erica Allison at 828.358.4867 or media@formationpr.com.