Scherman Foundation Names George Suttles President and Chief Executive Officer

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK — [23 July 2026] — Today, The Scherman Foundation announced the appointment of George Suttles, M.P.A., as its next president and chief executive officer, effective September 14, 2026. Suttles succeeds Mike Pratt, who is retiring after 17 years as CEO and three decades of service.

Suttles' appointment follows a comprehensive national search conducted by the foundation's board of directors in partnership with executive search firm Korn Ferry.

"George brings a wealth of philanthropic leadership experience in New York City and across the nation, with a distinguished track record of advancing racial, economic, and social justice," said Marianna S. Schaffer, chair of the Scherman Foundation board of directors. "His investment expertise and ground-level understanding of how grassroots communities build and sustain power uniquely position him to guide the foundation's next chapter and advance our vision for racial justice."

Suttles has served in numerous executive and board leadership roles. He was chair of The Laundromat Project and presently serves as current finance committee chair of Red Hook Initiative—both Scherman Foundation grantees. He was elected to the foundation's board of directors in 2025. Most recently, he served as executive director of Commonfund Institute, where he led the organization's educational, thought leadership, and professional development initiatives to support nonprofits as mission aligned institutional investors. Previously, he was a program officer at the John A. Hartford Foundation.

A widely respected leader in philanthropy and nonprofit governance, Suttles serves on several nonprofit boards and investment committees, including the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Auburn Theological Seminary, and the New York Foundation, where he recently served as board chair. He also serves on the board of BoardSource, the nation's leading organization dedicated to strengthening nonprofit governance.

Regarding Suttles’ transition, Mark Anson, Commonfund CEO and president, said, “George’s contributions to Commonfund and the broader nonprofit community while he led our Institute were tremendous. While we will miss him, I have no doubt that he will be a wonderful leader for Scherman Foundation and advance their mission to new highs.”

The board also expressed deep appreciation for Pratt’s extraordinary contributions to the foundation and the broader philanthropic sector.

"We are profoundly grateful for Mike's 30 years of partnership, vision, and leadership," said Schaffer. "Throughout his tenure, Mike forged enduring relationships with grantee partners and, alongside our exceptional staff, helped shape a bold and influential path for the foundation. He has left an indelible mark on the people and movements we support. We thank Mike for his remarkable service and wish him every happiness in retirement."

Pratt joined Scherman in 1996 as a program officer and was appointed president in 2009. Drawing on his early experiences as a community organizer and civil rights lawyer, he transformed the foundation's grantmaking strategy from supporting direct-service organizations to investing in community organizing, movement-building, and systemic change. Under his leadership, the foundation defined and committed to a detailed racial justice framework to address broader patterns of racial inequity within philanthropy.

Beyond Scherman, Pratt played a significant leadership role across philanthropy. He was chair of the Environmental Grantmakers Association, chair of Philanthropy New York, and chair of the Initiative for Neighborhood and Citywide Organizing (INCO). He is co-chair of two funder collectives—Change Capital Fund and the Neighborhood First Fund—through mid-August.

"It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve this foundation," said Pratt. "Working alongside people whose courage and determination never falter—even in the most challenging times—has been a constant source of inspiration and hope. I leave knowing the foundation is well positioned for the future and look forward to seeing what it will do under George's leadership."

Suttles expressed great enthusiasm for the opportunity ahead. "I'm deeply honored to build upon Mike's extraordinary legacy, particularly at a time when so much of what we stand for and support is being challenged," he said. "Scherman’s powerful combination of moral clarity and operational courage is exactly what's needed to meet this moment—and it's what drew me to this opportunity. As a born-and-raised New Yorker, I'm excited to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our exceptional team and grantee partners as we continue building power, advancing justice, and showing up for the communities we love.”

For more information, please contact:

Megan Quitkin, mquitkin@scherman.org

The Scherman Foundation invests in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to reclaim and build power. Learn more about our vision and current grantmaking priorities.