NEW BEDFORD, MA — The SouthCoast Community Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Julie Ramos Gagliardi as the organization’s Director of Programs, overseeing programmatic initiatives and grantmaking, including the Creative South Coast Initiative, Leadership Equity Fund, SouthCoast Emergency Response Fund, and scholarship program. Julie brings over 30 years of experience in grantmaking and strategic planning. A native of Fall River, she has exhibited a deep commitment to the South Coast community.
“We are very excited for Julie to join the Community Foundation. Her nonprofit expertise and engagement in our communities will be invaluable as we continue to grow our programmatic areas of focus,” said Board Chair Gail Fortes. “Our grants, scholarship, and arts advisory committees work very closely with the Director of Programs to better understand the nonprofits we serve and the strategies driving our philanthropic decisions. I believe Julie will enrich the committee decision-making process with her extensive experience,” she said.
Julie has held significant leadership positions throughout her career, most recently as the First Vice President of Corporate Giving and Community Relations for BayCoast Bank, where she managed a $2 million annual corporate giving program. Early in her career, she was the Campaign Director at the United Way of Greater Fall River, where she facilitated a long-term strategic planning project, in addition to raising over $12 million in annual campaigns.
In addition to her professional work, Julie has demonstrated an enduring commitment to the South Coast community through her volunteerism. Julie serves on the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees, where she is Co-Chair of the Committee on Academic and Student Affairs. Since 2011, she has been an elected member of the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee, serving as its Chair for one year. Prior to that, she supervised the study that led to the establishment of a regional high school district in Somerset. Julie helped to form the Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition, which developed an Arts and Culture Plan for Fall River.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at the SouthCoast Community Foundation. The Foundation continues to play an increasingly important role in the region — as a funder, convener, and facilitator. I look forward to working with their staff, Board, and volunteers on issues that further their mission and make a positive impact throughout the South Coast,” said Julie.
Julie will start in the Director of Programs position on July 5, 2023.
The SouthCoast Community Foundation is a nonprofit serving the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts through philanthropy. The Community Foundation mission is to mobilize philanthropy by matching donors and resources with community needs for the benefit of our region. Since 1995, the organization has distributed over $50 million from more than 200 funds to humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations in the region. For more information, visit www.southcoastcf.org.