Joel Zarrow named new Park City Community Foundation President and CEO

Joel Zarrow will start as the new president and CEO of the Park City Community Foundation in June. Photo: Park City Community Foundation

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City Community Foundation (PCCF) announced Thursday that Joel Zarrow will be the organization’s new president and CEO.

Zarrow has over 20 years of experience in public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including leadership roles in education. He will start the new role on June 13 and will succeed Joelle Kanshepolsky, who has served as interim CEO since July 2021.

“I am so grateful for this opportunity to work alongside the Board and staff of Park City Community Foundation, building upon their outstanding reputation and advancing the important work happening throughout greater Park City and Summit County,” Zarrow said in a statement.

“The organization’s core values mirror my own:  we share a foundational commitment to listening to and learning alongside the partner organizations and donors we serve. I am thrilled for what lies ahead and look forward to making this area my home for years to come.”

Zarrow comes to the Community Foundation from his post as CEO of the Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), a national nonprofit providing urban school districts with early literacy coaching and support. Since 2014, Zarrow has grown CLI to a $23 million organization, doubling philanthropic contributions and impacting 76,000 children and 3,000 teachers in six states.

Prior to CLI, Zarrow was senior advisor to the New Jersey Department of Education, launching and leading the Department’s Regional Achievement Centers.

Joel has also worked in philanthropy—first for The New World Foundation in New York, then at the Peninsula Community Foundation in the Bay Area.

In the private sector, he spent five years as a management consultant in the strategy practice of Gap International, working with global 1000 firms on leadership and performance issues.

Zarrow earned his doctorate at Stanford University, has served on several boards, and has presented at national and international conferences with multiple publications to his credit.

“We are thrilled to have a leader of Joel’s caliber joining the Community Foundation,” said PCCF Board Chair Kristi Cumming.

“Joel’s qualifications and experience are exceptional, but more importantly, his heart and passion for social justice and dedication to the nonprofit community will elevate the work of the Community Foundation to the next level. We believe he is the perfect fit to guide ongoing initiatives and identify and address exciting new philanthropic opportunities for generations to come.”

PCCF is one of the fastest-growing community foundations in the country and grants a very high percentage of its assets each year.

In 2020 it had the twelfth highest distribution rate among community foundations across the nation. Over 1,200 donors contributed to the Community Foundation last year and more than 100 donors hold donor advised funds with the Community Foundation.

“The Community Foundation has become a trusted philanthropic institution and Joel joins us at a pivotal time,” continued Cumming. “He will be instrumental in advancing our equity and inclusion work and in convening the community around important issues. We are excited to introduce him to our community partners and funders over the summer months.”

Zarrow, an avid skier, biker, and hiker, will be moving to Park City with his partner Helen.