Ron Gallo

After 25+ years in the community foundation field, Ron continues to be energized by the potential and power of community philanthropy. Ron believes that because they operate at the nexus of money, ideas, convictions, and passions, community foundations are perfectly positioned to harness and focus human and financial capital in service of their region’s best collective future. Particular research and practice interests of Ron include equitable economic development, achieving racial equity, and the deployment of all the tools of philanthropy to help build resilient communities.

Prior to coming to Louisville, Ron led both the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Rhode Island Foundation. He started his career in foundations as a Program Officer and eventually Executive Director of the Jesse Ball duPont Fund. Ron started out life in the Bronx, New York, and credits growing up in a working-class immigrant neighborhood for his life-long passion for working to ensure that every person is afforded a fair chance to live a life of dignity and opportunity. Ron holds a BA in History and Asian Studies from Connecticut College, an MS in Social Work from Columbia University, and an Ed.D. in Social Policy from Harvard University.