The Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center is a nonprofit with a mission of advancing “equality and inclusion through philanthropy, programming and advocacy that uplifts the LGBTQ community.”
Jennifer Ruppe, who’s served as the executive director of the Foundation and Center for the past six years is leaving that position to become the next president and CEO of the North Carolina for Community and Justice organization.
LGBTQ advocates say that her leadership has significantly and positively impacted the organization and the LGBTQ community in Greensboro and the surrounding area.
Ruppe will be departing in December of 2024 to assume her new role with North Carolina for Community and Justice – which describes itself as “a human relations organization working to build more inclusive and compassionate communities.”
According to a statement issued by the Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center, under Jennifer’s leadership, GGF has “transformed from a small grant-making foundation to a thriving community center that delivers a wide range of programs and a foundation that invests in the capacity of LGBTQ community partners.”
Board of Directors Chair, Kami Rowan, agrees.
“Jennifer has made a generational impact on the lives of LGBTQ people in Greensboro,” Rowan said this week. “The LGBTQ Center would not be what it is today without her vision and steady leadership.”
Since Ruppe arrived in 2018, Guilford Green Foundation’s annual revenue has doubled, and that nice flow of funding has allowed the organization to meet the needs of the LGBTQ Community, needs that are in constant flux.
Jennifer and the organization’s staff have also elevated the Center’s visibility in Greensboro and across the region by building partnerships with local, state, and national leaders.
Early in Ruppe’s tenure as the Center’s executive director, she led a major capital campaign to build a new center – one which now serves thousands of people in and around Greensboro every year.
In 2023, Ruppe and the board oversaw the development of a 2024 to 2026 strategic plan on how to improve the Center and how to best meet the needs of the area’s LGBTQ community.
While serving as executive director, Ruppe was named the HRC-Carolinas 2019 Person of the Year, and, in 2023, she received both the Carolinas LGBTQ Chamber “Icon” award and the City of Greensboro’s Human Relations Mosaic award.
In a public statement, Ruppe said it has been a terrific experience: “Leading GGF has been an honor. This organization is deeply personal to me and all the founders, donors, partners, and community members who rely on GGF to create a thriving LGBTQ community for all. The LGBTQ center is a visible commitment to the LGBTQ community. Leading GGF through its development will remain one of the greatest accomplishments of my career. I am profoundly thankful for all the support I have received while serving in this role.”
GGF Board Member Victoria Knight said, “While we are saddened to lose Jennifer’s leadership, we on the board are united and energized in our search for a dynamic, driven, and compassionate person to help write the next amazing chapter for the Guilford Green Foundation.”
The Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center Board of Directors states that it’s committed to continuing the excellence and the work of the organization through a search process that is inclusive of the greater LGBTQ community in the area.
Jack Garvey Jr., a member of the search committee, said GGF is looking for someone new to fill Ruppe’s big shoes.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Jennifer for her invaluable contributions to the Guilford Green Foundation and LGBTQ Center,” Garvey said. “As our search committee embarks on this new chapter, we are confident in the strength of our board and our shared commitment to a robust search process that will lead us to a visionary leader.”
Board member Megan Karbley said, “We are excited for the opportunity to honor Jennifer’s contributions to GGF and support the staff through this transition. The board is ready and eager to demonstrate our gratitude and support through a thoughtful, collaborative, and engaging director search process. We are grateful for the responsibility to usher in the next leadership for GGF to continue expanding our community impact for the LGBTQ community in Guilford County and beyond.”
Founded in 1998, GGF has granted $1 million to local LGBTQ programs and projects. It also built the first LGBTQ Center in Greensboro and established the Pearl Berlin Scholarship Award.
