The Episcopal Church Foundation Announces Dail St. Claire as New President and Chief Executive Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Episcopal Church Foundation Announces Dail St. Claire as New President and Chief Executive Officer
NEW YORK – November 21, 2024 - The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) announces Dail St. Claire has been appointed the new President and Chief Executive Officer, with Donald Romanik stepping down from his role on November 30, 2024.
After a ten-month nationwide executive search, the ECF Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Dail St. Claire, who has served ECF and its Endowment for over a decade as Board Director and Advisor. “We are thrilled to welcome Dail St. Claire as ECF’s new President and CEO,” said Todd Anderson, Chair of ECF’s Board of Directors. “Dail’s vision, expertise, and deep commitment to The Episcopal Church’s mission, as well as her familiarity with ECF’s history and journey, positions her to lead us into the challenging next phase of our work with lay leaders and ministries. We also sincerely thank Donald Romanik for his exceptional leadership, dedication, and contributions to ECF over the past 19 years.”
“It is a privilege to be ECF’s President and CEO,” said St. Claire. “I look forward to building on our rich history of strengthening faith and transforming ministries, working with our dedicated staff and board, lay leadership, clergy, dioceses, and partners navigating this time of change and healing in our faith communities and nation. I am also committed to a partnership between ECF and our Honorary Chair, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, in his vision of building a vibrant, sustainable future for ‘one Church in Christ’.
A Faithful, Experienced, and Visionary Leader
A financial services veteran, St. Claire brings over three decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, asset/wealth management, and strategic planning to ECF. A 2x Founder, St. Claire is known for fostering innovative partnerships and driving operational and energy efficiencies. She has a successful track record of growing and scaling small and mid-sized for-profit and nonprofit businesses. She co-designed a digital asset banking platform with a sustainable development framework.
While managing global equity and liquidity assets for New York City's $280 billion public pension funds at the beginning of her career in 1991, St. Claire also managed the United States’ first public pension fund emerging manager program comprised of diverse-owned asset management firms. She served on the Investment Advisory Committee of the $260 billion New York State Common Retirement Fund. With leadership roles as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Investment Officer for financial institutions and asset management firms, St. Claire launched and managed several SEC-registered investment advisors, mutual funds, private equity, and credit funds for endowments, foundations, pension funds, and family offices.
As an Inwood House board member, a home for teen mothers in NY, St. Claire launched a financial literacy program, securing a donor gift of one share of stock to successful participants. She raised her children at St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York and, with its new ventures committee, helped launch St. Bart’s thriving gift shop and gourmet restaurant. St. Claire has served on the boards of several nonprofits and professional associations. She has served as a board member (2013), advisor (2019), and Finance Committee Chair, overseeing ECF’s self-directed endowment fund. She is a board member of the Institute for Sustainable Communities and a member of the Economic Club of New York and The Common Good.
St. Claire holds a BA in cultural anthropology from the University of California, San Diego, and an MA in Public Policy with a concentration in Business from the University of Chicago, Harris School. She is an RRCA-certified running and fitness coach, has run 15 marathons, and has coached athletes through the Achilles Foundation. She worships at St. James’ Church in New York City.
St. Claire begins her term as President and Chief Executive Officer of ECF on December 2, 2024. An introductory message from her to all ECF’s constituents and the broader faith communities will follow shortly after.
Episcopal Church Foundation and Endowment
Founded in 1949, ECF has been at the forefront of supporting lay leadership in The Episcopal Church. ECF’s self-directed Endowment was formed in 1955. As the Episcopal Church Foundation enters this new chapter, it builds upon a rich history of service and success.
ECF’s Endowment Management Services celebrates over 25 years of service to churches, dioceses, and schools nationwide and now manages over $750 million in assets for over 300 Episcopal clients. The Vital Practices platform, ecfvp.org, for ministry leaders, has provided tools and support to more than 100,000 Episcopal leaders globally over the last three years. The Fellowship Partners Program has supported over 230 scholars and ministry fellows since 1964.
For more information about the Episcopal Church Foundation and its services and programs, visit www.ecf.org.
This release is available for download in English and Spanish.
Communications Contact:
Charis Bhagianathan
Director of Communications and Digital Resources, ECF