Eastern Carolina Community Foundation hires full-time director

From local reports
Published: November 28, 2008

The Eastern Carolina Community Foundation has named Susan B. Bankson as its new executive director.

Bankson will be responsible for the program development, publicity, budget, and financial aspects of the organization.

Board Chairman Trip DuBard said, “It is a great step forward for the ECCF. I am so glad to have Susan on board as director. She brings a wealth of community involvement and experience to the position.”

Bankson joins the foundation following a career in urban planning, preservation, and economic development. She has a B.A. from Tulane University and M.U.R.P. and M.P.A. degrees from the University of Virginia.

Bankson’s goals include increasing public awareness of The Eastern Carolina Community Foundation, both in terms of potential donors and grantees.
More than 700 community foundations exist in the United States.

The ECCF was formed in 2006 and covers Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties.

Community foundations are public charities created by and for local citizens to help people with philanthropic interests to easily support local issues.
The foundation serves four main roles: grantmakers, community conveners, consolidators of endowments, and philanthropic advisers/partners. As a grantmaker, the foundation can donate to any public charity in the Pee Dee.

Bankson and her husband, John, have four children and have lived in Florence for 12 years.

“I am excited about the tremendous opportunity available through the Eastern Carolina Community Foundation. The potential for the Pee Dee to benefit is enormous. The more I learn about work done both statewide and nationally through community foundations, the more amazed I am. What a great time to live in this area,” said Bankson.