Sherece West-Scantlebury to Retire as President, CEO of Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation

Sherece West-Scantlebury (Photo provided)

After 18 years at the helm of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation (WRF),  Sherece West-Scantlebury will retire as president and CEO in October, concluding a 33-year career in philanthropy.

Since 2007, West-Scantlebury has guided Little Rock-based WRF through initiatives such as Excel by 8, ForwARd Arkansas, Why AR? and ALICE in AR.

A press release from the foundation stated that her leadership positioned WRF as a “trusted statewide partner and a respected voice” in the philanthropy sector.

“Sherece did not just lead WRF — she strengthened it,” Cedric Williams, WRF board chair, said in the release. “She demonstrated how philanthropy can be a powerful tool for addressing systemic challenges and building communities where everyone has a fair shot at success. Her vision, commitment and deep connection to Arkansas will have a lasting impact.”

Under West-Scantlebury’s leadership, the foundation co-funded Excel by 8, helping ensure that children reach key developmental milestones by the third grade, and expanded support for grade-level reading, a foundation for academic and lifelong success.

WRF invested in Achieving the Dream, which helped community colleges improve student retention and completion, and launched ForwARd Arkansas, a statewide collaboration aimed at strengthening K–12 systems. The foundation also advanced career and technical education programs and expanded scholarship access for first-generation college students, linking education to economic mobility.

West-Scantlebury also introduced the Arkansas Enterprise Capital Grant Fund, a $50 million initiative that helps nonprofits expand capacity, pay competitive wages and deepen their impact. She also broadened support for entrepreneurs and small businesses through partnerships with organizations such as Remix Ideas and the CDFI Coalition, and the Dela-Owned initiative.

Under her leadership, WRF directed more than 80% of its endowment to firms with community commitments.

Throughout her tenure, West-Scantlebury helped attract tens of millions of dollars in national philanthropic investment to Arkansas.

“She spoke on national platforms, shared stories of community resilience and amplified the voices of rural Arkansans whose contributions and challenges are often overlooked. Her advocacy placed the state and the rural South at the center of conversations about progress and possibility,” the release stated.

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Board will launch a national search for its next president and CEO in the third quarter, partnering with BoardWalk Consulting, which was selected through a request for proposals process.

“From day one, I believed WRF could be a catalyst for meaningful change,” West-Scantlebury said in the release. “This role has been the highlight of my career — collaborating with communities, supporting leaders and serving alongside an extraordinary staff and board. As my time at WRF comes to a close, the mission endures. The foundation is well-positioned to advance systemic solutions that expand justice and equity. I am deeply grateful for the journey and excited for what’s ahead.”