The Outdoor Foundation Names New Executive Director

The board of directors of The Outdoor Foundation today announced the appointment of Christine Fanning as The Foundation’s new executive director.

“We are thrilled that Chris will be leading our Foundation’s team,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of Outdoor Industry Association and board member of The Outdoor Foundation. “This is an exciting time for The Foundation, and Chris’ expertise and leadership will direct The Foundation as we strive to be a driving force behind a massive increase in outdoor recreation in America.”

Christine joins The Outdoor Foundation with a solid track record of providing senior management leadership for growth-oriented organizations and directing comprehensive cause-related partnerships and outreach strategies for leading organizations the United States and abroad. Most recently, Christine was the Vice President, Partnerships for The Case Foundation in Washington DC, and prior to that at The Conservation Fund as VP of Marketing.

“I am honored to be joining The Outdoor Foundation,” said Christine Fanning. “I am looking forward to working with the highly successful and dedicated board of directors to lead The Foundation in our effort to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. “

Earlier today, The Outdoor Foundation announced its plans to raise, coordinate, and invest $100M in existing youth outreach programs over the next ten years.

“The Outdoor Foundation’s fundraising and strategic plans are ambitious,” said Hugelmeyer. “But we believe they are doable with Chris’ extraordinary background and strong leadership. We are confident that our vision is within reach.”

The Outdoor Foundation is focusing on the following core competencies:
• Convening: Establishing an annual Youth Summit to connect existing outreach groups with funders from around the country and educate these groups on best practices.
• Researching: Continuing to produce unparalleled active lifestyle research
• Grant making: Providing multi-year funding for proven organizations and programs that build capacity, are increasingly self-sufficient, connect key players and have significant ROI.

Christine will be leading The Outdoor Foundation from the Outdoor Industry Association Washington DC office, located at 10 G Street NE, Suite 710, Washington, DC 20002. She will spend significant time both in the District and throughout the country building coalitions, developing partnerships, and articulating the case for connecting kids with nature.”

The Outdoor Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 established by Outdoor Industry Association to inspire and grow future generations of outdoor enthusiasts. The Foundation introduces youth to outdoor recreation through nationwide youth programming and produces high-quality, groundbreaking research that quantifies the extent and quality of participation in outdoor recreation as well as its economic impact on the U.S. For more information visit http://www.outdoorfoundation.org or call 303.444.3353