Heidi Holtz was appointed Program Director for Community Grantmaking at the Rosamond Gifford Foundation in February 2005 and became Director of Research and Projects in September 2011. Heidi designed and is implementing IDEAS (Initiative to Develop and Engage Audiences in Syracuse). Prior to Gifford she worked at Syracuse Stage for nine years, ending her tenure as Director of Communications and Educational Outreach. Heidi has over 30 years experience working in the not-for-profit world, specializing in arts management, marketing, board development, fundraising and public relations.
She currently serves on the boards of the Arts Branch of the YMCA and the Matilda Joslyn Gage Center, as vice president of the Onondaga Citizens League board and co-chairs the current OCL study on refugees. Her volunteer work includes service on former Congressman Dan Maffei transition team’s subcommittee on the arts, the Program and Conference Committees of Grantmakers Forum of New York and the Strategic Partnership Fund advisory committee at the Central New York Community Foundation, among others. Heidi designed sessions, moderated panels and facilitated plenaries for both the 2009 and 2011 New York State Funders Conferences.
Heidi was an adjunct professor in the Syracuse University Drama Department from 1994-2004 and also taught classes at the Ithaca College Theatre Department in the early 1990’s. Heidi has guest lectured at Syracuse University, Colgate University, Cazenovia College and SUNY-Oswego and regularly presents workshops and webinars on such topics as grant writing, non-profit management, strategic planning and board development.
Heidi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Denison University and a Master of Arts in Theatre History and Certificate in Women’s Studies from Syracuse University. She has received training and/or certification in Advanced Knowledge Management Essentials, Dialogue Circles, Effective Facilitation, Results Based Facilitation and Creative Problem Solving. Heidi grew up in Washington DC, but spent weekends and summers on a family farm outside Frederick, MD. She is a 23-year resident of Fayetteville and has two grown children.
Email Heidi at: Heidi@giffordfoundation.org
