Community Foundation chooses one of its own to be chief exec

EVERETT —The Community Foundation of Snohomish County has chosen one of its own to lead the nonprofit.

The foundation’s current vice president of grant making and partnerships, Karri Matau, will become chief executive early next year.

Matau will succeed CEO Maddy Metzger-Utt, who has led the nonprofit since 2005. Metzger-Utt announced this fall that she would be retiring in the first quarter 0f 2019.

The foundation promotes charitable giving and offers support for local organizations.

“Karri’s leadership with our strategic planning process has been instrumental in the growth of our organization,” Metzger-Utt said. “Her work with our donors and the nonprofits over the last eight years has strengthened our community.”

Matau worked at the foundation in 2000 when it was the Everett Parks Foundation. She left in 2005 and worked for Sno-Isle Libraries until returning to the foundation in 2010.

The nonprofit’s board formed a search committee and hired an outside consultant to help with the process. The process included staff input and interviews with donors, community leaders and the board.

“We have a very well-defined, board-approved CEO succession policy, and this came in very handy as the board went about the important business of filling the CEO position,” board chairman Scott Murphy said. “After going through this process, the board was unanimous in wanting to offer the position to Karri Matau.”

The foundation manages more than $28 million in investments. The earnings from the portfolio, which is overseen by investment managers, are used to provide grants to homeless shelters, local arts organizations, health and human services groups, and other nonprofits.

The Community Foundation evolved from the Everett Parks Foundation. In 2015, the group changed its name from the Greater Everett Community Foundation to the Community Foundation of Snohomish County.

Janice Podsada; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3097; Twitter: JanicePods.