Maddy Metzger-Utt, seen here in 2016, will retire as president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Snohomish County. (Dan Bates / Herald file)

Maddy Metzger-Utt, seen here in 2016, will retire as president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Snohomish County. (Dan Bates / Herald file)

Community Foundation of Snohomish County seeks new leader

Maddy Metzger, CEO, plans to retire next year.

EVERETT — Maddy Metzger-Utt, longtime president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Snohomish County, plans to retire in June.

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

Metzger-Utt, in place since 2005, has helped steer and inspire the foundation, said Scott Murphy, chairman of the board of directors.

“She’s helped define our mission and our values,” Murphy said.“She’s been a guiding light for how we do business.

“Under her leadership the foundation secured a permanent home for the foundation in downtown Everett and has grown its staff, budget, programs and impact across Snohomish County,” Murphy said.

“It really has been my honor …” Metzger-Utt said. “It has been a pleasure to work with all the generous individuals and families that want to help make our communities better now and in the future.”

The board plans to form a search committee for the CEO hiring process, Murphy said.

Today, 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.

“Whatever the donor’s interest, we help them set up a fund to support the things they care about,” Murphy said.

More than $13 million in grants have been distributed.

The foundation also provides coaching to local nonprofits.

“Since starting this we have had more than 3,500 people attend our trainings and have provided more than 2,000 hours of free staff consulting to support local boards, staff and volunteers,” Metzger-Utt said.

She’s proud of the foundation’s role in supporting the Casino Road Initiative, formed to promote economic development in south Everett, and the group’s role in affordable housing. The foundation made a $600,000 investment in the HopeWorks project in Everett that helps provide the skills and training for family-wage jobs. The money is expected to be paid back.

The Community Foundation evolved from the Everett Parks Foundation.

In 1993, the group began working with the city, clubs and businesses to build new playgrounds at local parks. By 2001, the group’s board had decided to become a full-fledged nonprofit.

Eight local families raised a $2 million operational endowment to start the Greater Everett Community Foundation.

They were: the Newland Family Fund for Giving, Phil Johnson, John and Idamae Schack, the Bargreens, the Nysether Family Foundation, the Don and Joyce Tisdel Family Fund, the Roy and Ann Thorsen family, and the Harry and Jeanne Metzger family. Metzger-Utt is one of the Metzgers’ daughters.

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

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Traffic idles while waiting for the lights to change along 33rd Avenue West on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood seeks solutions to Costco traffic boondoggle

Let’s take a look at the troublesome intersection of 33rd Avenue W and 30th Place W, as Lynnwood weighs options for better traffic flow.

A memorial with small gifts surrounded a utility pole with a photograph of Ariel Garcia at the corner of Alpine Drive and Vesper Drive ion Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Death of Everett boy, 4, spurs questions over lack of Amber Alert

Local police and court authorities were reluctant to address some key questions, when asked by a Daily Herald reporter this week.

The new Amazon fulfillment center under construction along 172nd Street NE in Arlington, just south of Arlington Municipal Airport. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210708
Frito-Lay leases massive building at Marysville business park

The company will move next door to Tesla and occupy a 300,0000-square-foot building at the Marysville business park.

Simreet Dhaliwal speaks after winning during the 2024 Snohomish County Emerging Leaders Awards Presentation on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Simreet Dhaliwal wins The Herald’s 2024 Emerging Leaders Award

Dhaliwal, an economic development and tourism specialist, was one of 12 finalists for the award celebrating young leaders in Snohomish County.

In this Jan. 12, 2018 photo, Ben Garrison, of Puyallup, Wash., wears his Kel-Tec RDB gun, and several magazines of ammunition, during a gun rights rally at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
With gun reform law in limbo, Edmonds rep is ‘confident’ it will prevail

Despite a two-hour legal period last week, the high-capacity ammunition magazine ban remains in place.

Everett Fire Department and Everett Police on scene of a multiple vehicle collision with injuries in the 1400 block of 41st Street. (Photo provided by Everett Fire Department)
1 in critical condition after crash with box truck, semi truck in Everett

Police closed 41st Street between Rucker and Colby avenues on Wednesday afternoon, right before rush hour.

The Arlington Public Schools Administration Building is pictured on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
$2.5M deficit in Arlington schools could mean dozens of cut positions

The state funding model and inflation have led to Arlington’s money problems, school finance director Gina Zeutenhorst said Tuesday.

Lily Gladstone poses at the premiere of the Hulu miniseries "Under the Bridge" at the DGA Theatre, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Mountlake Terrace’s Lily Gladstone plays cop in Hulu’s ‘Under the Bridge’

The true-crime drama started streaming Wednesday. It’s Gladstone’s first part since her star turn in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Jesse L. Hartman (Photo provided by Everett Police Department)
Everett man who fled to Mexico given 22 years for fatal shooting

Jesse Hartman crashed into Wyatt Powell’s car and shot him to death. He fled but was arrested on the Mexican border.

Radiation Therapist Madey Appleseth demonstrates how to use ultrasound technology to evaluate the depth of a mole on her arm on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. This technology is also used to evaluate on potential skin cancer on patients. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek clinic can now cure some skin cancers without surgery

Frontier Dermatology is the first clinic in the state to offer radiation therapy for nonmelanoma cancer.

Snow is visible along the top of Mount Pilchuck from bank of the Snohomish River on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Washington issues statewide drought declaration, including Snohomish County

Drought is declared when there is less than 75% of normal water supply and “there is the risk of undue hardship.”

Boeing Quality Engineer Sam Salehpour, right, takes his seat before testifying at a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs - Subcommittee on Investigations hearing to examine Boeing's broken safety culture with Ed Pierson, and Joe Jacobsen, right, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Everett Boeing whistleblower: ‘They are putting out defective airplanes’

Dual Senate hearings Wednesday examined allegations of major safety failures at the aircraft maker.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.