Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC) in Poughkeepsie has welcomed Laura Washington, president and CEO of Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley to its Board of Directors. Washington joined the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley (CFHV) as president and CEO in February bringing with her a vision and extensive experi-ence in strategic planning, partnership building and communications.
CFHV serves as a vital hub for philanthropy in Ulster, Dutchess and Putnam counties, facili-tating connections between caring donors and nonprofits working to address issues im-portant to the community.
Washington is dedicated to driving economic growth and prosperity across the region through impactful initiatives. Collaborating with CFHV’s fundholders, she works to align their philanthropic goals with the community’s needs, ensuring that donations have a meaningful impact on the lives of residents. Through partnerships with donors and nonprofits, CFHV dis-tributes millions of dollars in grants to support a wide range of initiatives, including education, arts and culture, health, the environment and food security.
Washington served as chief communications officer and vice president for strategic partner-ships at the New-York Historical Society and established the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s inaugural communications function. A native New Yorker, she holds a Bachelor of Arts de-gree in history from Vassar College and a Master of Science degree in strategic communi-cations from Columbia University. She serves on the board of Historic Huguenot Street and chairs its Education and Programming Committee. She also serves on the New York Re-gional Selection Committee for the Marshall Scholarship and as a review panelist for the Na-tional Endowment for the Humanities.
Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley is a trusted partner in philanthropy, empower-ing individuals, families, businesses and organizations to establish charitable funds and offer expert planning that aligns charitable giving with both personal priorities and community needs. Established in 1969 as the Area Fund, CFHV has grown to manage over $100 million in assets and administers nearly 600 charitable funds, distributing over $11.3 million in grants and scholarships in 2023 alone. As a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), contributions to CFHV are tax-deductible within IRS guidelines.
