On Thursday, June 29, 2023, the Board of Trustees of the Georgia United Methodist Foundation announced that Mathew A. Pinson will step down as President and CEO. He will remain in office through July 17, when the Rev. Keith E. Lawder, former President and CEO of the Foundation, will become interim President. The Rev. Lawder served as President and CEO of the Foundation from 2016 until his retirement in 2021. Mathew will return to Emory University at the end of July, serving as the Assistant Vice President for Operations and Strategic Initiatives for the university’s Executive Vice President for Business and Administration, CFO, and Vice Chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors.
Both leaders are committed to a smooth transition, through which the Rev. Lawder will work closely with the Board of Trustees and the Foundation’s leadership, including Russell Jones, Senior Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer, and Dr. Rick Lanford, Regional Vice President. The Board of Trustees is deeply grateful to the Rev. Lawder for answering this call and will announce a search process for the next president and CEO in the coming months.
“I am tremendously grateful to the Board of Trustees for the invitation to serve as the Foundation’s President and CEO. My time at the Foundation has been meaningful, and I have a renewed appreciation for how strong and dynamic teams propel organizations forward with purpose in direct service of a larger mission. Know that I will always be supportive of the Foundation,” Pinson shared in a communication with the Foundation’s leadership.
Pinson also expressed his complete confidence in the Foundation’s staff and Board of Trustees. “The Georgia United Methodist Foundation is stronger than ever. The staff of the Foundation are among the best professionals in the church-related foundation community. These dedicated colleagues provide known and trusted leadership for individuals and organizations across the State of Georgia in direct partnership with the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and the leadership of Wespath Institutional Investments. This legacy will continue in important ways for many years to come,” Pinson shared.
Ruth A. Knox, incoming Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, said in a recent communication, “The Board joins me in thanking Mathew for his exemplary leadership of the Foundation for the past two years. His creativity, energy, and mission-minded purpose have inspired us all, and we are committed to building on his solid work for all our partners. We offer our appreciation and warmest wishes to Mathew and his family as he takes on a new role at Emory University.”
Mathew Pinson joined the staff of the Foundation as President and CEO in 2021. During his two-year tenure, the Foundation secured substantial new investments in managed accounts and Development Fund Certificates, launched and implemented a new brand strategy and website, and elevated the Foundation’s relationship with individuals and organizations. Today the Foundation stands as one of the largest Methodist foundations in the United States with $236 million in assets—this after thoughtfully navigating strong economic headwinds during 2022.
The Georgia United Methodist Foundation partners with churches, nonprofits, individuals, and families to support the ministries and mission of the church by offering advanced faith-based financial solutions for the Methodist family of Georgia. The Foundation elevates and advances the mission of the church and church-related nonprofits by providing faith-based financial solutions for investing, lending, training, and planned giving. Learn more online at gumf.org.
