The Gay & Lesbian Fund announced today that Marcie Moore-Gantz has been named Deputy Director for Programs.
Moore-Gantz, who has worked as a nonprofit arts administrator for more than 15 years, will help coordinate the philanthropic work of the Colorado Springs-based group. In its first decade, the fund gave more than $16 million in grants to hundreds of organizations that improve the quality of life for all Coloradans. The fund is a program of the Gill Foundation, the nation’s largest private foundation focused on securing equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.
Moore-Gantz most recently served as deputy district administrator for the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), the metro Denver agency that distributes more than $38 million in sales tax revenue annually to more than 300 non- profit organizations.
In her new position, Moore-Gantz will report to Executive Director Mary Lou Makepeace. She will be responsible for building strategic collaborations with other organizations to advance the work of the Gay & Lesbian Fund. Moore-Gantz will represent the foundation’s interests at conferences, policy forums and other public events and handle a variety of other projects.
“I’m delighted to help the Gay & Lesbian Fund improve the fabric of life in Colorado for all its residents,” said Moore-Gantz. “In its first 10 years, the fund has made a real difference in helping families, supporting the arts, and developing new leaders.”
Fund director Mary Lou Makepeace said Moore-Gantz combines management expertise in the nonprofit world with demonstrated leadership ability. “We believe Marcie will add a creative new voice to our work,” Makepeace said. “She’s done everything from organizing an international black dance conference to managing arts-in-education programs and helping nonprofits like the Shadow Theater Company with strategic planning.”
Moore-Gantz, 42, brings experience in program development and evaluation, fundraising, special events, grantmaking and other skills needed by nonprofits. At the SCFD since 2000, she was responsible for review and analysis of proposals, site visits, monitoring of grants, and communicating to the public.
Moore-Gantz most recently managed the grants program staff, including hiring, training and direction. She helped guide more than 60 members of SCFD councils through the annual process to decide which cultural and arts applicants would get grants. She was also responsible for financial analysis of large arts and cultural organizations and tracked their expenditures.
During the mid-1990s, Moore-Gantz oversaw the administrative and financial affairs of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, a cultural arts center with a $1.2 million annual budget that includes an internationally recognized touring company, a year-round dance school, a youth diversion program called Project Self Discovery, and more than 300 educational and outreach programs a year. She helped organize “The Healing Power of Art,” an international black dance conference that drew more than 800 people.
Moore-Gantz also played an instrumental role in the Denver/Nairobi Creative Artists Exchange which included 40 dancers and musicians from the Kenyan capital and Denver who collaborated in sold-out performances in Denver and Nairobi and classes for children in both countries.
Moore-Gantz worked with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, developing and implementing a successful outreach program called “The Neighborhood Connection” in partnership with community organizations. She managed and expanded arts-in-education programs for The Denver Center Theater Company including tours for school groups, middle school residencies and other programs that have grown into a nationally recognized educational department.
In her new position, Moore-Gantz will help lead the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado’s efforts to award grants that strengthen the health of families, enrich the state’s arts scene, preserve its diverse cultural heritage, and build strong civic leadership programs. She’ll also help shape the training programs, workshops, technical assistance and other programs the fund offers Colorado nonprofits. Her first day was May 23.
