William Generett Jr. appointed president and CEO of The Pittsburgh Foundation

PITTSBURGH, PA, May 27, 2026 — The Pittsburgh Foundation’s board of directors named William Generett Jr. as the organization’s seventh president and chief executive officer (CEO) following a five-month national search. A proven leader with a deep commitment to community, innovation and underserved populations, Generett has built a career setting and achieving bold visions through entrepreneurship, economic and workforce development, and civic engagement. His successes in growing southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy and expanding opportunities for upward mobility in Pittsburgh have rippled across the region and have become national models for other cities to follow.

Generett succeeds Lisa Schroeder, who retired earlier this year following a seven-year tenure in the position. He starts as president and CEO Aug. 1.

“We embarked on this search during a time of great evolution at The Pittsburgh Foundation,” said Jack McGinley, chair of the board of directors, co-chair of the search committee and member of Eckert Seamans. “The board sought a leader who would steward this institution to the next step in its community-focused journey, and Bill’s passion for Pittsburgh and track record for overcoming immense challenges made him an ideal candidate.”

The Foundation opened new offices with ample gathering space in February 2025 to focus on fostering community and civic engagement. Since then, it has hosted hundreds of convenings across sectors. While still following its 2023-27 strategic plan, the Foundation is emphasizing this type of deep connection with leadership, donor and nonprofit audiences as it seeks new resources and partnerships to support both its mission and nonprofits that are facing a dramatically altered funding landscape following federal service and budget reductions.

“Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit brings an ability to embrace change and inspire resilience,” said Jordan Pallitto, board member, co-chair of the search committee and chief operating officer of The Hill Group. “Much of his experience correlates with the Foundation’s work. He unites disparate groups across the regional, state and federal landscapes. He engages donors in a vision for the future. And he approaches community issues with a holistic lens. In this role, these talents will coalesce for Pittsburgh.”

The board of directors unanimously approved Generett on Friday afternoon. Generett has served as a member of the board since 2018, most recently as vice chair. As a candidate for the position, Generett recused himself from all search-related activity.

Generett joins The Pittsburgh Foundation from Duquesne University. Starting in 2017 as vice president of civic engagement, Generett was promoted to senior vice president and officer of the university by Duquesne’s President Ken Gormley following his achievements expanding the university’s civic engagement work, fostering external relationships with local, state and federal officials, and strengthening its corporate and foundation fundraising. He launched Duquesne’s newest division, the Office of Civic Engagement and External Relations, which is comprised of the Office of Community Engagement, the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and University Government Affairs. Generett also served as executive in residence at the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business and is an adjunct professor at the Thomas Kline School of Law. 

Generett spearheaded initiatives that led to the university being one of only 40 institutions nationwide awarded the 2024 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. This classification is the gold standard for university-community engagement efforts. He played a leading role in what has become one of Duquesne’s largest expansions in its history, driven by the successful IGNITE fundraising campaign that raised over $335 million. 

Under Generett’s leadership the Office of Civic Engagement and External Relations raised approximately $30 million to support university initiatives. These included the Center for Integrative Health and the Nasuti College of Osteopathic Medicine, Duquesne’s new medical school that is expected to contribute $76 million in economic activity to southwestern Pennsylvania and provide family practitioners training to address health disparities in underserved urban and rural communities throughout the state. 

“Bill Generett is uniquely suited to lead The Pittsburgh Foundation," Gormley said. "His love for this region, his track record of success at Duquesne and in other roles, and his commitment to elevating our city and region for all its residents are key attributes that make him an excellent choice to lead one of our city’s most impactful foundations.

“While Bill is a respected and beloved figure at Duquesne, we know that this appointment is good for the entire community. We're proud that Bill will take the talents he honed at Duquesne and use them to have a profound impact at The Pittsburgh Foundation, an organization whose goals align closely with our own service mission. Bill’s work is focused on the community. For him, this isn’t just a job. For Bill, this is his calling.” 

Generett founded and led Urban Innovation21 from 2009 to 2017. The groundbreaking public-private partnership became a national model for inclusive innovation. It connected the region’s burgeoning innovation economy to underserved communities through business attraction and expansion, equitable development, and workforce development and training programs for students and residents.  

Urban Innovation21 provided approximately 100 technology companies and hundreds of small businesses with $15 million in incentives to help them grow, directly leading to the creation of more than 500 jobs. It developed an innovative pro bono legal program with Reed Smith, providing more than $1 million in legal services to 44 high-growth companies, setting a national model for law firms providing these types of services to for-profit businesses. On the Northside, Generett fostered an $8.8 million public-private partnership between Urban Innovation21, Buhl Foundation, Faros Properties and Comcast to establish the burgeoning Nova Place development as a hub for inclusive innovation. 

State and federal leaders and institutions sought Generett for advisory positions, including for entrepreneurship and economic development. In 2018, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf named Generett to the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, one of the largest state technology development programs in the nation. In 2014, he was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker as one of 27 members of the U.S. Department of Commerce National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

Locally, he maintained connection to civic life through board and advisory committee memberships, including with The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Eden Hall Foundation, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Carnegie Museums, Center of Life, Shady Side Academy, the Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Pittsburgh Chapter, Innovation Works and Neighborhood Allies

“I’m deeply humbled, proud and energized by the opportunity to lead The Pittsburgh Foundation and bolster its vital work to support our community,” Generett said. “The Foundation’s mission to unite people and bridge gaps through philanthropy and civic engagement is one I hold close to my heart. I’m excited to deepen my relationships with the team, community leaders and partners to build on our existing efforts to create a region where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”

Generett added, “Pittsburgh has bold aspirations for its future, but the path to achieving them is complex. What makes The Pittsburgh Foundation remarkable is its commitment to confronting challenges with clarity and never shying away from evolving its approach to building partnerships. I’ve seen the effects of fostering collaboration. By bringing together fundholders, nonprofits, civic and corporate leaders, elected officials, young voices, community members and more, we’ll help more people. I’m eager to get to work and excited to contribute to this mission that many Pittsburghers share.” 

A graduate of Emory University’s School of Law and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, Bill is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Georgia (Voluntary Inactive Status).  He is married to Gretchen Generett, Ph.D., and they are the proud parents of William III and Gabrielle. 

The search committee co-chaired by McGinley and Pallitto included Foundation board members Debbie Demchak, Sue Kirsch and Walter Smith. Bill Hunt joined the committee as a representative of the community.

Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, assisted the committee through the five-month recruitment, interview and hiring process that included dozens of candidates.

“The volume of interest in this position from notable leaders across the country is a testament to the incredible reputation and broad respect The Pittsburgh Foundation has garnered over its 80-year history,” said McGinley. “To understand this position is viewed as desirable reinforces that we’re on the right path, and the board is confident we’ve made the right choice in Bill for the future of both the Foundation and Pittsburgh.” 

MEDIA CONTACT 

Matt Minczeski
Sr. Director of Communications and Marketing
minczeskim@pghfdn.org
724-554-7993

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Past Press Coverage of William Generett Jr.