By Sarah Mieras
WASHINGTON –
A week before the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's largest annual event, the Creating Change Conference, Executive Director Matt Foreman has announced that he is leaving his post in April to lead the Gay & Lesbian Program at the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund.
Foreman, who has led the Task Force since 2003, has worked for LGBT social justice for the past 25 years. During his Task Force tenure, he worked to double the national grassroots political group's budget and staff, allowing it to funnel more than $5 million to local and state organizations.
Located in San Francisco, the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund is the largest non-gay contributor to LGBT organizations in the nation. A private family foundation, the Haas, Jr. Fund has awarded over $268 million in grants aimed at generating positive social change.
"I am not leaving the movement," said Foreman, who described the move as a natural progression, allowing him to be active in the movement from another angle.
Foreman, who called working for the Task Force "the greatest honor of my life," will be missed as the head of one of the most prominent national LGBT organizations.
"We cannot adequately express our gratitude to Matt for his exceptional leadership over the last five years," said Mark Sexton, Task Force board co-chair. "He has truly been an inspiration to so many who believe in equality for the full breadth of our LGBT community."
"We have such an amazing family of activists that are making so much progress on a daily basis across the country," Foreman said, reflecting on his work with the Task Force. "I am privileged to have been able to work with so many of them."
