Indiana Landmarks has announced the appointment of Brad M. Ward as its next president and CEO. A native of Jasper, Indiana, Ward brings extensive experience in community foundations and place-based philanthropy. He will officially step into the role on April 7, succeeding Marsh Davis, who is retiring after 36 years with the organization.
Ward most recently served as Director for Community Foundations at Foundant Technologies, a philanthropy-tech firm that supports community foundation fundraising. Prior to that, he worked as a lead strategist at the Council on Foundations, traveling across the United States, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean to strengthen local community foundations. In this role, he oversaw programs providing professional development, public policy advocacy, and legal services for council members.
Ward’s roots in Indiana’s philanthropic landscape run deep. From 2008 to 2012, he led the Huntingburg Foundation, guiding its merger with the Dubois County Community Foundation. As CEO of the merged foundation until 2016, Ward spearheaded several community revitalization projects. He oversaw the transformation of a vacant parking lot adjacent to Huntingburg’s Old Town Hall into a vibrant urban park. He also directed the rehabilitation of Jasper’s historic 1936 Astra Theatre, turning it into a thriving live entertainment venue.
“I’ve worked with a range of private, corporate, and public foundations, government agencies, and national entities aligned in their passion for local, place-based action,” Ward said. “I’m eager to leverage this network of influencers and expand on the unique leadership role Indiana Landmarks plays in connecting places, people, and the causes that they care about in order to create opportunities for better communities.”
Ward’s selection followed an extensive national search that considered more than 60 candidates. His appointment was unanimously approved by Indiana Landmarks’ board of directors.
“Brad’s experience in engaging public-private partnerships both in Indiana and around the country speaks directly to Indiana Landmarks’ work to support grassroots preservation efforts as a tool for community revitalization,” said Doris Anne Sadler, chair of the search committee. “The committee was impressed by his passion for preservation as well as his broader vision of the role preservation plays in enhancing the sense of place—connecting Hoosiers to the past while looking to the future.”
For Ward, the role marks a meaningful return home.
“Returning to Indiana to lead the largest and arguably most respected private statewide preservation organization in the country is a dream job beyond comparison,” he said. “Nothing speaks to me like the opportunity to serve a mission focused on preserving and repurposing places deeply connected to communities and their heritage.”
Ward holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from DePauw University and a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.
As he prepares to lead Indiana Landmarks, Ward aims to build on the organization’s legacy by fostering partnerships that promote preservation as a tool for community growth and connection.
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