Proposed board & founding leadership

Built to launch. Built to hand off.

The founding board combines education, operating, corporate-responsibility, philanthropic, and community experience around one job: build a fellowship worthy of the people it asks to serve.

Planning draft: roster, officer roles, and succession language require formal board approval before public launch.

Proposed Founding Executive Director • Proposed director, ex officio

David “Dave” Hawn

More than 30 years of leadership across education, nonprofits, and financial services—now focused on building the path he wishes more emerging leaders had.

Dave previously served as President and CEO of Urban Ventures, where he led significant organizational growth, completed a $10 million capital campaign, and launched early-learning and vocational-training programs. Before that, he was President and CEO of ECMC Group, overseeing a large national education-finance and services organization.

He has also led at Wells Fargo, Great Lakes Higher Education, and College Loan Corporation. Dave holds a BA in Psychology and Business Management from the University of Minnesota and has spent years mentoring emerging entrepreneurs and leaders through moments of growth and transition.

The transition is part of the design

Build the institution. Then open the door wider.

Dave's proposed charge is to stand up the operating model, launch the first cohort, and build a strong base of partners and support. From the start, the plan is to transition executive leadership to a leader of color with deep community relationships and the operating experience to take the program forward. The handoff would follow a board-approved, legally reviewed search and transition process.

Proposed founding board

Different vantage points. One standard.

The board's charge will cover mission, program quality, finances, conflicts, leadership succession, and the promises the Foundation makes in public.

Proposed director, ex officio

Troy Groenke

CEO & Managing Partner, Arden Clark

Troy is an entrepreneur and strategic operator who helps organizations turn ambitious ideas into practical growth plans. He has built and exited two businesses, served as Vice President of Marketing and Communication at Urban Ventures, and earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He founded Arden Clark around a simple belief: senior experience is most valuable when it leaves people and systems stronger.

Proposed director

Dan Fisher

President & CEO, ECMC Group

Dan leads ECMC Group’s work to create, provide, and financially support better paths through postsecondary education, particularly for historically underserved learners. His career spans education finance, law, and organizational governance, including prior service as ECMC’s president and ECMC Group’s general counsel and corporate secretary. He began his career as an active-duty U.S. Army judge advocate and brings a disciplined view of mission, stewardship, and scale.

Proposed director

Kathryn Graves Unger

Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Boston Scientific

Kathryn shapes Boston Scientific’s global approach to responsible and sustainable growth. Her career includes senior leadership at Cargill and Cummins, where she led complex, highly regulated work across strategy, operations, government relations, and global business. A former teacher and former board chair of Urban Ventures, she brings the perspective of an operator who understands that institutional progress depends on people, accountability, and long-term commitment.

Proposed director

Ron Cornwell

Minneapolis education philanthropist

Ron is a longtime supporter of organizations that expand opportunity for young people. With Joan Cornwell, he has supported Urban Ventures for nearly three decades and helped establish the Cornwell Early Learning Center. The Cornwell Scholarships have supported generations of Twin Cities students through Wallin Education Partners. He brings a donor’s long view of what makes support personal, durable, and accountable.

Governance

Public purpose comes first.

Independent judgment

Board decisions will put the Foundation's charitable purpose first.

Clear conflicts

Before related-party work begins, the board will adopt a written conflict policy and require disinterested review and approval.

Useful transparency

Program commitments, approved financial targets, and required public filings will be published as they become available.

Planned succession

Leadership development applies to the Foundation itself, including the founding executive transition.