OBCF Executive Director Joins Leadership Council of ZSR Foundation

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The executive director of the Outer Banks Community Foundation has been appointed to the Community Leadership Council of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR).

Lorelei Costa, who was hired in 2012 to lead the Outer Banks Community Foundation, joined ZSR’s Community Leadership Council last month, along with 19 other diverse leaders from across North Carolina, representing various sectors, professions, and backgrounds. Costa and her fellow Council members will spend three years working alongside ZSR to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing communities across the state.

“I am honored to be part of such a prestigious group of individuals,” said Costa. “The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation is a statewide, private foundation that has contributed immeasurably to the quality of life of all North Carolinians. This is an amazing opportunity to learn from one of the philanthropic giants in our state, to provide the Foundation with insight into our coastal communities, and to network with other professionals and civic volunteers.”

“The appointment of this exceptional group of leaders could not have come at a better time,” said Maurice “Mo” Green, executive director of ZSR. “In May, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation announced plans to launch a yearlong strategic assessment to determine how we can best serve North Carolina communities in light of changes to the state’s landscape as well as to examine and evaluate our current approach to grantmaking and broader work.

“The Community Leadership Council, in so far as it represents a microcosm of North Carolina, is the ideal group to assist us throughout this process. We are excited to have them on board during this important time in the Foundation’s history.”

Costa has 18 years’ experience in the charitable and philanthropic sectors, working and volunteering for such nonprofits as the NC Coastal Land Trust, the Alaska Chamber Singers, the NC Mountains to Sea Trail, the Alaska Women’s Giving Circle, and the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department. She earned a BA from UNC Chapel Hill and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University.

ZSR is an 80-year-old private foundation based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, investing in statewide, regional, and community-based organizations that are dedicated to building an inclusive, sustainable, and vibrant state. ZSR currently focuses on the areas of community economic development, environment, public education, social justice and equity, and strengthening democracy. In Dare County, recent ZSR grantees include Mano al Hermano and Outer Banks Catch. For more information or to learn more about ZSR, visit www.zsr.org.

The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a public charity that connects people who care with causes that matter. The Community Foundation manages $13 million in 140 charitable funds for individuals and agencies, awards charitable grants to local nonprofits, administers 45 scholarship programs, and provides tailored services to help donors pursue their charitable interests. Since its inception in 1982, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $7 million in grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students. For more information or to learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.obcf.org.