WILMINGTON, N.C., July. 14, 2025 – The New Hanover Community Endowment (The Endowment) today announced that Dan Winslow is stepping down from his role as president and chief executive officer to focus on personal priorities. The Endowment’s Board of Directors accepted his resignation and has appointed Sophie Dagenais to serve as interim CEO. Sophie will lead day-today operations and keep The Endowment’s strong momentum and strategic direction on track.
“Thanks to Dan’s leadership, we’ve made significant progress and built momentum towards transforming New Hanover County.” said Shannon Winslow, Board Chair. “Dan has played a critical role in operationalizing The Endowment’s vision and building a talented team to carry the work forward. We’re grateful for his contributions and wish him the best in his next chapter.”
“Leading The Endowment and getting to know the people of New Hanover County has been a true privilege,” said Dan Winslow. “I’ve made the difficult decision to step away to refocus my time and attention on other priorities. While this wasn’t an easy choice, I am proud of the work we’ve done, in partnership with the board, staff, CAC and the strong network of partners in New Hanover County, to introduce the “grants rainbow” and further define The Endowment’s strategic vision. I am confident that this work will continue and will truly transform the county.”
Dagenais has served as The Endowment’s Vice President of Programs and Grants for the past five months. Before joining The Endowment, she was an Assistant Dean at Syracuse University and led the Baltimore Civic Site at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a $3.4 billion charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and families across the United States. She also served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Baltimore. Her career builds on a foundation of success as a partner at an AmLaw 100 firm, where she specialized in corporate law, finance, real estate, and economic development.
The board of directors remains dedicated to continuing The Endowment’s progress and mission through this leadership transition.
About the Endowment
The Endowment’s mission is to address the root challenges in community safety, community development, social and health equity, and education, and to develop impactful solutions for every person in New Hanover County. The Endowment was established from the sale of the county-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020. The initial fund was nearly $1.3 billion. Grants will be awarded each year in perpetuity