Stegall to lead The Endowment’s programs and grantmaking strategy for long-term community impact in New Hanover County
WILMINGTON, N.C. The Endowment has named Dr. David Stegall as Vice President, Programs and Grants. Stegall, who previously served as The Endowment’s Director of Education and Community Development, will lead program and grant strategy in support of The Endowment’s mission to improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in New Hanover County.
“Throughout our search, I had the opportunity to consider the qualities and experience needed to lead our programs and grantmaking into the future,” said Sophie Dagenais, President and CEO of The Endowment. “It became clear that the strongest candidate was already on our team. David has shown exceptional leadership, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to our mission. He understands our philanthropic work and organizational structure deeply, has cultivated strong partnerships, and has served as a valued mentor to our team. Importantly, David will continue to lead our educational initiatives, where he has laid a strong foundation for growth and impact. Working alongside our partners, he will build on that success while taking on this expanded leadership role.”
Since joining The Endowment in 2025, Stegall has helped lead community-focused grant initiatives in education and community development, including efforts to strengthen educational outcomes, expand education-to-career pathways and support learning opportunities for residents of all ages. Through this work, he has built strong relationships with leaders, colleagues, and community partners across New Hanover County.
Stegall will oversee The Endowment’s program and grant strategy across its four strategic pillars. He will also guide the organization’s impact and learning functions, embedding data, measurement, research, and continuous learning into programs, partnerships, and investments aligned with The Endowment’s theory of change. In this role, he will work closely with The Endowment’s President and CEO, Board of Directors, Community Advisory Council, staff, and partners to advance long-term, community-rooted solutions to New Hanover County’s most pressing challenges.
“I am honored to serve in this new role and grateful to continue working alongside our team and community partners,” said Stegall. “The Endowment has a unique opportunity to help create lasting change in New Hanover County, and I look forward to building on our strong foundation as we work together to expand opportunity and improve outcomes for our community.”
Stegall brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in education at the local, state, national, and international levels, with a focus on educational innovation, student outcomes, and system-level change.
Before joining The Endowment, Stegall served as Chief of System Innovation for the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, where he helped design and scale educational frameworks for military-connected students worldwide. He also served as Deputy State Superintendent of Innovation at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, leading statewide efforts to support innovation and local school districts.
As superintendent of Newton-Conover City Schools, Stegall led a comprehensive district turnaround. During his tenure, every school exceeded academic growth targets, graduation rates rose above 95 percent, and the district consistently ranked among the top-performing systems in North Carolina.
Most recently, Stegall was selected to participate in Cohort 6 of ElevateNC: Higher Education, a Hunt Institute leadership program that brings together education, workforce, and community leaders from across North Carolina to address challenges related to access, affordability, completion, and attainment.
Stegall succeeds Dagenais, who has served as The Endowment’s Vice President of Programs and Grants since January 27, 2025 and was named President and CEO earlier this year. Following her appointment, she continued to serve concurrently as Vice President and President and CEO until today’s announcement of Stegall as her successor.
About The Endowment
The Endowment’s mission is to improve the health, education, safety, and economic opportunity of every person in New Hanover County. For more about The Endowment and to stay informed about upcoming grant opportunities, visit www.theendowment.org.
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