wfn.org | Episcopal Bishop Fund appoints director

[Daphne Mack <dmack@dfms.org>]

99-2290
Executive director for Presiding Bishop's Fund appointed

by Kathryn McCormick
(ENS) Sandra S. Swan has been named executive director of 
the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Development by 
Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold. She began work January 25.

"Sandra Swan's gifts and experience in the areas of 
marketing and development make her eminently well suited to serve 
the Presiding Bishop's Fund," said Griswold.

"I'm excited, because she has a wonderful background and 
will do a great job for the fund," said Ann Vest, who has served 
as the fund's interim director since May 1.

Swan will bring to her new job experience in managing 
development programs, from the International Executive Service 
Corps to Barnard College to the National Corporate Theatre Fund. 
In all of those positions, she directed large fund-raising 
programs and activities and was involved in marketing strategy and 
the organizations' evaluation processes.

These skills will be important to the Fund, Vest and others 
agreed.

With the devastation left by Hurricanes Mitch and Georges 
and hardship caused across the country by El Ni¤o, the fund saw 
its emergency grant program balloon to more than $1 million in 
1998 from its recent annual average of $300,000. In the face of 
this, as well as a need to expand the Fund's grant program for 
rehabilitation and development projects, the board is seeking to 
increase the Fund's annual income.

Swan, saying that she was eager to begin work, said that 
when she met with the board last fall and discussed the emergency 
grant program, "I was impressed by the board's commitment to this 
way of meeting needs around the world." She cited the clear, 
quick way decisions are made "to see that money goes where it has 
an impact." She added that she also likes the Fund's long-term 
vision - "the mission of the fund to eliminate the root causes 
of poverty."

A native of Nebraska, where she grew up on a farm and 
attended a one-room school, Swan spent many years in New York City 
before moving to Connecticut, where she lives with her husband, 
Bruce Swan. They have three children and two grandchildren.

An Episcopalian, she has long been active in parish work and 
is finishing a three-year term as a member of the vestry of her 
church.

"When I saw the announcement that the fund was looking for 
a new executive director, I thought it was a job that had been 
drawn up just for me," she laughed, explaining that she was 
delighted that her new work brings together her administrative 
experience and her eagerness to serve the church.

"I have loved working for the fund, and I am committed to 
the work it does," said Vest. "It has been exciting for me to be 
in the director's position - and frustrating because it's a full-
time job and I've only been able to work two days per week. And I 
didn't expect the worst disaster in 200 years [Hurricane Mitch] to 
strike on my watch."

She said she plans to retire and return full-time to her 
Virginia home and to family life. She looks forward to spending 
time with her husband, Frank Vest, who recently retired as bishop 
of Southern Virginia.

"I will stay involved with the Fund," she said, "although 
I don't yet know what my role will be."

--Kathryn McCormick is associate director of the Office of News 
and Information of the Episcopal Church.

Episcopal News Service
Kathryn McCormick
(212) 922-5383
kmccormick@dfms.org
www.ecusa.anglican.org/ens