Chris DeCardy

Chris DeCardy is the President of The Heinz Endowments, a prominent philanthropic organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He assumed this role in April 2023 after being appointed following a 10-month national search.37

Professional Background

Prior to joining The Heinz Endowments, DeCardy had a diverse career in the non-profit and philanthropy sectors:

• Principal at DeCardy Consulting (2020-2023)5
• Acting CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation (2021-2022)5
• Former foundation communications director, one of the few to transition to a leadership role in a major foundation6

Expertise and Approach

DeCardy is known for:

• Bringing together people, organizations, and resources in the non-profit and philanthropy sector4
• Tackling complex social and environmental problems4
• Being one of the few former foundation communications directors to lead a major foundation, which has influenced his approach to philanthropy6

Role at The Heinz Endowments

As President, DeCardy is responsible for:

• Leading the organization's strategic direction and operations
• Overseeing grantmaking activities
• Collaborating with the Board of Directors, including Chairman André Heinz and Chair Emeritus Teresa Heinz1

DeCardy emphasizes transparency and open communication in his leadership. He encourages feedback from grantees and applicants, and can be reached directly at ccd@heinz.org for comments, questions, and concerns.2

LinkedIn Profile

Chris DeCardy's LinkedIn username is chris-decardy-16ba375, where more details about his professional experience and connections can be found.4