Simon Delekta named VP of Community Engagement and Impact

Simon Delekta of Portsmouth has been named vice president of community engagement and impact at the Charitable Foundation. Simon has been with the Foundation since 2014.

In his role as a senior program officer, Simon has built strong partnerships with community partners, colleagues and donors. He helped implement the Foundation’s shift to awarding multiyear operating grants to nonprofits; spearheaded the Foundation’s work on the State of New Hampshire’s Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund, which distributed nearly $40 million in federal pandemic aid to nonprofits; co-led the Foundation’s work in Impact Investing; and was instrumental in developing and implementing the Foundation’s strategic plan, “Together We Thrive.”

Simon was promoted to this role after an extensive region-wide search and was selected from a pool of more than 60 applicants.

“Simon is uniquely positioned to lead our community engagement and impact work from his eight years as an innovative and skilled senior program officer and cross-organization peer leader, and his previous professional experiences in philanthropy, civic leadership and community organizing,” said Foundation President and CEO Richard Ober. “We are thrilled that Simon will be stepping into this hugely important role at such an exciting and pivotal time for our Foundation.”

Prior to joining the Charitable Foundation, Simon served as global philanthropic advisor at The Philanthropic Initiative, an initiative of The Boston Foundation. He has served as director of The Network for Engaged International Donors (formerly New England International Donors) and of the Community Foundation Global Giving Network. Simon has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, including as manager for government and community affairs at the New York Public Library and director of voter education and civic engagement for the New York League of Conservation Voters.

Simon received his Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

Simon succeeds Katie Merrow, who served as vice president of community impact from 2008 until her retirement from the Foundation in the fall of 2022. Simon began in his new role this week.

“I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to do this work,” Simon said. “We have an amazing team of colleagues who feel deep responsibility and commitment to the work of helping make New Hampshire a place where everyone can thrive. And I’m proud to be part of an organization that is committed to using all the tools available to us to advance equity, racial justice and economic security for New Hampshire.”