Concord -  Lewis M. Feldstein announced on Wednesday April 22nd that he will retire as president of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in June 2010. Feldstein, 67, has held the position since 1986. The Board of Directors has appointed a search committee to identify his successor.

Under Feldstein’s leadership, the Charitable Foundation has become the largest funder of nonprofit organizations in northern New England, with assets growing from $25 million in 1986 to $375 million at the end of 2008. Feldstein has also positioned the foundation as a significant catalyst in public policy, community building, civic engagement, and charitable giving.

“It’s hard to overstate Lew’s impact on the foundation and the state of New Hampshire,” said James Putnam of Keene, chair of the Board of Directors. “He has built one of the most successful community foundations in the country and continues to touch untold numbers of lives here and around the world. One of Lew’s greatest contributions has been building a strong staff leadership team. That team and our extraordinary Board of Directors will ensure a smooth transition when the time comes.”

Feldstein is a long-time advisor of prominent New Hampshire leaders, and has been named as one of the state’s most influential citizens by Business New Hampshire magazine and New Hampshire Public Radio. In 2008, he was selected by Nonprofit Times as one of America’s 50 top nonprofit leaders. Before coming to the Charitable Foundation, Feldstein was provost of Antioch University New England, an aide to New York Mayor John Lindsay, a journalist, and a noted civil rights activist. He has written and lectured widely on social capital, community foundations, and other topics, and has served on numerous national boards of directors. With Robert Putnam of Harvard University, he co-founded the Saguaro Seminar and co-authored the book Better Together.

The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation serves communities throughout New Hampshire, southeastern Maine, and eastern Vermont. The Charitable Foundation manages a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families, and corporations, and awarded more than $34 million in grants and scholarships in 2008. The Charitable Foundation is non-partisan, frequently playing the role of convener and catalyst on a broad spectrum of issues. Based in Concord, the Charitable Foundation roots itself in the communities through seven regional advisory boards. More information is available at www.nhcf.org, or by calling 603-225-6641.