Chris Nanni

Overview 

Listen in as President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham Chris Nanni weaves together personal and organizational reflections on driving equity in the most fragmented community in the Southeast. Chris shares a wealth of knowledge and ideas – particularly for listeners looking to learn from peers who are working to build bridges across their communities.

Key Lessons and Insights

  • Language is powerful (19:07)
    “Language is powerful… and sometimes it's important to make a stand and use the language, but a lot of times here it's, let's just do the work and get the work done. And if we have to change a name or talk about it differently, we do that,” Chris shares.
     
  • Push the line while staying relevant (22:52)
    Chris discusses the tension the foundation holds in advancing racial equity work to the greatest extent possible without leaving the majority of the community behind. This work takes deep listening, bringing people together and building relationships across diverse communities. 
     
  • Practice profound listening (47:24)
    When engaging across diverse communities, deep listening to understand is a key skill to creating lasting transformation. Chris shares, “We can be sort of that sounding board, but we can also kind of provide a different perspective and bring people together that way.”

 

References and Resources

  • Woven Together Series
    A program by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham that brings together speakers from both sides of the aisle on topics that impact the community - such as education or poverty - to drive change through solutions-oriented conversations.
     
  • Dr. Tricia Rose from Brown University
    An author, speaker and educator whose work focuses on African American studies, racial inequality and gender. Her newest book, “Metaracism: How Systemic Racism Devastates Black Lives—and How We Break Free,” details what systemic racism is, and the policies and practices needed to uproot it. 
     
  • FrameWorks Insititute
    A think tank focused on narrative change for mission-driven organizations. 
     
  • Passing Gear Philanthropy by MDC
    A report on the state of the south that sought to understand philanthropy’s role in making the south a more equitable and competitive place to live and work. 

Chris Nanni headshot
Chris Nanni
President and CEO

Chris Nanni joined the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham as president and CEO in February 2014. As the largest foundation in Alabama with assets of $320 million, the community foundation connects philanthropists, nonprofits and engaged leaders to build a stronger, more vibrant future for the five-county Greater Birmingham region.


Chris has more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit and community work and a deep-seated passion for philanthropy. Contributing to his effectiveness are the many years he has spent in the nonprofit sector running organizations and programs dealing with issues such as addiction, homelessness, poverty and education. One of his most deeply affecting experiences was the two-and-a-half years he spent in the Dominican Republic doing mission work along the Haitian border.

 

Chris has a master's in social work from the University of Chicago and a master's in cross-cultural theology from Catholic Theological Union. He earned his bachelor's in theology and computer applications from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a walk-on for the men’s basketball team. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., Chris met his wife, Allison, while at Notre Dame. They have three children, Marcello, Louie and Maria.


Chris believes that philanthropy is an essential tool in addressing critical issues. He has evolved the community foundation’s grantmaking to be proactive in resolving community challenges. Given the incredible generosity of the Birmingham area and manageability of our issues, Chris believes the foundation is strategically poised to help build a more just, prosperous, and equitable community and fulfill the foundation's mission to “ignite passion for transformational change.”

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