Program Director, Hyde Family Foundations
Gretchen Wollert McLennon joined the Hyde Family Foundations as a Program Officer in 2007. Currently, as Program Director for Authentic Assets and Communications, her work focuses on managing the arts & culture and innovation portfolios, as well as the leadership programming of the Foundations. Additionally, Gretchen directs all strategic communications for the organization.
Not content to solely be financial contributors to the non-profit groups and institutions they support, Hyde Family Foundations' senior staff works closely with grantees to provide ongoing guidance around such areas as: strategic and long-range planning, organizational capacity building, project management, and development and fundraising activities. Prior to her work with the Hyde family, Gretchen was a Major Gifts Officer for Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA) and a Donor Relations Officer for the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
Gretchen was named “Top 40 Under 40” in 2009 by Memphis Business Journal, and has completed the Fellows and Masters (LDI) Programs of New Memphis Institute. She is a trustee of her alma mater, St. Mary's Episcopal School, and is a member of Tennessee Arts Commission‟s community arts and creative placemaking grant review committees. Additionally, Gretchen sits on the boards of several local non-profit organizations, including: ArtsMemphis, Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum, and The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis. In July 2014 Gretchen became President of Ballet Memphis' Board, which brings “full circle” her personal-professional journey as a former student and dancer in the company's junior company.
With over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, Gretchen regularly presents on panels and at conferences on issues related to city-building, contemporary trends in grantmaking, and equity in the arts.
A native Memphian, Gretchen is a graduate of Northwestern (BA) and Wake Forest (MBA) universities.