Hi Friends and Colleagues:
It is with mixed emotions that Susan Shumaker is announcing her retirement. At the end of March of 2026, she will be stepping away from her position as president of Cone Health Foundation.
As she reflected on all the incredible people that she has met over the years and the substantial impact of Cone Health Foundation’s work in our community, the word that kept resurfacing for her was gratitude.
She expressed gratitude, first and foremost, for the staff at Cone Health Foundation, both past and present; the Board members who have been partners in this work; her colleagues at Cone Health, along with all the partners who have shared in this work. Their dedication, she said, to reducing the health disparities that exist in our community and state has been inspiring.
Gratitude for the collective community impact has been achieved together by supporting organizations and communities across Greensboro and beyond. She said, “It’s been an honor to play even a small role in the important, amazing work that you all do.”
And gratitude for all the ways that she has grown and evolved over the last 16 years in her role as president. “It has been such a privilege to collaborate with and learn from so many amazing individuals and partners throughout my tenure,” she noted.
The work of Cone Health Foundation is more important than ever. The foundation remains focused on the tagline that was adopted in 2023 at the start of their shift to community-driven philanthropy: “Driven by equity. Guided by community.” And from the learnings of the seminal Greensboro Community Report, she knows the CHF team will continue to respond to the expressed needs of community while being attentive to the ongoing and emergent community needs stemming from shifts in the political climate.
“Susan has led the foundation’s evolution from traditional grantmaking to a trust-based approach, working to eliminate health inequities by investing in community-driven solutions. Her leadership style is grounded in humility and built on respect for community wisdom. Susan asks questions and listens deeply, believing the best solutions come by embracing collaborative approaches. Her work has been supported and inspired by the foundation’s diverse and trusted board and staff.”
Kristen Wither Yntema
Board Chair, Cone Health Foundation
As she looks ahead to retirement, she remains hopeful for the future. “There are so many powerful, dedicated leaders in our community who will carry this work forward and the next generation of leaders who will continue to emerge and bring new perspectives,” she said. “I truly believe that if we continue to listen to and invest in people who understand the root of the issues that impact their communities, we will be able to realize our vision–to live in a Greensboro where health inequities no longer exist.”
