Danita DeHaney joined the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties as president and CEO in March of 2021. The Community Foundation serves as a civic leader and grantmaker using local knowledge and expertise to improve the lives of all residents. Founded in 1972, the Foundation has assets of over $244 million and has awarded more than $205 million in grants and academic scholarships.
Before joining the Foundation, DeHaney served as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Chief Executive Officer of the FAU Foundation, Inc., at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). During her tenure, she helped catapult the university into a new era of excellence with record-breaking fundraising and spearheaded its second-ever comprehensive campaign (the first in 20 years).
Before joining FAU, DeHaney rose through the University of Florida (UF) ranks, the state’s flagship institution. Over five years, she was promoted from alumni relations to external affairs, and finally to Senior Associate Vice President for External Affairs. She was responsible for a portfolio of major donors and prospects and directed the national volunteer strategy to support UF’s $3 billion campaign.
From 1995 to 2011, DeHaney held numerous senior-level positions at the University of Maryland, including Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations during the university’s $1 billion campaign. She was Senior Associate Director of Athletics before pivoting her talents to fundraising. In addition to her higher education experience, DeHaney worked in the private industry for 14 years at global giants Xerox Corporation and Learning International.