Scripps Howard Foundation hires long-time nonprofit executive as CEO

Liz Carter

The Scripps Howard Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed nonprofit veteran and former journalist Liz Carter as its new president and CEO, replacing Mike Philipps, who is retiring after a 40-year career in journalism and philanthropy.

The foundation is the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company.

Carter, 54, has served as executive director of St. Vincent de Paul in Cincinnati since 1999. She was responsible for leading planning, design, implementation and evaluation of all the organization's programs.

Effective April 1, Carter will lead one of the media industry's largest and most creative investors in journalism education and the operator of one of the news industry's best-known celebrations of journalistic excellence, the annual Scripps Howard Awards. She also will oversee the foundation's investment in local nonprofits across the country, including those in Cincinnati, home to The E.W. Scripps Company. 

"Liz Carter has shown strong stewardship of St. Vincent de Paul and is a highly visible philanthropic leader in Cincinnati who has made a tremendous impact," said Robin Davis, lead trustee of the foundation and vice president of financial planning and analysis for Scripps. "We are looking to her to continue the foundation's mission of driving excellence in journalism and also improving the communities in which Scripps does business."

In her 15 years at the helm of St. Vincent de Paul, Carter oversaw continuous growth, including increasing the number of people helped from 50,000 to 120,000; increasing the number of active and associate members from 656 to 910; and increasing the agency's budget from $1.5 million to $15 million.

She also helped change Ohio laws to permit charitable pharmacies and then created Ohio's first, the St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy. She also helped increase revenue at the Cincinnati area Thrift Store and Donation Centers from $2.1 million in 2002 to $11.6 million in 2013.

"Liz has been a wonderful gift to St. Vincent de Paul and families in need across Cincinnati," said Andrew Curran, president of the board of St. Vincent de Paul-Cincinnati. "We'd also like to thank Scripps for its ongoing support and look forward to building on our partnership as Liz moves into her new role."

Carter received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Louisville and worked as a reporter for the Community Press Newspapers in Cincinnati from 1995-1999.

Philipps is retiring from a 40-year journalism and fundraising career, including seven years running the Scripps Howard Foundation and 30 years with The Cincinnati Post/Kentucky Post.