S o cie t y P hila n t hro p ic Faces
Andy Kopplin President & CEO, Greater New Orleans Foundation By Sue Strachan
Andy Kopplin is a natural for his job. After working for years in city and state government in several positions, he came to know the region better than most. As President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation, he guides this organization that acts as a “clearinghouse” – or as its website (GNOF.org) says, “connects donors to causes.” Right now, Kopplin is leading the initiative to grow its assets to more than $500 million by 2023, its 100th anniversary. Other initiatives? He’s involved in the foundation’s efforts to develop the area around Charity Hospital into the Spirit of Charity Innovation District, creating a strategy that will be inclusive, including job growth and addressing neighborhood concerns. Before joining GNOF, Kopplin spent years in city and state government: he was chief of staff to Louisiana Governors Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and Mike Foster, initially joining as Foster’s policy director. He was part of the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina as Founding Executive Director of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, 2005-2008. After working for Teach for America’s Wendy Kopp as Special Advisor, Kopplin joined the administration of Mayor Mitch Landrieu as First Deputy Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer, helping guide the city from near bankruptcy in 2010 to fiscal stability and highest bond ratings in history by 2016.
Age: 55 Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Rice University; Masters of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School Nonprofit: Greater New Orleans Foundation Position: President & CEO, Doris Z. Stone Chair in Philanthropic Leadership
22 ST. CHARLES AVENUE SEPTEMBER 2021
PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER
