Eric Dexter selected as first-ever Vice President of Civic Leadership at Baton Rouge Area Foundation

08.07.2023

Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF) today announced the appointment of Eric Dexter as the first-ever Vice President of Civic Leadership effective August 21, 2023. In this newly created role, Dexter will join the senior leadership team and be responsible for coordinating the Foundation’s major projects. Dexter will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer of BRAF and will support the Chief Executive Officer in driving the Foundation’s civic leadership efforts.

As the vice president of civic leadership, Dexter will play a crucial role in implementing initiatives tied to BRAF’s Opportunity Agenda, which aims to build a thriving and resilient future for all in Baton Rouge and beyond. Dexter’s work will focus on prioritizing efforts that can generate the greatest impact for our community through enhanced quality of life, regional resilience, strong and safe neighborhoods, healthcare outcomes, education, and economic prosperity. The Foundation will continue collaborating with internal and external partners to execute their legacy projects including the LSU Lakes Restoration and Baton Rouge to New Orleans Passenger Rail.

This position was created in response to an extensive strategic planning process conducted by BRAF last year. The addition of Dexter to the Foundation’s senior leadership team will further strengthen the Foundation’s ability to meet donor and nonprofit needs in our community. His role will continue the Foundation’s highly collaborative work in partnership with community stakeholders including elected officials, non-profit organizations, civic leaders, and the community at large.

Dexter brings with him significant experience in operations, business development and strategy, and client relations. He has a lengthy record of community service and engagement that includes serving on boards and committees for more than 15 nonprofits whose areas of focus span education, business and regional development, youth development, healthcare, and the arts.

“Having the opportunity to be part of the team at BRAF is a dream come true,” said Dexter. “I’m excited to jump into this work and partner with the visionary leaders at the Foundation to make Baton Rouge better every day.”

“We are confident that Eric’s ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and plan and execute major projects will greatly contribute to the success of our civic initiatives,” said Chris Meyer, president and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. “His proven track record in connecting with -and deeply understanding- our community while driving positive impact aligns perfectly with our vision for this role and BRAF’s continued leadership in the community. We look forward to working closely with him to create lasting, positive change.”

Jeffrey Koonce, board chair of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, added, “Eric’s leadership and dedication to civic engagement will be invaluable as we continue to address the pressing challenges facing our community. We are thrilled to have him join the team.”

For more information about the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and their civic leadership initiatives, please visit www.braf.org.

About the Baton Rouge Area Foundation: Among the largest community foundations in the country, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life in greater Baton Rouge and across south Louisiana.  

The Foundation pursues its mission by serving donors to build the assets that drive initiatives and solutions, supporting local nonprofits to ensure overall impact and sustainability, engaging community leaders to develop appropriate responses to emerging opportunities and challenges, and by partnering with others to leverage collective resources and create the capacity to be a stimulus of positive regional change. 

For more information, visit BRAF.org. 

About Eric Dexter: A native of Alexandria, Louisiana, Eric Dexter is passionate about collaborating to create lasting relationships and impact. Most recently, Dexter served as vice president of Civil Solutions Consulting Group, Inc. There he oversaw the organization’s marketing and business development initiatives while managing new and existing client accounts.

A strong community advocate, Eric is a leading figure in the development of several local nonprofits and associations, ranging from business, education, economic development, the arts, and social good. His activism has been noted by the Baton Rouge Business Report as a Forty Under 40 honoree in 2015; as LABI’s 2016 Young Businessperson-Free Enterprise Champion; and as a 2017 Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge Great Futures Gala Honoree. He received his undergraduate degree at Northwestern State University, where he majored in Business Administration and minored in Marketing.