FLINT, MI – The Community Foundation of Greater Flint has promoted Lydia Starrs, MSW, to vice president of community impact, effective May 11, 2026. Starrs has served the Community Foundation since 2017 and will report to Dan Kildee, president and CEO, as a member of the leadership team.
As vice president of community impact, Starrs will provide strategic leadership for the Community Foundation’s grantmaking, scholarship program, learning and the Community Foundation’s community leadership efforts across Flint and Genesee County. She brings nearly a decade of service at the Community Foundation, and a career rooted in listening to communities and turning what she hears into meaningful investment.
“Lydia has spent nine years earning the trust of residents, nonprofit leaders and community partners,” said Dan Kildee, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
Kildee added: “She understands how to move resources toward the people and organizations doing the work to serve communities in need. This promotion recognizes the leadership she has already been providing and positions the Community Foundation to deepen that work going forward.”
As senior program officer, Starrs facilitated community-led grantmaking focused on the health and wellbeing of Genesee County residents, directing approximately $1 million in grant awards annually. She led the development of the Community Foundation’s impact measurement framework and served as a key liaison to community coalitions and cross-sector initiatives. Her leadership extends beyond the Community Foundation: she co-chairs Flint Lead Free, chairs the planning committee for the Social Determinants of Health Solutions Lab and serves on the steering committee of the Flint and Genesee Literacy Network.
Before joining the Community Foundation, Starrs served as associate director of enabling services at the Michigan Primary Care Association, where she led training and technical assistance for federally qualified health centers statewide and facilitated a network of more than 200 health center staff through peer learning, technical assistance and regular communications. She began her career as a community resource navigator through AmeriCorps at the United Way of Genesee County, connecting social service providers with resources to better serve local families.
“This community has shaped who I am as a professional and as a person,” said Starrs. “The organizations and residents doing this work every day in Genesee County inspire me. I’m honored to step into this role and committed to making sure the Foundation’s resources reach the people and places where they matter most.”
Starrs holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, with a concentration in Social Policy and Evaluation, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Michigan State University.
The community is invited to join the Community Foundation of Greater Flint in congratulating Starrs on her promotion as she continues to advance the Foundation’s mission in Genesee County.
About the Community Foundation of Greater Flint
The Community Foundation of Greater Flint is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of Genesee County. Founded in 1988, the Community Foundation connects donors to the causes that matter most, addressing a wide range of community needs. With more than $380 million in assets, the Community Foundation has granted over $202 million to support nonprofits and programs that improve the quality of life in Flint and beyond. The Community Foundation of Greater Flint brings people together, connecting generosity to community-led solutions that help Genesee County thrive. For good. Forever. For everyone. For more information, visit www.cfgf.org.
