Phillip P. Lanham, CAP®
President | CEO
Phillip P. Lanham, CAP® is responsible for the leadership of Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) as president and CEO, overseeing organizational strategy and programs, operations, and investments.
Phillip has been leading Gulf Coast since June 2023, working with the Board of Directors and staff to advance its three priority areas: Attainable Housing, Environmental Resilience, and Helping People Through Times of Crisis. During his tenure, Gulf Coast has launched a bold three-year strategy to expand its impact in partnership with donors.
Under Phillip’s leadership, Gulf Coast has reached several significant milestones, including surpassing $650 million in community impact since its founding, strengthening regional systems of care, and accelerating unique donor-driven solutions to address housing affordability across the Gulf Coast region.
Phillip's commitment to community service is unwavering. He serves on the boards of the Florida Chamber Foundation, Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, and Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. Phillip is a member of the Steering Committee for the Community Foundation Awareness Initiative, a national advocacy organization committed to advancing community philanthropy and was selected for Leadership Florida's Cornerstone Class 44. Phillip believes that working towards the greater good has been the hallmark of his career.
With more than 25 years of philanthropic leadership experience, Phillip has built a reputation as an accomplished executive leader with a strong track record of delivering results-driven strategies. Before joining Gulf Coast, he served as chief philanthropy officer at Greater Cincinnati Foundation, where he successfully led the philanthropic partnerships team in providing strategic guidance on relationships with donors, nonprofits, businesses, and private foundations.
At the University of Cincinnati, Phillip earned his bachelor’s and MBA degrees and began his career in higher education advancement.
As a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® and a member of the 21/64 Network, an organization specializing in engaging the next generation in family philanthropy, Phillip brings deep expertise and perspective to his work, including national volunteer leadership experience with organizations such as the Advancement Network for community foundations. Under his leadership, Gulf Coast’s Grantee Perception Survey results placed Gulf Coast among the top-ranked community foundations nationally, and initiatives like Heroes' Village, a veterans housing development now at capacity and changing the lives of the veterans who call it home, reflect his commitment to translating listening and strategy into lasting impact for the region.
Phillip and Tami, his wife, are proud parents of two sons, Grant and Chase, who share a love of football and the beach. His hobbies include traveling, boating, watching football, and downhill skiing.
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