Frank Baiocchi is the New Executive Director of the Johnson Family Foundation

Frank Baiocchi has been announced as the new executive director of the Johnson Family Foundation (JFF) after a lengthy nationwide search. Baiocchi has a breadth of experience gained from a diverse career. He actually began this career on Broadway, acting in national and regional theaters for nearly eight years. After completing his bachelor’s degree at New York University and his master’s in social service administration and philanthropy at the University of Chicago (UC), Baiocchi shifted his career to the human services sector, seeking to use his education to help those in need. His first position on this career track was as a psychotherapist intern at an outpatient mental health clinic. This was followed by a nearly two-year stint working for his alma mater (UC), as a recruitment coordinator in its school of social service administration. Baiocchi then went into the philanthropic sector, accepting the position of senior program officer at the Chicago-based Polk Bros. Foundation. During his almost-13 years at the Polk Bros. Foundation, he would also serve on the boards of directors of various nonprofit organizations and co-chair the Chicago Arts Education Collective as well as the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development.

Always busy, Baiocchi has also lectured and worked as an adjunct faculty member at both Loyola University and DePaul University while regularly guest lecturing at several other institutions. He succeeds the interim executive director, Richard Burns, who served for the past year. “We are excited to welcome Frank to help guide JFF’s future direction and grateful for Richard’s extraordinary leadership through this transition,” said JFF Board Chair, James M. Johnson for a press release. “Both of these leaders have records of significant achievement in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors and share JFF’s commitment to building healthy and vibrant communities. It is a pleasure to partner with both of them as we work toward our mutual goals.” Frank Baiocchi assumed the duties of his office effective June 27.