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Philanthropy, community health care, public policy development and advocacy, public administration
For more than 20 years, Gary Cunningham has served as the top leader of philanthropic, health care, public policy, and educational organizations. Currently, Cunningham serves as vice president and chief program officer for the Northwest Area Foundation, where he is responsible for carrying out the foundation's mission to help communities reduce poverty in an eight-state region of the United States. The Northwest Area Foundation is the fourth-largest private foundation in Minnesota and among the 100 wealthiest foundations in the United States.
Prior to joining the foundation, Cunningham served as the president and chief executive officer for NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in Minneapolis, where he designed and successfully led a reinvention and renewal effort creating the largest and most successful community health and human service organization in Minnesota. His past experience includes county and school district administration and service with several government agencies.
Cunningham is the founder of the award-winning African American Men Project, which has been recognized for helping young men recommit to their families and communities by the Minneapolis Urban League, the American Planning Association, and the National Association of Counties. His volunteer service includes membership on the Minnesota Mental Heath Action Group, University of Minnesota Medical Center, dean's advisory council of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development. He is the recipient of many awards and honors.
Cunningham has a bachelor's degree in public policy from Metropolitan State University and earned a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government as a Bush Leadership Fellow.
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