Francis L. Day

President

Future Generations University

Exciting Announcement: Continued Forward Progress with Presidential Search

Future Generations University is very dear to me, and as the institution continues to grow I am excited to take part in its forward progress with the search for a new, permanent president. Thank you to the Board of Trustees for inviting me to serve as the transitional president. My particular thanks go to Daniel Taylor for his support, guidance, and caring over the past year.

In the time since I rejoined Future Generations University as Trustee and President, three major objectives were realized:

* The University is well-positioned for reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission in 2025.
* Conclusion of the 2019-2024 Strategic Plan and execution of a new five-year Strategic Plan focused on growth.
* Continuing the stable business model adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2017 and solidifying gains with a balanced budget and without debt.

Future Generations University continues to advance world-leading community change and train visionary leaders, as evidenced by remarkable recent reports from University alumni with 75% reporting positive career outcomes attributable to their degree, 81% recording salary increases after graduation, and 80% expressing an increase in overall confidence as a result of their education. I am proud of these accomplishments and of the vitally important work done at Future Generations.

The next president will join a strong team and a growing, world-circling family. When the right person is identified, hired, and ready to assume their role as president, I will resume my service on the Future Generations University Board of Trustees.

Help us continue to grow. See the attached leadership opportunity. Together, we will look to the future and continue advancing inclusive and sustainable community change worldwide.

Thank you,

Francis L. Day
President & CEO

Leadership Opportunity: President & CEO Job Description

ABOUT

Francis L. Day has over four decades of experience as a nonprofit manager at the senior leadership level, primarily in higher education and fundraising. Her work focuses on moving organizations to higher level functioning by building and re-building management systems, ensuring mission-driven programmatic initiatives, and improving fundraising programs and campaigns.

Francis joins Future Generations as President after leaving her position as Chief Officer of Institutional Advancement at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, one of the oldest craft schools in the United States. Her responsibilities at Arrowmont included marketing, enrollment/recruitment, fundraising, events management, grants, scholarships, communications, major endowments, and capital campaigns.

During her nine-year tenure at Arrowmont, achievements include an increased annual operating revenue from $2.2MM (2014) to $8.0MM+ (2023); increased net asset base from < $10MM to $54MM+; completed a $37MM endowment campaign in < 18 months; increased liquid operating reserve from <$1MM to $7MM+; increased donor base from 500 to 3,756 giving units; and built a diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. During the COVID pandemic, Fran led the senior leadership team in managing the operations, kept every employee on at full salary and benefits, and raised over $3MM to keep employees on without invading the reserve fund during COVID. She also served on the CEO Search Committee of the Board of Governors.

Francis is a former employee of Future Generations aiding the President in developing the legal framework, writing the by-laws for, and getting approval from the WV Department of Education for the creation of Future Generations University. She has remained a friend of the organization while developing her career with other organizations.

Early career positions include CEO of the Haskell Foundation at Haskell Indian Nations University, Dean of Development at College of the Atlantic, and Vice President at Unity College. She was an independent contractor providing fundraising and management services, worked as a remedial reading teacher, and was a science and environmental reporter.

She is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Daughters of the American Revolution. Fran has two adult children, and is an avid gardener , writer and reader.

PAST EXPERIENCE

  • Chief Officer for Institutional Advancement at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts
  • Former Vice President Institutional Advancement at Future Generations University
  • Masters in Management Engineering and Anthropology at UCLA and University of Tennessee