Council on Foundations, the US association of philanthropic organizations, has announced a new chair and vice chair to its board of directors at its 2017 conference in Dallas.

The Council has appointed Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of The Miami Foundation, chair of the board for a two-year term. He succeeds Sherry Magill who served as board chair since 2014.

‘This is an important time for philanthropy,’ said Soto. ‘In an environment where we are pushed to define ourselves by differences, the social sector is well-positioned to unite communities around common goals. I’m ready to advance the Council’s important role in making that happen.’

Jaime Merisotis been announced as vice chair. Since 2008, Merisotis has served as president and CEO of the Lumina Foundation, an independent, private foundation committed to making opportunities for learning beyond high school available.

The council also announced three new directors, each with a three-year term. Dinah Dittman, National Director for Community Benefit at Kaiser Permanente, Kathleen McLaughlin, President of Walmart Foundation, and Ridgway White, President of Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, will join the Council’s 17-member board January 2018.

For more on the Council on Foundations, see coverage of CoF’s 2017 conference here