David N. Cicilline is the President and CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation. With more than $1.7 billion in assets, it is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the country. As the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island, the Foundation is helping — together with neighbors and partners — to create progress that lasts through civic leadership, fundraising, and grant-making activities.

Prior to being appointed to lead the Foundation, Mr. Cicilline represented Rhode Island's first congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, beginning in 2011. Prior to being elected to Congress, he was mayor of Providence for two terms from 2003 to 2011- the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital city - and earlier served in the Rhode Island General Assembly for four terms from 1995 to 2002.

During his time in Congress, Mr. Cicilline was a leader on issues that align squarely with the Rhode Island Foundation’s values and community priorities—including ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity; access to quality, affordable healthcare and the means to live a healthy life; civic and cultural engagement; climate resiliency and sustainability; inclusivity and accessibility; and supporting educators and students as they strive for success in school and 
beyond.

Mr. Cicilline was a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Committee on the Judiciary. He’s worked with his colleagues in the Rhode Island congressional delegation to secure federal funding for Rhode Island to support infrastructure improvements, neighborhood centers, public safety, and local programs and services.

In addition, Mr. Cicilline was a co-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus and has led efforts to promote equality for all Americans. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he’s also worked to promote human rights around the world.

Mr. Cicilline is a member of the Brown University Corporation and is also a Senior Fellow at the Watson School of International and Public Affairs at Brown University. He serves on the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and the United Nations Foundation's Global Leadership Council. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of CFLeads, an organization that supports community foundations nationwide. Additionally, he is the co-chair of the Council on Foundations Public Policy Committee and serves on the Governance Committee for the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative. Mr. Cicilline is onthe Board of Directors for the Afterschool Alliance and previously served as a presidential appointee to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.

He is a graduate of Brown University and the Georgetown University Law Center and resides today in Providence.