David Bley Named Director of Pacific Northwest Initiative

SEATTLE -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today named David Bley director of the foundation's Pacific Northwest initiative. The Pacific Northwest is an initiative within the foundation's larger U.S. Program portfolio, which is led by Allan Golston. The U.S. Program includes several other foundation initiatives that also invest in the region, including early childhood learning, high school improvements, public libraries and special initiatives.

Bley, currently Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., has been a longtime champion of efforts to create wealth, opportunity and independence in impoverished neighborhoods across the nation. He will lead the foundation's grantmaking and strategic development initiatives that help children and families in the Pacific Northwest who have great needs live full and productive lives.

"We are pleased to be joined by such a strong leader in housing and economic development, who shares the foundation's commitment to empowering all individuals and families to meet their full potential," said Allan Golston, President of the U.S. Program at the Gates Foundation. "David brings tremendous energy and experience to this position. As we strive to continually fuel innovations that provide more opportunities for Pacific Northwest families and children to succeed, David's leadership and vision will be invaluable."

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, Co-chairs Bill and Melinda Gates and Bill Gates, Sr. created the Pacific Northwest initiative to work with governments, private funders, tribes, and nonprofit organizations that provide critical human services to children and families in Washington state and Portland, Oregon with great needs and few resources.

While the Pacific Northwest has experienced unprecedented economic growth and development over the past two decades, not all people have shared in this prosperity. Many local families struggle to create and maintain a stable life. More than 600,000 people in Washington live in poverty—one in four is a child under the age of 18. On any given night, 25,000 people don't have a safe place to sleep.

Because strong social services and community support systems are vital to lifting families from poverty to self-sufficiency, the Pacific Northwest initiative invests in two areas: reducing family homelessness and community grants. These investments, which aim to reduce inequities caused by poverty, are made in community partners who are experts in their fields and closest to those in need.

"I have had the privilege of working with my colleagues at Enterprise Community Partners on strategies that can improve communities throughout the country and it's an honor to join the foundation's exceptional Pacific Northwest team and focus my efforts in this region," said Bley. "I have long admired the foundation's commitment to working with many partners in the Pacific Northwest in its efforts to help families and children live full and productive lives, and I look forward to this opportunity."

Bley has more than 20 years of leadership experience and an extensive background in housing and economic development. Prior to joining Enterprise, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. He also served as director of the Seattle Fannie Mae Partnership Office after four years in former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice's administration, focusing on intergovernmental relations, housing, homelessness, neighborhood development, public safety and public health.

"We commend David for his service to Enterprise and wish him all the best in his new role," said Doris W. Koo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. "We look forward to continuing to work with David and the Gates Foundation on shared priorities to strengthen communities and expand opportunities for low-income people in the Pacific Northwest."

Bley will begin at the foundation on November 12. He received a bachelor's degree in urban planning from the University of Washington and a master's from Seattle University, where he was an HEW Fellow. He currently serves as the chair of the Seattle Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners.