Craig Drinkard is the Executive Officer of the Victoria Foundation, assuming the role in April 2022. He served as co-director leading the foundation staff and trustees to its recently adopted strategic framework that focuses on Strengthening Community Power, Fostering Economic Justice, Youth Self-Determination, and Responding to Pressing Needs. He is responsible for implementing this framework through a racial equity lens and for deploying approximately $15 million annually in grants and other investments in Newark, New Jersey from the Foundation’s $300 million endowment. Craig was born and raised in Newark and the first Black person to lead the Foundation in its 98-year history.

Craig joined the Victoria Foundation staff in 2006 as a Program Officer and launched the Foundation’s Capacity Building Initiative aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the non-profit sector in Newark while leading its economic development grantmaking investments. In 2011, Craig was promoted to Senior Program Officer. In this role, he worked with the Foundation’s board of trustees to realign the organization’s grantmaking strategies, particularly in the areas of community and economic development, education, and youth and family development. In addition, Craig oversaw a third-party assessment of the Foundation’s grantmaking of the Community Development Corporation sector in Newark. In 2017, he was promoted to Associate Director where he led several initiatives for Victoria Foundation including its newly launched Program Related Investments strategy and its Thriving Neighborhood Initiative work while he continued to lead the Foundation’s investments in organizational and leadership development, public safety, and community and economic development. In January 2019, Craig was promoted to Deputy Director of the Foundation and to Co-Executive Officer in 2021.  He played a leading role working with the Foundation’s trustees, staff, and consultants to develop the new strategic framework, mission statement, and organizational values. 

Prior to Victoria Foundation, Craig served as a Program Officer at the Community Foundation of New Jersey. In this capacity, he oversaw two initiatives aimed at developing grassroots leaders throughout New Jersey – the Neighborhood Leadership Initiative and Parents Organizing Parents Strategy. His professional career also includes experience working for the federal government, major for-profit companies, and a Newark-based nonprofit where he served as a community organizer. 

In addition to working at Victoria Foundation, Craig serves on the board of several non-profit and philanthropic organizations such as The Regional Foundation, LEAD Charter School, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Opportunity Youth Network-Newark, and Believe in a Healthy Newark. He is an active field-builder and connector in philanthropy, participating in numerous fellowships such as The Neighborhood Funders Group|Aspen Institute’s Philanthropy Forward: Leadership for Change Fellowship for national leaders who center racial and gender justice and community building power building to disrupt and transform the future of philanthropy (2022), The Justice Funders’ Maestra Program (2019), and the inaugural class of the Council on Foundation’s Career Pathways program (2011.) 

Craig was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey and is product of the Newark Public School system. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Finance from Bloomfield College and received his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Craig currently lives in West Orange with his wife and two daughters.