Ebbets wants to take better stock of the Fine Arts Center before he offers an opinion about its needs, but said one of his goals will be to increase its visibility.
John E. EbbetsNORTHAMPTON – United Way of Hampshire County CEO John E. Ebbets is leaving that post after four years to bring his fund-raising talents to the University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center.
Ebbets will start his new job as the center’s Director of Development on July 25, just weeks after United Way's current fund-raising campaign comes to a close. He said Friday that it will fall slightly short of its $1.25 million goal but will still grow from last year.
Ebbets came to United Way of Hampshire County during a time of transition. His predecessor, Lewis S. Stess, resigned in 2006 amid some discontent about how the agency was distributing its money. Stess had shifted focus to the national United Way model that emphasized achieving the broadest possible impact on the community.
Ebbets said he managed to stabilize the donor base and better define decision-making during his tenure. Under his stewardship, United Way expanded the number of agencies it serves and increased the total amount of its spending.
“He brought change in a much more participatory way,” said Christine F. Shirtcliff, the chairwoman of the United Way of Hampshire County’s board of directors. “Things are very stable. I don’t think the campaign will skip a beat.”
Ebbets said he wasn’t looking for a change but applied for the UMass job when the opportunity came up.
“I loved my work here,” he said. “In four years we did a lot of stuff.”
Ebbets wants to take better stock of the Fine Arts Center before he offers an opinion about its needs, but said one of his goals will be to increase its visibility.
“It’s a great asset to the Valley, but it’s undiscovered by a lot of people,” he said.
Shirtcliff said she has yet to appoint a committee to search for Ebbets’ replacement, but anticipates one will be identified soon.
“We’re not going to rush into a hire,” she said.
