The ASCAP Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators through music education, talent development and humanitarian initiatives, announced that Colleen McDonough has been promoted to Executive Director of the Foundation, effective July 1st. She succeeds Karen Sherry, who recently retired after 17 years in the role.
“The Foundation is one of our most vital resources for young people starting out on the path to creating music, and Colleen has been a huge asset since she joined its leadership team, constantly pushing the organization to new heights,” said Paul Williams, President of The ASCAP Foundation Board of Directors. “Foundation programs like The Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composers Awards and our annual Washington, DC “We Write the Songs” featuring America’s greatest songwriters and composers have flourished over the last several years. With Colleen’s guidance, I’m confident that we will continue to find exciting new ways to benefit young music creators and to extend the legacies of those that have come before them.”
McDonough, formerly Director of The Foundation, has been a driving force in fundraising and program management. During her tenure, she cultivated potential donors and acquired significant bequests, helping to boost Foundation funding by 175%. McDonough increased the number of Foundation programs from 65 to 163, which now reach more than two million participants annually. Funds spent on programs rose more than 200%. McDonough served as associate producer of The ASCAP Centennial Awards, and oversaw the implementation of new initiatives such as Creativity in the Classroom, Children Will Listen, Songwriters: The Next Generation at the Kennedy Center, Young Jazz Composers Awards and the Fresh Air Fund Summer Guitar Camp.
Prior to The ASCAP Foundation, McDonough was Assistant Executive Director for Special Projects at the Women’s Sports Foundation. She served as Director of Educational Affairs at the Public Relations Society of America and Executive Director of the Public Relations Student Society of America. Early on, she was an Assistant Dean and Adjunct Instructor at Pace University. McDonough received an M.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and a B.A. from University of New Hampshire.
