The Idaho Community Foundation has named a new president and CEO to replace Bob Hoover, the former University of Idaho president who is retiring after nearly seven years with the foundation. Karen Bilowith, currently president and CEO of a four-county community foundation in Albany, N.Y., will start in February. In her six years at the New York foundation, it received $30 million in new gifts and established 90 new funds; its assets are $65 million and it grants more than $4 million annually to community organizations.

The Idaho Community Foundation covers all 44 Idaho counties, has assets of $113.4 million and provides approximately $6 million per year in grants and scholarships; the foundation has more than 500 funds.

ICF Board Chair Bill Berg, of Sagle, said, “Thanks to Bob Hoover and the talented staff at the Idaho Community Foundation, ICF has seen a period of unprecedented growth since the difficult years of the recession. The board of directors and staff believe Karen is the perfect candidate to take ICF into the future and we are very pleased to have her on board.” 

Bilowith holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston College.