Ted Lord joined the Golden LEAF Foundation in July 2005. As the Senior Vice President, Ted provides oversight for the Foundation’s grantmaking. His duties include discussing project ideas with potential applicants, conducting due diligence regarding proposals, developing funding recommendations for the Foundation’s Board of Directors, and monitoring projects after grants are awarded. He also helps implement the Foundation’s major strategic initiatives. Ted is the lead staff member for the Economic Catalyst Program and the Foundation’s related collaborative economic development projects with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and local economic developers. He also works directly with the SITE Program, many public infrastructure and housing-related projects, and agriculture projects. Ted also assists with development of the Foundation’s grantmaking priorities and programs and other initiatives of the Foundation. As the Foundation’s General Counsel, he oversees the Foundation’s legal work, including issues related to the Foundation’s grants and programs. He also serves as a member of the President’s leadership team.
Before joining Golden LEAF, Ted was a law clerk for the Honorable James A. Beaty, Jr., United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina and practiced law with a firm in Greensboro. Ted also served as a Fellow and Special Projects Coordinator for the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem.
A native of Winston-Salem, Ted holds a Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College. He is active in his community and serves as Commissioner (Vice Chair) of the Rocky Mount Housing Authority and is a Board Member (Vice Chair) of the South Eastern North Carolina Community Development Corporation. He lives in Nash County with his wife where they also raised their three children.