Foundation Board selects Lord to serve as fourth president
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – [October 29, 2026] – The Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors announced today the selection of Ted Lord as the organization’s fourth President and Chief Executive Officer. Lord was selected following a comprehensive search that attracted qualified candidates with extensive experience in nonprofit management, grantmaking, and economic development from across North Carolina. Lord will assume leadership of the Foundation following the retirement of Scott T. Hamilton, the current President and Chief Executive Officer.
With more than two decades of experience helping guide Golden LEAF’s grantmaking and strategic initiatives, Lord brings extensive knowledge of the Foundation’s operations, statewide partnerships, and economic development priorities to his new role.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Golden LEAF Foundation and build on its strong legacy of investing in rural North Carolina,” said Lord. “Golden LEAF has a unique role in helping communities identify and take advantage of opportunities through targeted investments that support long-term economic advancement. The strength of our rural communities is essential to the success of our state, and I look forward to working alongside our Board of Directors, staff, and partners to build on the strong relationships we have, respond to emerging needs, and identify new opportunities that will position rural North Carolina for long-term economic success.”
Lord joined the Golden LEAF Foundation in 2005 and currently serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel. In this role, he oversees the Foundation’s grantmaking, guides the development of funding priorities and programs, and helps lead major strategic initiatives. He has played a key role in advancing economic development efforts across North Carolina, working closely with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and local economic development leaders. In addition to his grantmaking and strategic responsibilities, Lord provides leadership and oversight for the Foundation’s 24-member staff. Prior to joining Golden LEAF, Lord practiced law in Greensboro, served as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge James A. Beaty, Jr., and was a fellow at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
“The Golden LEAF Board of Directors is pleased to welcome Ted as the Foundation’s fourth President and Chief Executive Officer,” said Golden LEAF Board Chair Brian Raynor. “Over the past 27 years, North Carolina has experienced tremendous economic growth, and Golden LEAF has played an important role in helping rural areas benefit from the state’s progress. As North Carolina continues to prosper, the Foundation must remain focused on making a lasting difference in the rural and economically distressed communities that need it most. Ted brings more than 20 years of institutional knowledge, extensive experience in economic development, sound judgment, and the strategic vision needed to guide Golden LEAF into its next chapter. His deep understanding of the Foundation, established relationships across North Carolina, and demonstrated commitment to rural communities position him to build on Golden LEAF’s accomplishments while identifying new opportunities to advance its mission.”
Since 1999, Golden LEAF has awarded $1.5 billion to support 2,412 projects across North Carolina. Established following the Master Settlement Agreement between the states and cigarette manufacturers, the Foundation works to transform the economies of rural, tobacco-dependent, and economically distressed communities through investments in job creation and economic investment, workforce preparedness, agriculture, and initiatives that strengthen community competitiveness and capacity.
“I want to extend my congratulations to Ted on being named the next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Golden LEAF Foundation,” said retiring Golden LEAF President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “Having worked closely with Ted, I have seen firsthand his dedication to Golden LEAF’s mission and his ability to bring people together to advance opportunities for rural North Carolina. I have great confidence in his ability to lead the Foundation forward. It has been an incredible privilege to serve as Golden LEAF’s third president and work alongside our dedicated Board, staff, and partners to make a meaningful difference across rural North Carolina. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to seeing Golden LEAF continue its important work under Ted’s leadership.”
The Board’s selection followed a comprehensive executive search led by a committee of Golden LEAF Board members and facilitated by The Nautical Group, a Raleigh-based executive and professional search firm. The Search Committee evaluated candidates and recommended finalists to the Board, which interviewed finalists before making its selection.
“We are grateful to have had so many qualified candidates who want to help build a better North Carolina,” said Jim Harrell, Chair of the Foundation’s Search Committee. “Ted has a proven track record of serving as a strategic leader of Golden LEAF’s programs and initiatives that expand economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural communities, and has demonstrated the experience and commitment needed to guide Golden LEAF’s work forward. We are confident he will provide the leadership necessary to advance the Foundation’s mission and make a meaningful difference in the communities we serve.”
The Board of Directors also expressed its appreciation to retiring President and Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton for his leadership and service to Golden LEAF and rural North Carolina. Since 2019, Hamilton has helped guide the Foundation’s strategic direction and advance initiatives focused on job creation, workforce preparedness, and agriculture. His tenure has strengthened the Foundation’s partnerships and helped position Golden LEAF for continued success.
A native of Winston-Salem, Lord holds a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College. He is an active member of his community, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Rocky Mount Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and Vice Chair of the South Eastern North Carolina Community Development Corporation Board of Directors. He and his wife reside in Nash County, where they raised their three children.
About the Golden LEAF Foundation
The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to receive a portion of North Carolina’s funding from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers. Golden LEAF has worked to increase economic opportunity in North Carolina’s rural and tobacco-dependent communities through leadership in grantmaking, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship as an independent and perpetual foundation.
For more than 25 years, the Foundation has provided lasting impact to tobacco-dependent, economically distressed, and rural areas of the state. In fiscal year 2025, Golden LEAF helped create 1,300 jobs, more than $54 million in new payrolls, and more than 1,900 workers trained or retrained for higher wages.
For more information about Golden LEAF and our programs, please visit our website at GoldenLEAF.org.
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