Vanguard is bringing together all of its Vanguard Gives Back community service activities, including its employee giving efforts, volunteer initiatives and a new philanthropic impact programme, Vanguard Capital for Kids, under the leadership of Carra Cote-Ackah.
Cote-Ackah (pictured) has been appointed to a newly created position with the responsibility of leading Vanguard’s community service efforts. She joins Vanguard from the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for High Impact Philanthropy, one of the strategic partners Vanguard engaged to enhance the firm’s philanthropic programme.
“Vanguard has had a culture of caring since our founding and remains very committed to community involvement,” says Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb. “We believe our focus on high impact philanthropy, under Ms Cote-Ackah’s direction, will drive real, measurable change in the communities where we live and work.”
“I look forward to guiding Vanguard's community and philanthropic activities into this exciting next phase,” says Cote-Ackah. “Vanguard’s leadership and crew are committed to being a partner in their communities, and we have an incredible opportunity to harness the existing enthusiasm and decades of good work to address our regions’ greatest needs.”
The Vanguard Capital for Kids Program, established in 2015, will provide funding and skills-based volunteer service to non-profits that support high-quality early child learning in communities in which Vanguard has major operations: Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Charlotte. The programme works with experts in the field to identify groups that are highly effective in driving results and helping young children with the greatest needs.
Vanguard created the Capital for Kids Program with the belief that investments made early in a child’s life are critical to their own development, as well as to the long-term wellbeing of communities. It is being funded through both company and employee giving, and will be managed and assessed with rigorous oversight to ensure the resources are making a maximum impact.
Cote-Ackah has dedicated her career to working on issues facing vulnerable children and disadvantaged communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology and child development from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Duke University. She received her MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where she was awarded the Morgenthau Public Administration Fellowship in support of excellence in public interest and public policy.
