The president and CEO of the country’s largest community foundation has been ousted after a law firm hired to investigate workplace bullying and harassment issued a scathing report that included sexual, racist and other inappropriate remarks by some executives.
Dr. Emmett Carson resigned as president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation on Wednesday, through a statement released in a public Google document.
The confidential results of the investigation conducted by Boies Schiller Flexner LLP were reviewed by the board on June 14, and the foundation released the findings on Wednesday.
Dr. Emmett Carson resigned as president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation on Wednesday, after a law firm completed investigating workplace bullying and harassment; Carson is seen here posing for photos in Mountain View, California on February 13, 2017
‘The unacceptable workplace behavior that took place at SVCF as outlined in the investigative report should never have happened and there is no excuse for it,’ SVCF said in its own statement, published on Wednesday.
‘We are deeply sorry to our entire community, especially our past and present employees.’
Carson had been placed on paid administrative leave on April 26, after a report in the Chronicle of Philanthropy quoted employees describing ‘a toxic work environment’ at the Menlo Park-based nonprofit.
Mari Ellen Loijens, the foundation’s top fundraiser, was specifically named as being accused of engaging in emotionally abusive and sexually inappropriate behavior.
Those allegations included claims that Loijens ‘demeaned and bullied her staff, made lewd comments in the workplace, and on at least one occasion sought to kiss a woman working for her.’
One former senior executive, who chose to remain anonymous in the piece by the Chronicle, said of the environment created by working alongside Loijens:
‘It’s a culture where basic human respect is not a priority. … Taking people to task in a very public way, in a very crude way, with the goal of humiliation, was the status quo. So was bringing employees to tears over a small performance issue.’
On Wednesday, the SVCF acknowledged that many allegations from current and former employees were substantiated throughout the course of the independent investigation.
On Wednesday, the SVCF acknowledged that many allegations from current and former employees were substantiated throughout the course of the independent investigation
‘SVCF clearly failed to provide a safe and inclusive workplace environment for its employees,’ the foundation said.
‘The Board recognizes that this failure happened under our watch, and that many current and former staff were deeply impacted.’
Both the head of human resources and Loijens resigned before the investigation was complete, after the Chronicle of Philanthropy published its story.
The board of the foundation, which did $1.14 billion in fundraising last year and had $13.5 billion in assets, formed a Special Committee of the Board to oversee the law firm’s investigation.
The firm interviewed 82 current and former employees and board members, finding ‘certain widespread workplace culture issues’ including fear and distrust of leadership, a ‘command-and-control’ management style and inappropriate conduct including public shaming and bullying.
Carson said in his statement that in the ‘pursuit of ambitious goals, some staff felt they were not sufficiently heard’ if they needed or wanted to report complaints or concerns.
‘I am sorry that this occurred and regret any role that I may have played in contributing to these feelings,’ he said.
Carson joined SVCF in 2006. It has grown into a major force in philanthropy, thanks in part to soaring asset prices and donations from Silicon Valley elite, including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan.
One person who chose not to get involved with SVCF after being tipped off to its horrendous reviews on Glassdoor was Rose McGowan, one the most vocal champions of the #MeToo movement and Time’s Up initiative.
‘The reviews caused me to not do business with them,’ McGowan said.
The Time’s Up movement, and a legal defense fund by the same name, was created in response to the public outing of men in media for their alleged acts of sexual harassment, assault, abuse of power and unequal treatment of women in the workplace.
The founders of the Time’s Up movement have made it clear that although their cause was inspired by allegations against the likes of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, Louis CK, Charlie Rose, Mark Halperin and William Morris Endeavor’s Adam Venit, and even before them, Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly, the fund exists for the benefit of all people, across all industries, who have experience lack of parity in their places of business.
It was accusations against Weinstein that broke in October (including claims by McGowan) that preceded a social media campaign using the hashtag #MeToo, which due to its widespread adoption gave people courage to share their own stories of sexual harassment and assault.
Before that, the ‘Me Too’ movement was initiated offline by Tarana Burke a New York City-based civil rights activist who first used the term in 2006 in her work to raise awareness of the pervasiveness of sexual abuse and assault in society.
Carson ended his statement, which has been criticized for being perceived as failing to take accountability for his role in the reported dysfunction at SVCF, with an eye toward returning to work after this break.
‘After 34 years of philanthropic leadership and scholarship, I look forward to taking a much needed respite before resuming a career that has been dedicated to championing social justice issues and creating an equitable society for all,’ he wrote.
Greg Avis will continue in his role as Interim President and CEO at this time.
Spencer Stuart, a national search firm, has been hired by SVCF to conduct a nationwide search for a new, full-time President and CEO.
Carson is seen here speaking onstage at Morehouse College 30th Annual A Candle In The Dark Gala at The Hyatt Regency Atlanta on February 17 in Atlanta