[Episcopal Community Services — Press Release] David E. Griffith has been named the first non-clerical executive director of Episcopal Community Services, Philadelphia, Pa. Griffith has left his position as CEO of Modern Group Ltd. headquartered in Bristol, Pa., and joined the Rev. John Midwood, retiring ECS executive director, for an unusual two-month overlap of leadership.

A seamless transition in leadership is especially important as the social services agency continues to embrace new models of effective service delivery and outcome measurement. With less stable government funding and increasing competition for foundation grants, “ECS recognizes that it’s no longer just about ‘doing good work,’ it’s also about achieving measurable outcomes,” said Miriam Kepner, chair of ECS’ Board of Trustees.
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Noting that ECS is a model and leader in its field, Griffith commented, “Our future lies not in being a safety net, but in continuing to provide the opportunity and programs that lift people in need up and that offer a thoughtful path of permanent change in their lives. This is our clarion call to service. What I have learned we call ‘ECSness.’”

A lifelong Episcopalian, Griffith said his faith is central to his decision to leave the corporate world to guide ECS, feeling a deep call to service and to the work of the agency. Previous work with the church includes serving as the former senior warden, finance and stewardship chair at Trinity Episcopal Church in Solebury, Pa.

“Mr. Griffith’s experience in management, technology and fundraising will be invaluable as we continue to meet challenges head-on — and build on the forward-thinking initiatives of the Rev. Midwood,” emphasized Kepner. With extensive service on for-profit and non-profit boards, Griffith currently is board chair of the Delaware Valley Floral Group, Sewell, N.J.; vice chairman of the Philadelphia World Affairs Council; and chairman of the McEwen Family Scholarship Trust. He also is a director of the J.J. Haines Company in Baltimore, the Hepatitis B Foundation and the Griffith Family Foundation, and serves as a member of IBM’s Midmarket Advisory Council. A former trustee of Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn., he was secretary of its board and chairman of its Development and Marketing Committee, which raised over $90 million in two capital campaigns during his tenure.

Griffith is a frequent speaker to industrial, academic and nonprofit organizations on technology, social media, leadership, development and work/life balance. He has lectured at Leadership Inc. in Philadelphia and at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and at Rutgers University. He is the author of several articles on compensation practices and policy.

He joined Modern in 1992 after working as an executive with IBM, ROLM and MCI. Starting with IBM as a software engineer, he served as a branch manager, regional manager, administrative assistant to the president and director of marketing. At MCI he was vice president of marketing for the National Accounts Division. He graduated with honors from Kenyon College with a B.A. in history and economics.

Episcopal Community Services is a high-performing, learning organization that is embracing new models of effective delivery and outcome measurement amid a changing, unpredictable social service environment. As a result, ECS is leading the way in empowering and transforming the lives of Philadelphia’s most vulnerable children, youth, families and seniors through a broad range of educational and social service programs. One of the most trusted names in the field since 1870, ECS continues to affirm human dignity and promote social justice every hour of every day.