Brandon Baird serves as president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, leading the Foundation's work to steward charitable resources, strengthen local philanthropy, and support lasting community impact across Henderson County. Brandon brings nearly 15 years of experience in community foundations, nonprofit leadership, and philanthropic advising.
Prior to his appointment, Brandon served as Senior Philanthropy Officer for Fauna & Flora, an international conservation organization working with partners in more than 40 countries. In that role, he led the organization's philanthropic strategy in the U.S., building support for conservation programs and communities around the globe.
Previously, Brandon spent five years in leadership roles at The Denver Foundation, a major community foundation serving Metro Denver and Colorado. There, he worked across donor advising and grantmaking, helping donors, families, businesses, professional advisors, and nonprofit partners connect charitable resources with community priorities. Earlier in his career, he held development and donor engagement roles with Potomac Conservancy and Sojourners in Washington, D.C.
A Hendersonville native, Brandon previously served on staff at CFHC as Program Officer, where he led the Foundation's grantmaking portfolio. His return to the Foundation reflects both his professional commitment to community philanthropy and his personal connection to the place he calls home.
Brandon earned his bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, camping, mountain biking, and exploring the mountains of Western North Carolina with his wife, Becca, and their dog, Albus.