Zach Ward

About Zach

As Senior Program Officer, Zach works closely with scholarship recipients, grantee partners, our network of donors and philanthropic organizations, advisory committees, and others connecting donor and community engagement.  He loves building relationships, community, and institutional processes that bolster self-efficacy and social capital in the settings in which he lives and works.

Zach joined the Foundation staff in 2023 after serving as Student Services Manager for the Curriculum in Global Studies at UNC Chapel Hill for eight years. In that role, he coordinated admissions, course registration, professional development, and alumni outreach for both the BA and MA programs in Global Studies. His previous experiences in higher and secondary education include positions at the University of Texas at Austin and the North Carolina Governor’s School. A native North Carolinian, Zach is passionate about working at an organization that is building a better Triangle for all at such a dynamic time in the history of our region and state.

Outside of the office, Zach enjoys exploring the best of North Carolina barbecue, watching a good documentary, hitting the tennis courts, and trips to North Carolina beaches & mountains.  He lives in Raleigh with his wife Emily.