Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan names Linda Lutz as new Chief Financial Officer
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is pleased to announce Linda Lutz has been named as its new chief financial officer. Lutz will join the Community Foundation effective June 10, 2025.
Lutz is the current vice president and chief financial and administrative officer of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where she plays an integral role on the senior leadership team, contributing to the organization’s strategic direction and operational excellence.
“We’re excited to have Linda join the Community Foundation team. Linda’s deep expertise and commitment to both financial stewardship and community impact is exactly what we need to move our organization forward,” says Nicole Sherard-Freeman, president & CEO of the Community Foundation. “As we double down on our strategic vision to meet changes in community needs and enhance our own fiscal stability, Linda’s skills and experiences will help to ensure we are managing and growing assets that our partners have entrusted to us with thoughtfulness, care and prudence.”
The Community Foundation’s vision is to ensure southeast Michigan is a place where everyone thrives. Sherard-Freeman added she is confident Lutz’s extensive nonprofit background and genuine care for people will help to support the Community Foundation’s mission to design solutions necessary to create and sustain economic opportunities for all.
“I am thrilled to be joining the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The Foundation plays such an important role in connecting resources with the organizations that move our region forward, and I’m honored to join Nicole and the Foundation’s dedicated team in advancing that mission,” says Lutz. “Leaving the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is bittersweet – it’s been an absolute privilege to be part of such a creative and passionate team and to contribute to an organization that means so much to this community.”
Lutz joined the DSO’s executive team in 2013 after 14 years with the Jewish Federation of Detroit. A graduate of the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Linda holds both a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant who began her career at Deloitte and has since held leadership roles in both the private and nonprofit sectors.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Lutz is active in community, philanthropic and professional organizations. She serves on the Board of Midtown Detroit, Inc., is a past trustee of University of Michigan Hillel, and is a trustee of both the DSO Musicians’ Retirement Fund and the IATSE Local 38 and 812 Pension Fund. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to strengthening the cultural and civic fabric of Detroit and throughout southeast Michigan.
Prior to Lutz, Jeni Norman served as the vice president of finance at the Community Foundation. Norman joined the Kresge Foundation as director of portfolio management in late February. Community Foundation Controller Brad Westlake has served as interim vice president of Finance throughout the search process.
About The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan was established in 1984 to ensure residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties can thrive. Since its inception, the Community Foundation has grown to be among the top 35 community foundations in the country and has distributed more than $1.4 billion through roughly 91,000 grants to nonprofits. The Community Foundation’s mission is to build the resources, relationships and expertise required to expand equitable access to opportunities and to make southeast Michigan a desirable place to live, work and play for all residents, today and tomorrow.