Mark Pritchett is responsible for the overall leadership of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, including corporate strategy, oversight of its programs, operations, and investments.
Mark is known as a seasoned leader in business, philanthropy, and public policy. In 2018, Florida Trend magazine recognized Mark as one of Sarasota’s “Impact Players” for his leadership in addressing many of our region’s toughest issues. And under Mark’s direction, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has been honored nationally as a “top 25” nonprofit to work for two years in a row and three of the past five years.
Mark has earned a statewide reputation for taking on bold and controversial issues, building consensus, and crafting innovative solutions. Two of his most notable accomplishments were leading the Governor’s Select Task Force on election reform following the controversial 2000 presidential election and creating a pioneering mediation service to assist homeowners and insurance companies in resolving hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage disputes after the unprecedented 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons.
Mark currently serves on the boards of the Florida Chamber Foundation, Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Sarasota County Economic Development Corporation, and the Community Foundations of Florida CEO Leadership Team. He is a Lifetime Member of Leadership Florida and personally supports dozens philanthropic endeavors outside of his role as CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. In 2021, Mark was presented the Civic Achievement Award by the American Jewish Committee.
He earned his Bachelor of Science and master’s degrees from the University of Kentucky and his PhD from The Florida State University.
Mark loves hiking the Colorado Rockies, biking with Gina Taylor, reading science articles, sipping Kentucky bourbon, and watching UK sports teams…not necessarily in that order.
