Kenneth W. Eggeman, president and CEO of Community First Foundation, has quite a sense of humor around the office. But talk to him about the mission and vision of the Foundation and he is immediately reflective, insightful and philosophical. We talked to him about his background, the launch of GivingFirst, and the Foundation’s role in the community.

As an academic with a background in family therapy, Eggeman’s educational experience is nontraditional for the CEO of a foundation, yet lends unique talents. He has 30 years of experience in higher education, holds a master’s degree in counseling from Kent State University, and a doctorate in Adult and Continuing Education from the University of Nebraska. He and his wife live in Arvada, with their children and grandchildren nearby.

Eggeman has served as president and CEO of the Foundation for 20 years, saying that it’s the innovative orientation of the Foundation that keeps him motivated. “We’re constantly evolving to the next level and seeking creative ways to be successful. We see ourselves as supporting nonprofits in doing what they do best for the community. We do this by listening and seeking opportunities to help.”

A recent example of the Foundation responding to community need is the launch of GivingFirst, the Foundation’s online giving tool. “Technology is so important in our culture today,” Eggeman said. “Unfortunately, the nonprofit community typically lags behind these advances due to a lack of resources. We collaborated with community members to launch GivingFirst to help nonprofits benefit from Internet technology–because they cannot afford to fall behind.”

GivingFirst participants worked diligently to build their profiles for the Web site. For many of them, this was their first experience with online giving technology.  “We’re excited about GivingFirst, but it is just the first step into the technology arena,” Eggeman said. “We need to keep moving forward, and keep energizing ePhilanthropy.”