The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (Community Foundation) is pleased to welcome Chas Manning as our new Director of Innovation and Administration. Chas will work closely with the operations team to implement processes that translate vision into action.
“Chas’ steady and committed approach to systems evaluation, human-centered design, innovation and continuous improvement will allow the foundation to build on its legacy and impact with efficiency, excellence and scale” Leslie Lynn Smith, president and CEO of the Community Foundation, said. “I am delighted that he and his family have chosen Charlottesville as their home where they have deep connections and an ethos that will have them investing deep and wide as active members of our community.”
Chas most recently served as the Director of Integrations at Painters USA and is the co-founder of Block Party Group, a solutions consulting group. He has over 10 years of experience building the systems, controls, and teams that power sustainable growth.
“I am honored to step into this role at a moment when the Community Foundation is deepening its commitment to both internal excellence and external impact,” Chas said. “I am excited to partner with this talented team to strengthen the systems that allow us to show up fully, consistently, and creatively for our community.”
Chas holds a BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Boston University where he was recognized as a Technology Innovation Scholar. His formal engineering training, combined with more than a decade of leadership experience, has shaped a practical, systems-oriented approach to innovative operations that emphasizes accountability, scalability, and continuous improvement across complex organizations.
Outside of work, Chas enjoys fostering a sense of wonder with his husband, Will, and their three basset hounds as they explore a new community through regional theater, local adventures, and shared meals.