Liberty Corner, New Jersey, United States: The United States Golf Association (USGA) has named Charlie Pagnam as its new Chief Philanthropy Officer and Executive Director of the USGA Foundation.

With more than 40 years of successful fund-raising experience, Pagnam will be responsible for leading and strengthening all aspects of the USGA’s philanthropic programme as well as membership development. His appointment demonstrates the USGA’s commitment to invest more deeply in the game and ensure its long-term success.

“Charlie’s passion for the game and our mission, combined with his highly successful background in driving large-scale fund-raising campaigns, make him a perfect fit to lead the USGA Foundation,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “We are confident that Charlie and his team will drive positive impact to the USGA in its mission to support and serve the game.”

Pagnam will lead a team tasked with supporting the USGA’s mission and investing in programmes that promote a more inclusive and sustainable future for the game, including making golf more accessible for all, investing in programmes to manage golf’s use of critical natural resources, celebrating and preserving the game’s history, and identifying and preparing future leaders of the golf industry.

“Being able to combine my experience in important philanthropic work with my love for golf makes this opportunity particularly exciting for me,” Pagnam said. “The USGA is a global steward of the game, and I’m looking forward to leading the foundation in its efforts to support the organisation’s mission.”

Most recently, Pagnam served as Vice President for advancement and Executive Vice President of the US$1 billion UMass Foundation where he was responsible for leading the strategic direction and performance of fund-raising efforts across the University of Massachusetts system.

Prior to that, he spent two years in development at Mount Sinai Medical Centre in New York and more than 28 years leading the major gifts fund-raising programme at Yale University, including seven years as Vice President.

Through the Foundation’s efforts and the success of the US Open Championship, the USGA invests more than US$225 million annually into programmes that benefit the game, including agronomic and sustainability research, more than 120 internships, preservation of golf artifacts and support for programmes such as LPGA*USGA Girls Golf and The First Tee and initiatives for golfers with disabilities.