For Immediate Release:
October 15, 2026
The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Welcomes New President & CEO George A. Hopkins
After Comprehensive Search, Current Senior Staff Member Selected to Succeed Jane Brown
BALTIMORE, MD – The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Board of Directors today announced its selection of current senior staff member, George A. Hopkins, to succeed Jane Brown as President & CEO, as of January 2027. Hopkins is a native of Baltimore’s Cherry Hill neighborhood and a graduate of Morgan State University. He has eighteen years of experience as a community leader, organizer, and pastor. After leading the private foundation for 31 years, Brown will step into the role of board chair to make way for a new generation of leadership.
Established in 1991 by Dr. Robert W. Deutsch, the Deutsch Foundation is a hyper-local and early investing philanthropic institution committed to improving the lives of Baltimore residents and strengthening the vitality of the city’s neighborhoods. Launched in June, its search for a new leader attracted 119 applicants in a comprehensive review process managed by Pluck Consulting.
Since joining the Foundation in early 2025, Hopkins’ work has focused on housing and neighborhood renewal, while serving on the grantmaking committee and supporting other priority areas of arts and culture and digital equity. Last year, the Foundation awarded 98 grants with a total investment of $4.8 million in local organizations and initiatives. Hopkins previously served as co-chair of Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development (BUILD) and board chair of ReBuild Metro.
“I am humbled and appreciative of this opportunity to honor the Foundation’s legacy, while leading its long-term investments in the city and culture of Baltimore into the future,” said George A. Hopkins, incoming Deutsch Foundation President & CEO. “I have a deep appreciation for the innovative, collaborative leadership Jane has exemplified for more than 30 years. It will be an honor to continue working with her as board chair and alongside the incredible team she has cultivated.”
In 2014, Hopkins founded a church in southwest Baltimore with the goal of building a multicultural congregation in an urban setting. Upon becoming co-chair of BUILD in 2020, Hopkins pursued a partnership with Johns Hopkins University to ensure Spanish-speaking Baltimoreans could access Covid-19 testing and vaccines. In 2023, Mayor Scott, BUILD, and the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) announced a fifteen-year plan to invest $3 billion toward redeveloping at least 37,500 properties in Baltimore city – centered on the “whole blocks” approach led by ReBuild Metro with ongoing investments from the Deutsch Foundation and many other philanthropic partners.
“Witnessing people realize their power to determine their community’s future – whether through education, advocacy, or artistic expression – fuels my dedication to this work,” shared Hopkins. “In a moment where we see every day what we don't want our reality to be, it is important that we creatively and collectively imagine the world we want to build and experience together.”
“I am thrilled to welcome George Hopkins as our new CEO," said Jane Brown, current Deutsch Foundation President & CEO. “He loves this city and its people, is full of energy and optimism, and is open to new ideas and ways to collaborate that get important things done. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members to wholeheartedly support George and our amazing, youthful staff in service to improving the quality of life in Baltimore.”
Brown’s history of support to artists and independent media began prior to her work at the Deutsch Foundation. In addition to serving as board chair, she will continue to pursue and support people and projects with her personal philanthropic resources in Baltimore and nationally.
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Photo credit: Raba Abro