Rebecca W. Rimel to Step Down as Pew’s President and CEO

WASHINGTON—After 36 years of service to The Pew Charitable Trusts—including 30 years as executive director, president, and CEO—Rebecca W. Rimel announced today that she will be stepping down once a successor is in place.

A committee led by Robert H. Campbell, chair of Pew’s board of directors, is currently planning a search that is expected to launch in the early summer. Once a new CEO is named, Rimel will transition into a senior adviser role for the organization.

“It has been a privilege and a source of great joy to serve with a talented, generous, and caring staff throughout my tenure,” Rimel said. “Any success we have enjoyed is due to their integrity, creativity, and unflinching commitment to building a world-class institution and advancing an ambitious programmatic agenda. I will always be grateful for their support and encouragement as we worked to best serve the public interest.”

“The board of directors and I are grateful for Rebecca’s many contributions to The Pew Charitable Trusts,” Campbell said. “Her personal dedication to the mission and values of the organization have been an inspiration to thousands of employees both past and present, allowing the Trusts to change and grow while staying true to the philosophy of its founders.

“We are fortunate to have had time to plan for Rebecca’s retirement, and the transition to a new CEO, well in advance. While the organization will continue to innovate and evolve, the board of directors is committed to the projects and strategies currently underway, including our support for the Philadelphia region,” Campbell said. “We commend Rebecca for creating a strong foundation for the future of a great organization.”

Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts focuses on serving the public, invigorating civic life, conducting nonpartisan research, advancing effective public policies and practices, and achieving tangible results. The Pew Research Center, a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, conducts research about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping America and the world.

In Philadelphia, a range of initiatives provide research and analysis to help the city’s citizens and leaders understand and address key issues; support the cultural community, in large part through the efforts of the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage; and assist some of the most vulnerable local residents.

As a public charity, Pew partners with a diverse range of donors, public and private organizations, and concerned citizens who share its commitment to data-driven solutions and goal-based investments to improve the public good.

The Pew Memorial Foundation, which later became a trust, was created by four generous and civic-minded siblings—J. Howard Pew, Mary Ethel Pew, J.N. Pew Jr., and Mabel Pew Myrin—to honor their father, Sun Oil Co. founder Joseph Newton Pew Sr., and his wife, Mary.

Between 1957 and 1979, six other trusts were created, representing the diverse and complementary philanthropic interests of the four founders. Inspired by their interest in research, practical knowledge, and a robust democracy, The Pew Charitable Trusts’ work now includes public opinion and social science research; arts and culture; and conservation, health, state, and consumer policy initiatives. 

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Learn more at pewtrusts.org.