The Trustees of the Charles F. and Beatrice D. Adams Charitable Trust are excited to share the news that Tom Boutureira (pronounced Bo-too-RAY-ah) will become the Trust’s first Executive Director on July 28, 2025. The selection marks the completion of an extensive planning and search process following the death of Bee Adams, wife of Charles Adams, the donor. Over 400 applications were reviewed and approximately 60 candidates were initially interviewed by the search consultant. The Trustees and the advisors subsequently held personal interviews with many talented individuals.
Tom brings his extensive experience in community development and civic engagement in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors to the work of the Adams Trust. He currently serves as Senior Community Partner and Director of Change Management with the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation in Maine, where he has worked for the last decade. Prior to this, Tom held leadership positions with The Conservation Fund and the Downeast Coastal Conservancy, following three years of service as a Peace Corp Volunteer in Bolivia. He is a graduate of the University of Maine at Machias and is fluent in Spanish.
In his role with the Sewall Foundation, Tom has been a funding partner with the Adams Trust. A leader with humility, empathy, and a strong sense of collaboration, he brings a true commitment to the Trust’s grantmaking priorities. He is eager to expand his understanding of the Trust’s work in Downeast Maine and in Massachusetts where the focus is on Children’s Behavioral Health. Tom is committed to building upon the legacy of the Adams Trust and strengthening the organization’s operations and impact.
Reflecting on his hiring, Tom shares, “My introduction to the Adams Trust was as a grantee, which gave me firsthand experience of their strong commitment to relationship-building and their supportive, collaborative approach to working with organizations and leaders—and to centering community voices. Over the past decade, I’ve had the opportunity to partner closely with the Adams Trust. I’m eager to continue its important role in convening funders to share knowledge and inspire collective action. I look forward to deepening these shared values and engaging with the organizations and collaboratives that are driving critical initiatives and systems change.”
As the longtime Managing Trustee, Janet Taylor describes the Adams Trust as a ‘start-up with a long history’ as it enters this new chapter with its first full-time Executive Director. Janet says, “With Tom, we will carry forward the values of Charles and Bee with more depth, new perspectives, and the same dedication to making a difference with our partners. I am confident that Tom, with his history of effective leadership and his warm and curious demeanor, is poised to usher in a new era of impact that remains rooted in the relationships and the communities where we have been partners for so long.”Trustee Marc Bloostein says, “We extend our deepest gratitude to Janet Taylor for leading the Adams Trust’s grantmaking program in an approachable, gracious, and strategic way that has maximized impact and created lasting relationships.” Janet will continue to serve the Adams Trust as Chair of the Board of Trustees and provide support to Tom.
Trustee Ed Lawrence adds, “As key contributors to the Adams Trust’s community work, longtime advisors Karen Darcy and Janet Henry have been invaluable participants in the planning and search processes. We are grateful that they will remain as advisors providing staff support to the grants program in partnership with Tom throughout the transition.”
As the Adams Trust’s search partner, Paul Spivey with Phillips Oppenheim, developed a keen understanding of the Trust’s culture, practices and priorities and, in a very thorough process, introduced the Trustees and advisors to a highly competitive pool of candidates.
The Charles F. and Beatrice D. Adams Charitable Trust is very pleased to introduce Tom. He looks forward to building upon the Trusts’ history of partnering with and strengthening its community partners.
April 28, 2025