Dana Loatman Becomes First Executive Director of Virgil Abloh Foundation, Championing Young Creatives
Dana Loatman Becomes First Executive Director of Virgil Abloh Foundation
On February 26, 2025, the Virgil Abloh Foundation (VAF) proudly announced the appointment of Dana Loatman as its inaugural Executive Director. Established by Shannon Abloh and her family, the foundation aims to honor the legacy of the late designer, visionary, and cultural pioneer Virgil Abloh. Loatman will spearhead efforts to fulfill Virgil's mission of dismantling barriers and providing equitable opportunities for underrepresented youth in creative spheres.
With over a decade of experience in philanthropy, creativity, and social impact, Loatman has consistently advocated for underrepresented communities while fostering partnerships that initiate systemic change. She previously served as Chief of External Affairs for the Obama Foundation for nearly a decade, where she helped to advance the legacy of President and Mrs. Obama by establishing the My Brothers' Keeper Alliance and the current Obama Foundation. During this tenure, Loatman oversaw strategies and operations for community engagement and built relationships with talent, marketing, and communications.
Prior to that, she served as a consultant to the CEO of the Obama Foundation, Valerie Jarrett, where she built the Corporate and Foundation Partnerships team from the ground up. In fact, she secured over $100 million in support from esteemed brands and formed alliances with organizations such as Apple, Nike, and the NBA. Her remarkable career also includes international leadership roles at World Vision International and the Boston Foundation's Philanthropic Initiative, among others.
Shannon Abloh, the foundation's founder and chairwoman, expressed her dedication to finding a leader who embodies the ethos of Virgil Abloh. “Virgil and I started investing in communities and youth over twenty years ago. It was crucial for me to find someone capable of shouldering the immense responsibility of leading the foundation,