President

We are pleased to announce that Sue Peters has been selected as the new President of the Ruth Mott Foundation, effective November 3, 2025.

Peters joins the Ruth Mott Foundation as it is poised to develop the next phase of its strategic plan, which guides its community grantmaking, impact investing, and stewardship of Applewood, the historic estate of C.S. Mott, which the Foundation maintains in accordance with Ruth Mott’s wishes. As Ruth Mott Foundation president, Peters will oversee grantmaking and administration functions as well as the community programs delivered at and by Applewood.

Early in Peters’ career, she honed her community-centered approach while serving in the Peace Corps in Bolivia, developing relationships with residents to implement local solutions to local issues. The experience shaped her lifelong commitment to community engagement and sustainable nonprofit success.

Peters came to Flint in 2000 when she was hired as a program officer at the C.S. Mott Foundation. After seven years, she went on to direct the Flint office for LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corp.), a national nonprofit that acts as an intermediary to connect communities with public and private resources. At the Community Foundation, Peters was a member of the leadership team through the Flint water crisis and COVID pandemic, engaging residents to hear their concerns and help develop solutions, working across sectors to address complex community needs. Peters most recently served as the vice president of community impact at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.

Peters earned a master’s degree in policy studies from Johns Hopkins University and her bachelor’s degree from Carroll University in Wisconsin.

Karen Avery led this search with Lehman Robinson and Caroline Corry.

The full announcement can be found on the Foundation’s website here.