Participants

Donald A. Cooke

Senior Vice President for Philanthropy, McCormick Foundation

Mr. Cooke began serving as the McCormick Foundation’s senior vice president for philanthropy in May 2005. His responsibilities include managing the Foundation’s grantmaking programs for veterans, communities, education, journalism, and special initiatives.

Mr. Cooke began his career at the Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia. Over 12 years he served as director of the Fels Planetarium, director of development, vice president for external affairs, acting museum director, and executive vice president for programs and planning. He subsequently worked for eight years at the Philadelphia Orchestra, where he served as vice president for external affairs. Prior to his current position, Mr. Cooke was the vice president for institutional advancement for the Field Museum in Chicago.

A Philadelphia native, Mr. Cooke was educated at Williams College and Harvard University, where he studied astrophysics. He has written many papers and articles on astronomy and nonprofit management, and he is author of the book The Life and Death of Stars, published by Crown Publishers in 1985. He is currently a board member and on the executive committee of Arts Alliance Illinois, is a board member and on the executive committee of the Donors Forum of Chicago, is chairman of the City of Lake Forest Historic Preservation Commission, and is a board member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.