Barron (Buzz) Tenny is a distinguished figure in the realm of philanthropy and community development, known for his exemplary service and dedication to advancing social justice. With a career spanning decades, Tenny has made significant contributions to organizations and initiatives aimed at fostering positive change and empowering communities.
Tenny’s tenure as a member of ICTJ’s Board of Directors from 2011 to 2019, including his role as Co-Chair of the Board in 2019, exemplifies his commitment to the organization’s mission. His exceptional leadership and unwavering support have been instrumental in guiding ICTJ’s endeavors and ensuring its continued success.
Prior to his involvement with ICTJ, Tenny served as the Executive Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel of the Ford Foundation for 28 years. During his tenure at the Ford Foundation, Tenny played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction and initiatives and worked closely with three presidents on the full range of the Foundation’s matters.
Before his time at the Ford Foundation, Tenny served as General Counsel, Vice President, and Assistant Secretary of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation, a prominent community development corporation in Brooklyn, New York. While at Restoration, Tenny played a central role in the development, leasing, and financing of a commercial center in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
Tenny has been actively involved in various philanthropic and advisory endeavors. He has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations, including the Foundation Center, the New York Community Trust, the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, the Ford Foundation’s International Fellowship Fund, and the City Bar Fund of the City of New York. He has served (and continues to serve) as a mentor in the Leadership Fellowships at the Trust program, which supports and develops a diverse group of mid-career nonprofit professionals. He has taught nonprofit management and governance at the master’s level at New York University and Columbia University.
Mr. Tenny earned his undergraduate degree in history and science at Harvard College and his law degree at the University of Chicago Law School.
