Heising-Simons Foundation Appoints Brian Eule as President and Chief Executive Officer

Seasoned philanthropic executive and FRONTLINE Managing Director returns to lead family foundation advancing early education, science, climate and clean energy, human rights, journalism.

Los Altos, Calif. (September 17, 2025) — The Board of Directors of the Heising-Simons Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Eule as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026.

“I couldn’t be more excited about Brian ‘coming home’ to the Heising-Simons Foundation as President and CEO,” said Liz Simons, Chair of the Board of the Heising-Simons Foundation. “He comes with a deep understanding of who we are and has an extraordinary talent for bringing people together. He is a listener, a learner, and a creator—a natural leader who is kind, but also honest and decisive. His lifelong experience as a journalist and communicator is exactly what we need in this moment.”

Eule is a seasoned philanthropic leader with two decades of foundation experience in both strategic grantmaking and communications. From 2015 to 2024, Eule served as Director of Journalism and Communications at the Heising-Simons Foundation, where he built and led the organization’s communications department, created its journalism grantmaking initiative, and served as a corporate officer.

Eule currently serves as Managing Director of FRONTLINE on PBS, one of the nation’s most respected investigative journalism series, where he oversees business operations and strategic planning. During his time at FRONTLINE, he helped the series develop and execute long-term strategies to ensure the program’s adaptability and resilience amid a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Eule has a deep commitment to strategic impact, collaborative leadership, and meeting urgent societal needs. Previously, he held program and communications roles at several national foundations including the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and The James Irvine Foundation.

“I’m deeply honored to return to the Heising-Simons Foundation and lead this organization as it addresses some of the most urgent and enduring challenges of our time,” Eule said. “The Foundation’s work is grounded in care and concern for others, and is helping shape a better future for generations to come. I’m humbled to be able to work with a family foundation Board so thoughtful, a staff so passionate, and extraordinary nonprofit leaders who are driving meaningful changes on the issues that matter most.”

A published author and former visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, Eule holds degrees from Stanford University and Columbia University. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

In addition, Jennifer Shipp will serve as the Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, effective January 1, 2026.

Shipp has been the Foundation’s Acting President and CEO during this transition period, and will continue in that role through December 31, 2025. She joined the Foundation as General Counsel in April 2020, overseeing legal affairs and providing guidance on strategy development, grantmaking, governance, and other areas. Prior to joining the Foundation, Shipp held roles at several philanthropic organizations, including The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Shipp holds degrees from Emory University, Howard University School of Law, and University of California, Berkeley.

“I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to serve as the Foundation’s Acting President and CEO for the past 13 months,” Shipp said. “During that time, we have successfully navigated change both internally and externally, and I am grateful for the Board’s confidence in my leadership. Now, Brian Eule will bring his great energy and experience back to the Foundation, and we will continue on our journey to drive meaningful change. I look forward to partnering with him on a wide range of legal, strategic, operational, and organizational development priorities within the Foundation.”

About the Heising-Simons Foundation

The Heising-Simons Foundation is a family foundation working with its many partners to enhance the education of our youngest learners, enable groundbreaking research in science, advance sustainable solutions in climate and clean energy, support human rights for all people, address the impact of technology on society, and support journalism as a critical element of a healthy and multicultural democracy. For more information, visit www.hsfoundation.org.

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Heising-Simons Foundation Appoints Brian Eule as President and Chief Executive Officer

Seasoned philanthropic executive and FRONTLINE Managing Director returns to lead family foundation advancing early education, science, climate and clean energy, human rights, journalism.

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