United States

Wayne Fawbush

Program Officer New York

Wayne Fawbush focuses on sustainable economic development in rural America. His work concentrates on helping families improve their livelihood and wealth-building opportunities through the employment of "triple-bottom line" development practices that promote positive changes in equity, environment and the economy.

Before joining the Ford Foundation in 2007, Wayne was executive director of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund. As its first director, Wayne grew the fund into an innovative economic development entity focused on helping communities and businesses in rural Vermont improve their economic base and sell forest and agriculture products in profitable markets. Previously, in the Clinton administration, he was deputy for program operations for the Farmers Home Administration at the Department of Agriculture.

Wayne served for 16 years as a representative and then senator in the Oregon Legislature, concentrating on economic development in rural areas. He also owned and operated a pear and blueberry farm in Hood River, Ore., for 20 years. Wayne was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, serving a tour in Vietnam. He earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon.