Lisa Dancsok

Lisa Dancsok was named the chief brand and impact officer for the Arizona Community Foundation in May 2017. She moved from Michigan to Arizona for her dream job. This position enables her to work for a statewide community foundation where she leads ACF’s strategic initiatives, marketing and communications, branding, strategy and analysis, market research, resource development, and assessing the social and financial impact for the greater Arizona community. Dancsok says her most important and rewarding work today includes engaging and learning the community; leading a team of professional communicators; and providing support for donors, nonprofits, corporate partners and other philanthropic organizations. Building upon a strong brand, a complete refresh of the ACF brand has been rewarding experience for her first three years at ACF. 

Previously, as vice president of corporate philanthropy, marketing and communications for Rock Ventures, Dancsok helped create and implement the “Opportunity Detroit” marketing campaign and oversaw Rock Venture’s philanthropy program that distributed more than $50 million annually into the city. She is proud of the work she did to help launch the Detroit Homecoming program with Crain’s Communications. More than $500 million in new investment was created from expats from across the country coming together to help in rebuilding the city.

One of her proudest accomplishments includes the creation and implementation of the award-winning “Pure Michigan” campaign for the State of Michigan. As senior vice president at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, she was responsible for turning the tourism industry around following the economic downturn of 2008/2009. The advertising campaign was extremely successful and is recognized as one of the top three tourism campaigns of all times.

When asked what her greatest accomplishments have been, she cites the mentoring and development of the next generation of leaders. She takes time to engage, understand and challenge future leaders to think beyond the education they received to the application for profit and not-for-profit organizations. She helps them understand the opportunities and pushes them to grow and take risks. 

Today, Dancsok serves as a board member on the Clearinghouse CDFI and the Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy, She previously served on the boards of Delta Dental of Michigan, Renaissance Health Services, Inforum, Michigan State University’s Eli Broad Alumni Board, the Knight Foundation’s Detroit Advisory Committee and the customer advisory board of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in advertising, both from Michigan State University.