Foundation Source Taps Industry Veterans for Major PhilTech Expansion

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – February 18, 2026 – Foundation Source, a long-standing leader in philanthropic services, has announced a significant expansion of its leadership team, signaling a deliberate and aggressive strategy to evolve from a specialized service provider into a full-scale enterprise “PhilTech” platform. The addition of four seasoned executives in key growth and client-facing roles follows a period of heavy strategic investment, positioning the company to meet the increasingly complex demands of financial institutions, wealth advisors, and their high-net-worth clients.

The new appointments include Phil Crist as Head of Enterprise Sales, Erin McFadden as Head of Strategic Partnerships, Dania Calderon as Head of Account Management, and Eric Jacobson as Head of Client Services. This infusion of talent from major fintech and financial services firms underscores a pivotal moment for the company as it aims to unify the fragmented world of charitable giving technology.

"We're evolving Foundation Source into a modern, enterprise PhilTech platform – one that simplifies complexity and supports philanthropy at scale," said Joseph Mrak III, CEO of Foundation Source, in a statement. "These leadership additions reflect our commitment to expanding the breadth and depth of our capabilities while delivering exceptional outcomes for clients and partners."

Building an Enterprise Sales and Partnership Engine

The strategic hiring of Phil Crist and Erin McFadden points directly to a sharpened focus on institutional-level growth. Mr. Crist, as the new Head of Enterprise Sales, brings a formidable background from roles at VRGL, Nasdaq, and Solovis. His mandate is to deepen relationships with large, sophisticated organizations that require more than standalone products.

"Institutions today need more than point solutions – they need partners that combine expertise, technology, and operational excellence," commented Mr. Crist. "Foundation Source has built a platform that can meet those needs at scale, and I'm excited to help drive growth during this pivotal stage."

Complementing this effort is Erin McFadden, who takes the helm as Head of Strategic Partnerships. Her experience at firms like BetaNXT and FolioDynamix will be crucial in expanding Foundation Source's distribution network, particularly among wealth advisors who are increasingly incorporating philanthropy into their core client strategies. As charitable giving becomes a key component of wealth transfer and legacy planning, advisors are seeking scalable, tech-enabled solutions.

"As philanthropy becomes a core component of wealth and institutional strategy, advisors need access to sophisticated, scalable solutions," Ms. McFadden stated. "Foundation Source is uniquely positioned to help advisors and institutions deliver meaningful impact while remaining competitive."

The 'Enterprise PhilTech' Gambit

This leadership overhaul is the most visible part of a much larger strategic transformation funded by a significant private equity investment. In late 2023, GTCR acquired Foundation Source, partnering with wealth technology veteran Joseph Mrak III as CEO. The stated goal was to build a comprehensive platform through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

Since that investment, the company has been on an acquisition spree to build out its vision of an end-to-end PhilTech ecosystem. It acquired PG Calc to bolster its planned giving capabilities, Vennfi to enter the burgeoning donor-advised fund (DAF) and workplace giving space, and Pacific Foundation Services (PFS) to expand its reach with large private foundations and enhance its grantmaking support services. These moves have dramatically increased its assets under administration to nearly $47 billion.

The term 'enterprise PhilTech' captures this ambition: to create a single, integrated platform that serves private foundations, DAFs, and planned giving programs. This strategy directly addresses a major market trend. While DAFs, managed by giants like Fidelity Charitable and Schwab Charitable, have seen explosive growth, their platforms are often siloed from the more complex administrative needs of private foundations, a traditional stronghold for Foundation Source. By integrating these offerings, the company aims to become a one-stop-shop for financial institutions and family offices managing diverse philanthropic portfolios.

A Deeper, More Strategic Client Focus

Beyond expanding its market reach, Foundation Source is also re-architecting its client engagement model. The appointments of Dania Calderon as Head of Account Management and Eric Jacobson as Head of Client Services are central to this effort. Ms. Calderon, a veteran with over 20 years of experience from firms like LSEG and Scivantage, is tasked with building a new function focused on long-term strategic client health rather than just day-to-day service.

"Our clients are increasingly looking for a strategic partner, one that understands their mission, scale, and operating complexity," explained Ms. Calderon. Her team will pair dedicated Account Managers with advisors and specialists to provide a more holistic and forward-looking experience.

Meanwhile, Mr. Jacobson, joining from Apex Fintech Solutions, will focus on scaling the client service organization to maintain quality and responsiveness amid rapid growth. "Exceptional service remains foundational to everything we do," said Mr. Jacobson. "My focus is on ensuring we can scale thoughtfully."

This two-pronged approach acknowledges that as philanthropic tools become more powerful, the need for expert guidance and strategic partnership grows in parallel. It’s a shift from being a transactional service provider to a long-term strategic ally, a move that resonates with the 98% client retention rate the company reports.

With its new leadership team in place and a clear, well-funded mandate for growth, Foundation Source is making an audacious bid to consolidate the philanthropic technology landscape. The company is betting that financial institutions, advisors, and donors no longer want a patchwork of disparate tools, but a unified platform that makes high-impact giving seamless, scalable, and strategically sound.