We are grieved to announce that Phillip Horne, ULI Foundation president and chief advancement officer, passed away unexpectedly on August 17. He was 60.
A vocal champion of the Institute and its transformational mission-driven programs, Horne is remembered by his ULI friends and staff as an individual of the highest caliber—fiercely intelligent, profoundly humorous, and unwaveringly supportive of Foundation benefactors and his colleagues.
“Phillip cared deeply about growing the culture of philanthropy at ULI and about each of our generous supporters. He immediately brought structure and professionalism to our advancement efforts and effectively led his team as we developed a comprehensive campaign for the ULI Foundation,” says Ed Walter, ULI global chief executive officer. “His sense of humor and wisdom added value to all of our efforts, and he will be sorely missed.”
Horne joined the Institute in fall 2018 as part of his long and distinguished career in philanthropy, most recently at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. During his tenure with the ULI Foundation, Horne enhanced and professionalized a philanthropic culture within the organization. ULI’s mission resonated with Horne, whose family background in farming inspired his appreciation for the enduring power and pull of place.
Horne was a “consummate professional” who “knew philanthropy inside and out,” says ULIF Chairman Doug Abbey. “I suspect he didn’t have many job interviews in which he was asked about B’s Barbecue in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina. And when he put pen to paper, he failed the Hemingway test: he would never use one adjective or verb when two would do. Phillip was full of good humor and wisdom, sporting his N.C. State baseball cap and his lovely smile. We have lost a dear friend and colleague and leader of the Foundation.”
“Phillip was a great business partner and good friend to me,” says ULI Americas President Gwyneth Coté. “I joined ULI about two months after he did, and his effort from day one was to help me quickly navigate ULI, with a specific focus on the Foundation and how its work can help us deliver on our mission. Phillip was aware of my keen focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI], and he identified strategies to enhance fundraising opportunities that would enable ULI to strengthen its efforts in DEI and expand its reach to university students.”
Horne devoted 35 years of service at the intersection of private enterprise, public service, higher education, and philanthropy, serving on several regional and national philanthropic, cultural, and arts boards, including the Lost Colony Foundation and the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council. Most recently, he served on the board of trustees for the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Horne exhibited his enthusiasm for sports and poetry alongside his deep knowledge of a variety of subjects ranging from finance to film. Inventor and co-owner of two financial services information technology patents, Horne’s articles and commentary appeared in publications and broadcasts including the New York Times and CNN Financial News. Horne also was the recipient of three nominations and one Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Golden Reel from the International Television Association.
He earned a B.A. (cum laude) from North Carolina State University and an M.A. (summa cum laude) from East Carolina University, with additional graduate study completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.
Horne is survived by his wife, Grace; his two sons, Alexander and Harrison; and numerous family members and friends.
HELENE KISER is ULIF vice president of advancement communications.
