Daniel Shoy, Jr. “Danny”,  joined the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation staff in February 2022 and serves as Managing Director for Youth Development and Westside Atlanta. Danny leads two of the foundation’s giving areas – Atlanta’s Westside, aimed to increase economic mobility for legacy residents in the English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods through affordable housing and financial inclusion, and Youth Development, aimed to increase economic mobility for young people primarily in rural communities in Georgia and Montana.

This role marks Danny’s return to the Blank Family Foundation after spending 12 years with the East Lake Foundation in Atlanta, where he most recently served as president and CEO. At the East Lake Foundation, he was responsible for its progress toward its mission, strategic goal setting, fiscal wellbeing, partnerships and serving as the external spokesperson on behalf of the board, staff and collaborative partners. Since 1995, Danny has worked in the nonprofit sector with organizations focused on youth and community development. Prior to joining the East Lake Foundation, he was with the Blank Family Foundation for ten years and was responsible for $28 million in grantmaking, primarily focused on youth development through education and arts and culture.

Danny has completed several leadership programs through United Way of Greater Atlanta, Southeast Council of Foundations, LEAD Atlanta, Association of Black Foundation Executives, Grantmakers for Education, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and Leadership Atlanta. Nationally, Danny previously served as Chair-Elect of the Grantmakers for Education board. Regionally, he served on Georgia’s 2008 Race to the Top Taskforce – a collaboration between the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Department of Education, and the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement – helping to develop Georgia’s application for this competitive economic federal award.

Locally, Danny serves on the boards of Leadership Atlanta and Westside Future Fund. He has been recognized by Emory University as an Emory College Distinguished Alumni (2013), by Atlanta Tribune as a Man of Distinction (2016), Georgia Trend Magazine as a Notable Georgian (2018) and by the Atlanta Business League as a Man of Excellence (2019).

Danny is a first-generation American from New York City. He enjoys international travel and community service with his fraternity brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He received his bachelor’s degree in History from Emory University and holds a certificate of Nonprofit Senior Leadership from Columbia University.