Lorenzo Esters has resigned as president of The Indianapolis Foundation after less than two years in the role.
In a message to supporters, the foundation stated Esters stepped down so he could support his mother through a medical matter. Esters had recently taken a leave of absence.
“It has been my honor to serve as president of The Indianapolis Foundation and to work alongside the community, board and the staff in support of its mission,” Esters said in the message.
The foundation works to identify opportunities to improve the quality of life in Marion County.
Esters joined The Indianapolis Foundation in June 2023. Last year, he introduced Equity Imperative 2030 — a five-year strategic plan focused on improving equity in housing, health, the environment and economics.
In the message to supporters, Kathy Davis, the chair of The Indianapolis Foundation board of directors and a former lieutenant governor, said the board is grateful for Esters’ vision and leadership.
“We are sad to lose Lorenzo as part of our team, but we understand the importance of focusing on his family,” Davis said in the message. “Lorenzo’s time at IF was one of significant transitions for the foundation with new leaders, staff strategic plans and initiatives — not to mention our city, state and nation going through tremendous changes.”
Twyman named interim president
The foundation’s board has chosen Michael R. Twyman to serve as interim president. Twyman joined The Indianapolis Foundation as chief equity and invocation officer in July. He served as acting president during Esters’ leave of absence.
“We have a very strong team and good direction and lots of history behind us as an organization,” Twyman told Mirror Indy. “We have full confidence that our work will continue and will also be building upon the leadership that Lorenzo has both provided to the organization and we remain committed to the work that we’ve promised to our community.”
Twyman has worked as managing principal of InExcelsis Consulting. He also served as the executive director of My Brother’s Keeper-Indianapolis and the Institute on Race and Ethnicity at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock and interim executive director of Indianapolis nonprofit BlackLight.
Mirror Indy reporter Darian Benson covers east Indianapolis. Contact her at 317-397-7262 or darian.benson@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X @HelloImDarian or on Bluesky @darianbenson.bsky.social.
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