The Mitsy Fund

Walter Woods, Senior Vice President of Development and Donor Services at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, leads with an adventurous spirit.  Growing up as a “military brat,” he lived in a variety of states and countries, including Kentucky, Oklahoma, Germany and Turkey. 

Woods has never shied away from new opportunities, moving from city to city in pursuit of creating deeper impact. Travel and the outdoors fuel his curiosity—African safaris, photo safaris in the South and North Pole, skiing in Utah, and hiking untamed forests. Now based in New Haven, he is embracing everything the city offers, from its vibrant culture to its close connection to New York City and the arts.

“I arrived in New Haven knowing little about the community and quickly discovered a place of remarkable depth and history. Its diversity, innovation, and vibrancy are what drew me in—and what make it feel like home,” says Woods. 

Woods describes himself as “someone who values relationships and connection” and is drawn to working with those who, like him, “believe in equity and celebrating community.”  He has spent much of his career working for a variety of foundations, both corporate and nonprofit.

“I love the freedom foundations have to create change, the resources they can bring to the table, and the people they attract—those who believe in building stronger communities,” he says.

Soon after joining The Community Foundation, Woods was inspired to create his own charitable fund, naming it the Mitsy Fund in honor of his mother, Mary E. Woods, a beloved special-needs teacher who touched the lives of countless students. Through the fund, he hopes to support organizations that uplift children with special needs and help them thrive as full, valued members of the community.

 “As a child, I learned the value of giving back by watching my mother. Wherever we lived, she made a point of supporting vulnerable communities and including us in that work, teaching us to appreciate what we had and to help lift others,” Woods says.

“After more than 25 years in philanthropy, one thing has become clear to me: it’s not only about the money. Money is the final ingredient. Real impact comes from the will you help spark within a community and the relationships you build with those willing to do the work.”