The Atlanta Pride Committee’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the organization’s new Executive Director, Chris McCain. McCain’s appointment comes at the end of an exhaustive nationwide search led by Our Fundraising Search. A native of metro Atlanta, he will oversee all facets of APC’s work and guide it into its next chapter, leading the strategic planning, organizational management, programmatic development, external affairs, and fundraising. McCain began his new role on May 22.
Throughout his career, McCain has been passionate about serving causes that advance justice and equity. Prior to joining APC, McCain was Director of Philanthropy at The Bail Project, a national nonprofit organization working to make sure that no one is sitting in jail pretrial because of their race or poverty. While at The Bail Project, McCain built a diversified fundraising program from the ground up, leading his team to raise more than $100 million over five years. Before that, he was Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Forum for Theological Exploration where he oversaw programs for young adults discerning careers in ministry, education, and advocacy. He has also worked in fundraising at Emory University and was an inaugural Fellow at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund.
“We couldn’t be more excited that Chris will be leading APC into its next chapter,” said Board Chair Crystal Stubbs. “His passion for and commitment to social justice—particularly for the LGBTQIA+ community—along with his breadth of nonprofit leadership experience really impressed our search committee.”
“I’m truly honored to join the Atlanta Pride Committee at this moment,” said McCain. “For more than a decade, I’ve enjoyed attending the Atlanta Pride Festival and marching in the Parade. I’m really looking forward to building on APC’s proud legacy of fostering community for queer people from all across Atlanta and well beyond.”
In addition to welcoming its new leadership, APC is thrilled to announce the theme of this year’s festival, Show Up and Show Out. Since Atlanta’s first pride parade in 1970 on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Atlanta’s parade—and subsequently, its festival—has galvanized the LGBTQ community to show up for each other and to show out with acts of protest, activism, education, and celebration. Fifty-three years later, APC remains committed to this vision and hopes to encourage our neighbors to Show Up and Show Out for the fullest spectrum of the region’s LGBTQ community—not just in June or October, but all year long.
“We hope you will warmly welcome our new Executive Director by showing up and showing out to this year’s Festival,” said Board Vice Chair Ayrc W. Mosher. “Especially right now, we need what Pride is all about: a joyful celebration of visibility, community, and justice for queer people in Atlanta and around the South.”