Gates Foundation names chief for regional programs

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has hired an affordable-housing expert as the new director of its Pacific Northwest programs after a yearlong search.

David Bley will join the foundation Nov. 12, directing grants and strategy to help needy children and families in the region. He is currently a vice president at Enterprise Community Partners in Seattle, a national nonprofit that finances affordable housing and community-development programs.

The Gates Foundation gives about $33 million a year throughout the Pacific Northwest, focused on helping homeless families and bolstering regional nonprofits that provide housing and other basic needs to low-income people. Most of the foundation's giving is in Washington state and the Portland area.

Bley said the foundation approached him about the job a few months ago.

Enterprise Community Partners emphasizes collaboration among philanthropy, government and the private sector to solve inequities, a model Bley said is shared by the Gates Foundation.

"It's pretty much a seamless transition for me," he said.

He was previously an executive at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle and director of the Seattle Fannie Mae Partnership Office. Bley also worked for Seattle Mayor Norm Rice and Reps. Mike Lowry and Jim McDermott.

The 53-year-old Chicago native has a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and a master's degree from Seattle University. He is chairman of the Seattle Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners.

Kristi Heim: 206-464-2718 or kheim@seattletimes.com