Paul Houlihan

Paul was born and raised in Framingham, MA. He earned a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s Seminary College and a Master’s Degree in Urban Sociology from Boston College.

He has extensive experience in organizational management and administration, international negotiations and community-based program development, along with extensive consulting experience. He has also taught social and economic policy at the University of Massachusetts, where he assisted in the creation and development of the University’s Gerontology Institute.

Beginning in 2017 Paul joined three colleagues in the creation and operation of The Fund for Sandwich (MA) which, under the umbrella of The Cape Cod Foundation, raises private donations to support the community’s nonprofit organizations. In 2018 Paul was invited to join the board of directors of The Cape Cod Foundation, where he serves as chair of the community impact grants committee.

From 2009-2014, Paul served as principal consultant to Clean Energy Solutions, Inc., a Cambridge-based energy efficiency consulting firm that provided project management services to the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, The City of Cleveland, the Better Buildings Programs in Jacksonville, Florida and New Orleans, and the Atlanta-based Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance.

Starting in 1998 Paul served as senior manager and president of The School for Field Studies (SFS), an international field-based, environmental research and community development organization serving indigenous communities in Kenya, Costa Rica, Mexico, Australia and the British West Indies.

Paul’s previous employment included Associate Professor/Associate Director of the Gerontology Institute, University of Massachusetts; Vice President/General Manager of Conservation Services Group; Executive Director of the South Middlesex Opportunity Council; and community organizer in Boston’s South End and Roxbury.

Paul and his wife, Vianna, have lived in East Sandwich since 2005. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.

What has inspired you to serve as a member of The Cape Cod Foundation Board of Directors?

“Since moving to the Cape about thirteen years ago, I have heard nothing but great things about The Cape Cod Foundation and its widespread philanthropy. During my career, mainly creating and managing nonprofit organizations, I have had a lot of opportunity to interact with foundations, but always from “the other side of the table.” The creation of The Fund for Sandwich has provided my colleagues and me an opportunity to work closely as an affiliate of the Foundation. As a representative of the Fund it has also provided me an opportunity to join and serve directly on the Foundation’s Board. It is my goal to serve professionally and energetically, with a fair degree of knowledge about the challenges that Cape-based nonprofit organizations face every day. I am excited about the opportunity to do so.”