Independent Sector has named William J. (Bill) Bynum as the winner of its 2022 John W. Gardner Leadership Award. 

Established in 1985 to honor IS founding chair John W. Gardner, the annual award recognizes an individual whose leadership in the nonprofit community has been transformative; who has mobilized people, institutions, or a cause that improves the lives of others; and who exemplifies the leadership and ideals of the award’s namesake.

Bynum is president and CEO of the HOPE family of organizations, which strengthen communities, build assets, and improve lives in economically distressed areas of the U.S. South by providing access to high-quality financial products and services. HOPE includes the Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union, and Hope Policy Institute. Since 1994, HOPE has generated more than $3.6 billion in financing, which has benefited more than two million people across Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee and helped shape policies and practices that have improved conditions in opportunity-starved communities nationwide. 

“At times when civil society seemed most fragile, John Gardner showed us the power of a single voice anchored in wisdom, integrity, and courage. Those traits were, and continue to be, vitally important on issues of race, poverty, and equity,” said Bynum. “I am honored and humbled to be associated with his legacy and so many inspirational past awardees.” 

“Bill Bynum’s longstanding work to make a real difference in the lives of families and communities in the Deep South is illustrative of the level of transformative work that is a hallmark of our John W. Gardner Award winners,” said Independent Sector CEO and president Daniel J. Cardinali. “Through his work as CEO and founder of Hope Enterprise Corporation, Bill is bringing bold ideas and strategies to bear to create more equitable and accessible banking services for people being victimized by payday loans and alternative financial services. In his leadership, we see how important it is to combine practical solutions with long-term policy change.”

(Photo credit: Independent Sector)