The Nathan Cummings Foundation has announced that its president, Simon Greer, will be leaving the foundation on June 20 after less than three years at the helm, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports.

Late last year, the New York City-based foundation announced a shift in its grantmaking from a focus on four core areas — arts and culture, ecological innovation, Jewish life and values, and health — to a strategy focused on inequality and climate change. Greer told the Chronicle in an e-mail that he and the board had disagreed about some "hard choices" related to carrying out the new strategy. "I was ready to continue my work on these and other foundation priorities, but the board has decided it wants new leadership," Greer added.

The change in direction has been controversial among progressive Jewish organizations, many of which were receiving a portion of the almost $6 million a year the foundation had been awarding in support of Jewish organizations and causes. According to the Chronicle, Greer was something of a polarizing figure, and his efforts to  steer the foundation in a new direction may have upset some members of the Cummings family. James Cummings, who chaired the foundation's board when Greer was hired in 2011, no longer serves on the board.

"The board felt it was the right time to bring in new leadership as we enter the next phase of implementing our new strategic plan," said Adam Cummings, the foundation's current board chair, in a statement provided to the Chronicle. "Personality" and input from grantees had nothing to do with the decision to replace Greer, he added, and the foundation remains committed to a strategy focused on income inequality and climate change.

Two senior vice presidents will share responsibility for running the foundation after Greer leaves, and it is expected that an interim CEO will be appointed within a month or two.