We are grieved to announce that ULI Foundation President and Chief Advancement Officer Phillip Horne passed away unexpectedly on August 17, 2020. He was 60.

A vocal champion of the Urban Land Institute and its transformational mission-driven programs, Horne is remembered by his ULI friends and devoted staff as an individual of the highest caliber—fiercely intelligent; profoundly humorous; and unwaveringly supportive of his Foundation staff and colleagues.

Horne joined ULI in fall 2018, after a long and distinguished career in philanthropy, most recently at George Washington University. In his all-too-brief tenure with the ULI Foundation, Horne built a newly professional philanthropic culture within the organization and recruited a team to assist with implementing his vision for the ULI Foundation’s trajectory over its second half century of meaningful impact on the cities of the world. ULI’s mission resonated for Horne, whose agrarian roots inspired his appreciation for the enduring power and pull of place.

“Phillip cared deeply about growing the culture of philanthropy at ULI and about each of our generous supporters. He immediately brought structure and professionalism to our advancement efforts and effectively led his team as we developed a comprehensive campaign for the ULI Foundation,” said Ed Walter, ULI’s global CEO. “His sense of humor and wisdom added value to all of our efforts, and he will be sorely missed.”

That vision was evident from the beginning of his tenure with the ULI Foundation. ULIF Chairman Doug Abbey remembered Horne as a “consummate professional” who “knew philanthropy inside and out. I suspect he didn’t have many job interviews in which he was asked about B’s Barbecue in his hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, and when he put pen to paper, he failed the Hemingway test: he would never use one adjective or verb when two would do. Phillip was full of good humor and wisdom, sporting his NC State baseball cap and his lovely smile. We have lost a dear friend and colleague and leader of the Foundation.”

Horne devoted 35 years of service within the intersections of private enterprise, public service, higher education, and philanthropy, serving on several regional and national philanthropic, cultural, and arts boards, including The Lost Colony Foundation and the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Advancement Council. Most recently he served on the Board of Trustees for University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Horne joyfully exhibited his enthusiasm for sports and poetry alongside his deep knowledge of many subjects from finance to film. Inventor and co-owner of two financial services information technology patents, Horne’s articles and commentary appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times and CNN Financial News. A true Renaissance man, Horne was also the recipient of three nominations and one Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Golden Reel from the International Television Association.

He earned a B.A. (cum laude) from North Carolina State University and an M.A. (summa cum laude) from East Carolina University, with additional graduate study completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University.

In the course of his career in advancement, he developed close professional and personal relationships with colleagues at North Carolina State University, Catawba College, East Carolina University, The College of William & Mary, and George Washington University. Horne held his loyal staff and ULI friends in the highest esteem, and his particular skill in building fast friendships and deep relationships is evidenced in how fondly he is remembered by colleagues.

“Phillip was a great business partner and good friend to me,” said ULI Americas President, Gwyneth Coté. “I joined ULI about two months after he did, and his effort from day one was to help me quickly navigate ULI with a specific focus on the Foundation and how its work can help us deliver on our mission.  Phillip was aware of my keen focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and he identified strategies to enhance fundraising opportunities that would enable ULI to strengthen its efforts in DEI and expand its reach to university students.”

Horne is survived by his wife, Grace; his two sons, Alexander and Harrison; numerous family members; and legions of friends. A private funeral service was held for family on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville, North Carolina.