MDC Announces Retirement of Long-time Leader and Senior Program Director Ralph Gildehaus

MDC is proud to announce the retirement of Ralph Gildehaus, Senior Director of Economic Security and Mobility, after 16 impactful years of advancing economic security and equity for communities across the South. Ralph will continue contributing to MDC as a Senior Fellow, where he will help launch the Family Economic Success Institute—a new initiative designed to increase access to essential benefits and services for low-income families. He will be succeeded in his role as Senior Director by current MDC staffer Jenna Bryant.

Reflecting on his career at MDC, Ralph shared, “It has been my privilege to work at MDC to forge partnerships and advocate for systems that make a tangible difference in people’s lives. I look forward to supporting the new Family Economic Success Institute as it builds solutions that uplift families.”

During his tenure, Ralph established key national and regional partnerships, identified core resources for Southern partners, and advocated for new strategies to ensure that Southerners have greater financial stability and sustainable paths out of poverty, including:

• Innovative Civic Partnerships: Ralph represented MDC in establishing impactful new collaboratives, including the North Carolina Navigator Consortium, which helped North Carolina enroll one of the largest numbers of residents into ACA health insurance among U.S. states.
• Financial Access Initiatives: Ralph spearheaded initiatives like the Benefit Banks of North Carolina and South Carolina, providing families with over $1 billion in tax credits and benefits, and Integrated Services Delivery efforts in Durham and Greensboro, NC, and Saint Paul, MN.
• Policy Change: MDC recently secured a major victory when NC Governor Cooper and the NC Department of Revenue agreed to create a state income tax direct file option to complement federal direct file at the urging of a collaborative co-founded and facilitated by MDC, the North Carolina Tax Credit Coalition. The Coalition has increased access to free tax assistance and uptake of tax credits, proven to reduce poverty and economic insecurity.
• Veterans Advocacy and Resources: Ralph was a critical voice in the effort to establish the NC VetsCorps Project, which connected 9,000 veterans and military families to essential resources and laid the foundation for North Carolina’s Veterans Law Practice.

John Simpkins, MDC President and CEO, commended Ralph’s legacy, stating, “Ralph has been an extraordinary leader and visionary. His commitment to breaking down barriers for under-resourced communities has profoundly shaped MDC’s success. We are grateful for his contributions and ongoing dedication to MDC’s mission.”

As Ralph embarks on his next chapter, we celebrate his efforts to create opportunities for all Southerners. We look forward to witnessing the impact his work will continue to inspire.