Thomas Griggs Jr.

Thomas S. Griggs Jr. is the Co-Director and Director of Development at the New Haven International Festival of Arts & Ideas. He served on the Festival Board for seven years before joining the staff. He is most proud of the community engagement activities he supports as part of his work with the Festival, highlighting the rich cultural assets of New Haven while bringing diverse communities together to experience visionary thought leaders and enjoy world class and local talent.

Prior to working with the Festival, Tom oversaw Corporate and Foundation Giving in the Yale-New Haven Hospital Office of Development. For 20 years prior, Griggs enjoyed a highly successful banking career. He worked in various branch and management positions at People’s Bank, including director of Community Relations and Corporate Contributions, branch manager of several downtown New Haven branches, Manager of Telephone Banking, and Vice President of People’s Corporate University. He earned his Real Estate license from Gateway Community College and enjoyed a successful realty career built on his extensive knowledge of mortgage banking and the community.

Tom also served on the Board of The Connecticut Alliance for Arts Education from 1996 through 2004 and as President from 1998 through 2003.  He was appointed to the National Governance Committee of The Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network in Washington D.C. from 2001 through 2003.