Brian O’Connell, co-founder and president of Independent Sector and a longtime association CEO, died March 21 of complications from cancer. He was 81. O’Connell was national director of the National Mental Health Association for 12 years. After that, he became president of the National Council on Philanthropy, and then executive director of the Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations. In 1980, he and John Gardner founded Independent Sector, a coalition of more than 500 charitable organizations. O’Connell was president and CEO of the group from 1980 to 1995. “He espoused and exemplified the values of honesty, integrity, accountability, transparency and respect for the… Read More