Board of Councilors

The Board of Councilors was founded in 1987 at the initiative of President Carter and Ivan Allen III as a leadership advisory group that serves to advance understanding of and support for the Center.

Founded in 1987 by President Carter and Ivan Allen III, the Board of Councilors is a leadership advisory group that builds support for The Carter Center among Atlanta and Georgia’s private-sector leaders. Members — more than 200 business and civic leaders — attend quarterly meetings and serve as advocates for the Center.

The governor of Georgia, Atlanta’s mayor, and Emory University’s president are ex-officio members. Councilors serve three-year terms with staggered rotations, and a select few have been named life members for their sustained support.

Since its founding, the Board of Councilors has been led by some of Atlanta’s most distinguished civic leaders.