Salt Lake City — Today, the Salt Lake Chamber announced that Lisa Eccles, President and COO of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, will be honored as the 46th “Giant In Our City.” The award, widely known as the most prestigious business award given in Utah, recognizes those with exceptional and distinguished service as well as extraordinary professional achievement.
“As an engaged philanthropist and thoughtful community leader, Lisa Eccles has supported Utah nonprofits and their work lifting others for decades,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Her passion for giving back along with her unwavering dedication to building our community have impacted countless lives through the Foundation’s support of education, arts and culture, health and wellness, social services, and preservation and conservation. We are honored to recognize Lisa with this award and are grateful for her continued commitment to leading Utah into a better future.”
For more than 30 years, Lisa Eccles has led one of Utah’s largest and oldest private philanthropic foundations with a personal touch and a pledge to make a lasting and meaningful difference in the lives of others. Awarding nearly 400 grants each year, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation supports nonprofits in every corner of the state and has awarded over $850 million in grants to date. Entrusted with the stewardship of the Foundation’s resources, Eccles is honored to carry on her family’s legacy of giving back.
“My parents instilled in me and my siblings a deep love for Utah and for all those who live here, so it’s been a tremendous honor and joy over so many years to partner with outstanding organizations that enhance our quality of life,” Eccles said. “I’m humbled by this recognition, and I hope this award will also shine a light on the incredible work of our dedicated nonprofits that help Utah children, families and communities thrive.”
In addition to her extensive philanthropic experience, Eccles has served on the board of the National Park Foundation and the National Trust for Historic Preservation – National Trust Council, co-founded and co-chaired Utah Community Builders – Salt Lake Chamber as well as served on the boards of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Preservation Utah, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Salt Lake County Center for the Arts, Natural History Museum of Utah, Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Intermountain Healthcare’s Community Care Foundation among others.
The award will be presented at the 46th ‘Giant In Our City’ celebration. Event details to be released soon.
ABOUT LISA ECCLES
Lisa Eccles is President, COO and a Director of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, one of Utah’s largest and oldest private philanthropic foundations.
Lisa has always had a strong personal commitment to making a difference which has guided her work at the Foundation for the past 30 years. She oversees the Foundation’s vast grantmaking program that distributes nearly 400 grants each year and has awarded $850 million in grants since 1982. Along the way, she’s cultivated impactful public-private partnerships and philanthropic collaborations, and developed deep and lasting relationships with Utah’s nonprofit community, actively supporting their dedication in serving the people of Utah.
In addition to her leadership of the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation, Lisa serves as a director of the Spencer F. and Cleone P. Eccles Family Foundation and the Eccles family-owned hotel, the Goldener Hirsch, in Deer Valley, Utah. Active both locally and nationally, she is a board member of the National Park Foundation and has served on the National Trust for Historic Preservation – National Trust Council as well as the boards of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, Utah Community Builders – Salt Lake Chamber, Preservation Utah, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Salt Lake County Center for the Arts, Natural History Museum of Utah, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah Board of Trustees and Intermountain Healthcare’s Community Care Foundation among others.
Lisa’s years of leadership and community involvement has been recognized by many organizations including Catholic Community Services of Utah, Junior Achievement and the Utah Humanities Council. In 2019, she received the Sundance Institute “Women’s Leadership Award,” and in 2024, Lisa was named one of Utah’s Most Influential Women by Utah Business Magazine.
An ardent lifelong fan of the University of Utah, she holds a bachelor’s degree in art history from the U and has served two terms on its Board of Trustees, and chaired its Campus Master Plan Committee. She has also served on the U’s National Advisory Council, its capital campaign steering committee, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Endowment for Medical School Excellence and the College of Music advisory board among others.
An avid skier, tennis player and enthusiastic sports fan, Lisa enjoys hiking – especially in our national parks – exploring the world, doing good, cheering for her beloved Utes and spending time with family and friends.
ABOUT THE SALT LAKE CHAMBER
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-standing business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000-plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.
ABOUT THE GIANT IN OUR CITY
The Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors established the Giant In Our City award in 1969. The award was created to honor exceptional and distinguished public service and extraordinary professional achievement. It is considered the Chamber’s most prestigious award and is given periodically by the Chamber Board of Governors.