Speakers

Erin Gibson Allen combines her diverse professional background with a passion for problem-solving to deliver strategic legal guidance to employers. With expertise spanning labor and employment law, workplace investigations, and non-profit governance, Erin is a trusted advisor who helps organizations navigate complex challenges while protecting their reputations and fostering strong leadership.
 
With extensive leadership experience on non-profit boards, Erinʼs practice includes advising non-profit and tax-exempt organizations on general employment issues, board governance, organizational management, executive search, and leadership oversight. She has served in multiple board chair and committee roles across the performing arts, higher education, healthcare, and human services sectors.

Drawing on her background as a journalist, Erin leverages her investigative skills to design and execute thorough workplace investigations. She has handled complex cases involving senior leadership complaints, employee theft, workplace safety concerns, and allegations of harassment and discrimination. Erin frequently speaks on best practices for effective workplace investigations.

Her media experience also makes Erin a key member of the firmʼs Reputation and Crisis Management team. She helps employers protect and defend their public image, understanding the critical importance of a strong reputation.

Additionally, Erin advises employers on reductions in force, providing strategic guidance to ensure smooth transitions while minimizing legal risks and maintaining workforce morale.

In the labor space, Erin has represented employers in representation elections, collective bargaining, union grievances, strike contingency planning, and defense of unfair labor practice charges.

Before joining Fisher Phillips, she also represented employers in antitrust matters and complex litigation. Erin also worked as a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania after earning her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she served as president of the Pitt Law Womenʼs Association.

Erin is a sought-after speaker on career development, leadership cultivation, and board service. She has been interviewed by The New York Times and BBC News and has spoken at professional events and on various podcasts. In 2011, Erin collaborated with the Pittsburgh legal community to create “Back to the Bar,” an initiative offering education, training, and resources for attorneys re-entering the profession after a career break. She also serves as an adjunct professor and regularly speaks at law schools to help students successfully transition into the legal profession.

At the Trust, I support our statewide policy work in close partnership with diverse stakeholders including researchers, advocates, and organizers. By listening to the needs of communities and investing in local leaders—especially immigrants and people of color—I believe that we can build power for a healthier, more equitable future.

I Work On
Health Improvement in North Carolina
Healthy Places NC

My Proudest Accomplishment
At Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, I identified systemic issues with Medicaid access for immigrant families in our state. Based on barriers that my clients experienced, we negotiated changes to the N.C. Medicaid eligibility manual that resulted in increased access to care for thousands of immigrant children and pregnant women.

Before I Got Here

• Co-lead, Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign, a network of 500+ organizations united to advance, protect and defend access to health care and public benefit programs for immigrants and their families.
• Senior Policy Attorney, The Center for Law and Social Policy
• Senior Attorney for Health Care Access, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
• Board Member, Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency

Education and Awards

• Bachelor of Science in Public Health, George Washington University
• Juris Doctor, Tulane University Law School
• Community Leadership Essentials, Center for Creative Leadership
• People Who Made Charlotte Better in 2015, Charlotte Observer
• New Leader in Advocacy Award, National Legal Aid & Public Defender Association
• Leadership North Carolina, Class 31 Graduate
   

When the Day is Done
Inside and outside of work, I love building community and bringing people together. After many years away, my husband and I are happy to be back in our hometown of Greensboro, NC, with our two young kids. On the weekends, you’ll find me spending time with friends and family, planning our next trip, exploring thrift shops, and taking yoga classes.

I have been in healthcare for over 26 years. I received my Master of Social Work in April 2024 from Chamberlain University. I received my Licensed Master's Social Work in August 2024. 

I was able to observe how the E2 program operates during my first internship at the Family Success Center of Etowah County from May to August 2023.  In July 2024, the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama offered me the E2 life coach position. I typically meet with 4-5 students weekly to provide encouragement and guidance as they work toward their educational goals and learn to balance their other obligations.

I have had two students successfully graduate from the E2 program during my time as the E2 life coach. Additionally, I serve as the Hope Family counselor at the Family Success Center of Etowah County, which is a program funded by the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama to provide free mental health counseling to individuals, couples, and families in the area. I also serve as the Physician Assisted Autism Diagnostic Clinic Program Director and an Alabama Youth Relationship Education community educator at the Family Success Center of Etowah County. 

Matt Bank is the Chief Investment Officer at GEM. In this role, Matt oversees the firm’s policy construction, asset allocation, and portfolio strategies. Prior to joining GEM in 2018, Matt spent six years as a Partner at Windhorse Capital Management, an outsourced investment office for families and institutions. Prior to Windhorse, he spent five years at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York. Matt is currently a Trustee and member of the Endowment & Investment Committee of Blumenthal Arts. He received a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College where he graduated with honors, and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

I serve as president of Truist Foundation, the philanthropic venture of Truist, a purpose driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities.

In my role, I lead innovative and philanthropic solutions focusing on small businesses and career pathways for historically underserved communities to help level the playing field, so that all people are given equal opportunities to thrive.

Prior to SunTrust’s merger with BB&T to form Truist, I spent more than 20 years with the firm to serve as Enterprise Community Reinvestment Act Officer managing the Community Development program for 11 years.

I am a Florida native, receiving my degree in Finance from Florida State University.

Sherra Bennett is an accomplished nonprofit executive and philanthropic leader with over 15 years of experience advancing community well-being through effective leadership, strategic partnerships, and organizational development. She currently serves as Senio Program Officer Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, where she leads the Movement Building, Leadership Development, and Community Change portfolio—supporting Arkansas communities in building long-term resilience and opportunity.

Sherra is native Arkansas, and a proud daughter of the Arkansas Delta region, Sherra brings a principled approach to her work grounded in both professional rigor and a deep commitment to public service. Her career began as a Field Organizer with a presidential campaign, where she developed a passion for civic engagement, equity, and service. Since then, she has held senior roles including Nonprofit Founder, Executive Director, Director of Operations, Program Director, and Principal Consultant, guiding mission-driven organizations in achieving measurable outcomes across sectors such as human services, youth development, and grassroots leadership.

Sherra is a two-time graduate of the University of Michigan, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Her professional ethos is shaped by this interdisciplinary foundation—blending strategic communication with ethical, community-based social work practices. Her work has extended across the U.S. and internationally, with impact efforts in Africa, Germany, Italy, Haiti, and The Netherlands.

Sherra is also a Presidential Leadership Scholar and a Grantmakers for Southern Progress Fellow. She has been recognized as a “Woman to Watch” for her contributions to advancing leadership and community solutions. Her leadership style is defined by authenticity, collaboration, and the belief that sustainable change stems from investing in people, institutions, and ideas that uplift the common good.

Colleen Briggs is Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility and President of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC).  In this role, she is responsible for advancing the company’s purpose to improve the health and well-being of customers and communities.

Prior to joining Blue Cross NC, she was Head of Inclusive Economies and Banking within the Office of Corporate Responsibility at JPMorgan Chase & Co.  Colleen was responsible for helping establish and execute the firm’s strategies to promote inclusive products and practices, including advising the development and implementation of the firm’s $30 billion commitment to advance economic inclusion by harnessing the firm’s products, hiring, philanthropy and advocacy. She also led strategic initiatives for the JPMorgan Foundation, including developing and managing global strategies for community development, affordable housing, and small business.

Previously, Colleen was the Economic Policy Advisor to Senator Debbie Stabenow. In this role, she managed the Senator’s economic portfolio, including policy related to financial services, tax, small business, job creation, community development, manufacturing, and housing. Colleen managed the Dodd-Frank market reforms for the Senate Agriculture Committee, and helped draft the Recovery Act, TARP, the Dodd-Frank Act, and health care reform.

Colleen is on the Board of the Dix Park Conservancy. She earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Ivan is passionate about leadership, social change, and service to community, and has been involved with nonprofits, foundations, civic organizations, and his Triad community over many years as a staff member, volunteer, consultant, and board member. Before joining the Center as President & CEO, Ivan was executive director of North Carolina for Community and Justice (NCCJ), where he began as a board member before joining its staff. He has also worked with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, Guilford Green Foundation, and Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels. Ivan currently serves as a board member with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, Carolina Pride Alum Network, Equality North Carolina, UNC-Greensboro Board of Visitors, and S.J. Edwards Foundation. He also served on the boards of the National Federation of Just Communities, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) National Board, and North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, where he was board chair and chair of the Center’s board nominations and equity committees.

Dena Chadwick was named president and CEO of Philanthropy Southeast in June 2024. She has been with the organization since 2009, including serving as chief operating officer with her predecessor and mentor, Janine Lee.

Dena played a leading role in the development of the Equity Framework, the organization’s groundbreaking commitment to inspire and strengthen learning, leadership and actions within Southern philanthropy dedicated to the advancement of equity in the field and region. The Framework, adopted in 2019, has since influenced the development of a new mission and vision. Dena is also a key architect of Philanthropy Southeast’s Courageous Leadership Strategy, which calls on the organization to take risks and make leaps that mobilize the people and resources needed to address critical issues facing philanthropy in the South and communities in the South.

Throughout her career at Philanthropy Southeast, Dena has leveraged her expertise and prior experience to ensure effective stewardship of financial resources. Working with the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee, she has led work that has placed Philanthropy Southeast in a strong and sustainable position. She also spearheaded successful efforts to operationalize the organization’s commitment to equity, including the creation and adoption of a DEI Policy and a new Employee Handbook.

In addition to her work at Philanthropy Southeast, Dena serves on the board of the United Philanthropy Forum. She also served as a board member for The Museum School of Avondale Estates from December 2010 to January 2013 and served as its Treasurer from December 2010 to June 2012. She continues to serve on its Advisory Board.

Dena began her career in philanthropy as a staff accountant and assistant controller with the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation in 1991. She earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree in accounting from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta.

Dena, an Atlanta native, has two adult children. She lives with her partner and their two dogs and enjoys when the house is full and everyone comes home.

Leng Leng Chancey is the Director of the Racial Justice and Equity Fund (RJEF) at the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (ECFC). In this role, she oversees all aspects of RJEF, including fundraising, grantmaking, funder education, and relationship-building with grantee partners and external collaborators. RJEF is dedicated to increasing funding, capacity, and influence for leaders and organizations rooted in historically underserved communities.

Prior to joining ECFC, Leng Leng was the President and CEO of 9to5, the National Association of Working Women. Under her leadership, 9to5 became a driving force for community-led solutions advancing economic, gender, and racial justice. In 2020, under her guidance, 9to5 led the passage of Paid Medical Leave Insurance legislation in Colorado, a landmark achievement that guarantees millions of workers access to paid leave for health and caregiving needs.

Throughout her career, Leng Leng has led national campaigns on reproductive justice, immigration, worker rights, and child care. She has held leadership positions spanning direct service to national policy and advocacy. In 2023, she was selected as a Rockefeller Bellagio Resident, where she worked on a book amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.

Leng Leng serves on the boards of the Southeast Immigrant Rights Network (SEIRN), Mothering Justice Action Fund, and Rewire News Media. Originally from Singapore, she earned a BA in History and Asian Studies from Washington State University and pursued post-graduate studies at the University of Arizona.

Ed Chaney advises tax-exempt organizations on a broad range of tax and corporate matters, including organization formation, structure, and governance, ongoing tax and regulatory compliance, investment of charitable assets, and complex organizational structures and transactions.  Mr. Chaney’s clients are located across the country and have included private and community foundations, donor advised fund sponsors, colleges and universities, community economic development organizations, charter school management organizations, and a variety of other operating charities.

Mr. Chaney graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law and has practiced in D.C. and North Carolina.  Prior to attending law school, Mr. Chaney worked for ten years in the nonprofit sector, serving in a variety of staff and board positions.  He speaks and writes frequently on the law of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.  Among other engagements, he has presented at Georgetown University Law Center CLE’s Representing and Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations and at the University of Texas School of Law CLE’s Nonprofit Organizations Institute.  He has also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UNC School of Law, where he taught the Law of Nonprofit Organizations.  Mr. Chaney lives in the Chapel Hill area with his wife, Mandy Hitchcock, and their children, and is obsessed with photography in his spare time.

Amy Clarke operationalizes the TogetherATL strategy at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to catalyze transformational change. In her role, she leverages resources and team expertise to create access to opportunities for wealth building, upward economic mobility, civic engagement, power-shifting through democracy, and supporting arts groups in the creative industry. Before joining the Foundation team, Amy was the program director of the CF and Cousins Foundations, where she focused on building strong partnerships and trust across multiple areas of focus. She is adept at strategic and collaborative grantmaking to leverage various types of resources toward greater impact. She is a native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Bloomsburg University.

Mark D. Constantine joined the Dogwood Health Trust team in April 2023 as Senior Vice President of Community Investment. Prior to joining Dogwood, Mark served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (RMHF). He has served as senior vice president at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund in Jacksonville, Florida, where he directed the Program-Related Investment and affordable housing activities of the Fund.

Mark served for more than a decade as a consultant to foundations and national nonprofit organizations on issues related to governance, strategy, and learning. His clients included CFED, Demos, First Nations Development Institute, Ford Foundation, Lilly Endowment, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Southern Education Foundation. In addition, he served as the assistant executive director of the Kathleen Price Bryan Family Fund and as a senior fellow of the Foundation for the Mid-South.

Mark has authored two books, Wit and Wisdom: Unleashing the Philanthropic Imagination (2009) and Travelers on the Journey: Pastors Talk about Their Lives and Commitments (2005), as well as the award-winning monograph, “Where Hope and History Rhyme: Reflections and Findings from the Mid-South Commission to Build Philanthropy (2005).” Wit and Wisdom was selected by the 2009 Philanthropy Annual Review as one of the two “notable titles” in the Social Justice Philanthropy category.

He holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business (Duke University), and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Duke Divinity School. He was a 2006/2007 Fellow of the Emerging Leaders Program directed by the Centers for Leadership at Public Values at the University of Cape Town and Duke University. He serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the Virginia Funders Network, Co-Chair for the Jeffress Trust Awards Program in Research Advancing Health Equity and has served as a faculty member for the Grantmakers in Health Terrance Keenan Institute for Emerging Leaders in Health Philanthropy.

He is the proud father of Noah Balazs Constantine.

Joanne Peters Denny has more than two decades of experience in media relations, message strategy, crisis and strategic communications planning. She has served as a trusted advisor to C-Suite leaders, U.S. cabinet secretaries, university chancellors and members of Congress, and has a track record of designing campaigns to communicate complex issues and achieve legislative and policy victories. 

Joanne currently serves as a Senior Director at APCO, a global advisory and advocacy firm helping clients navigate a complex world and create lasting impact.  She counsels clients on how to strengthen and protect their corporate reputation in today’s disruptive environment.

Prior to joining APCO, Joanne served as media relations director at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she led communications efforts to position the university as a leading global research institution, ran Carolina’s message strategy operation through the COVID-19 pandemic and provided counsel and media training to university leaders. In this role she also oversaw issues management and crisis response to a range of high-profile matters facing the university.

Previously Joanne served in senior communications roles in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was the national press secretary for health care at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the launch of HealthCare.gov. She also served as deputy director of the Office of Communications at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In this role she led communications efforts to build support for the department’s major policy priorities, including a national communications strategy that helped to secure passage of major Congressional legislation to address the opioid crisis.

Joanne began her career on Capitol Hill and has worked on congressional and presidential campaigns. In 2012, she served as a spokesperson for the re-election campaign of President Obama in the key battleground state of Virginia and was national press secretary for the Democratic National Convention, which was hosted in her hometown of Charlotte.

Joanne is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and lives in Raleigh.

Melissa approaches each day by asking two simple questions: who have I helped and what have I learned? She strives to serve each client by first listening to their needs and learning their business and culture. This thoughtful approach enables Melissa to provide legal counsel that not only mitigates legal risk but also reflects her clientsʼ values.

Melissaʼs practice is multifaceted. She counsels employers on a wide variety of day-to-day employment and labor issues, including wage and hour law, employee leave issues, reasonable accommodations, workplace harassment, and reductions-in-force. She assists employers in developing proactive employee relations programs, including developing employee handbooks and conducting supervisory training.

Melissa also defends employers responding to charges before administrative agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

In addition, Melissa regularly represents clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions, representing both buyers and sellers, and provides advice on the many employment concerns related to these transactions. She also assists employers with a broad variety of executive compensation matters, including the drafting and negotiation of employment agreements, separation agreements, non-competition and confidentiality agreements, and commission and incentive compensation plans.

Melissaʼs passion for service is reflected in her non-profit practice. Melissa routinely advises health care organizations, educational institutions, museums, advocacy groups, and other non-profit organizations with respect to the employment and board governance issues they navigate daily.

Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Melissa was Corporate Counsel and Compliance & Ethics Officer for a global, publicly-traded company. In this role, Melissa developed significant experience advising management on complex international employment and compliance matters. Accordingly, Melissaʼs unique perspective helps businesses “connect the dots” between their Human Resources and Compliance functions. Whether it is helping corporations develop effective anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies and due diligence procedures that also comply with seemingly conflicting employment laws, or designing corporate codes of conduct, Melissaʼs past experience provides firsthand understanding of the challenges facing todayʼs employer.

Passionate about helping children reach their full potential, Melissa volunteers in the Cleveland public schools and has served as a director for non-profits serving vulnerable children.

Kelsey Dorton is an associate in the firmʼs Charlotte office and represents employers in all aspects of employment litigation.

Prior to joining Fisher Phillips, Kelsey worked for a national litigation defense law firm where she defended businesses and individuals in general liability, premises liability, employment discrimination, and commercial litigation matters. She began her legal career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Guy R. Humphrey, Federal Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

For more than a decade, Sydney has sought professional opportunities at the intersection of place‐based philanthropy, community development finance, and local impact investing. Early in her career, Sydney supported grantmaking, impact investing, research, and convening functions at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, a $300M private, place-based foundation located in Jacksonville, Florida. Following this experience, Sydney moved to Richmond, Virginia, to work at Locus, a community development organization. While there, Sydney worked as a strategy consultant supporting a diverse array of place-based foundations across the country. Through individualized and cohort consulting, Sydney helped numerous foundations develop local impact investing policy statements, operational guidelines, and deal evaluation frameworks. Collectively, Locus helped foundation clients allocate $175M to local impact investing. Beyond her work with foundations, Sydney also helped establish innovative financing funds, such as Invest Appalachia, LLC, and the Partners for Rural Transformation’s Persistent Opportunities Fund. Today, Sydney leads the Georgia Social Impact Collaborative's (GSIC) effort to build the infrastructure for impact investing across Georgia. In this role, Sydney convenes and educates mission-driven investors, connects community-rooted investment partners to sources of impact capital and pipelines, and brings together philanthropic and capital partners working at the intersection of place-based investing and community ownership. Outside of her role with GSIC, Sydney serves on the Community Advisory Board for Self Help Credit Union, which serves Atlanta’s West End.

Mark Ethridge leads Ascent Housing as Managing Principal. Ascent Housing has been a leader in Charlotte’s response to the affordable housing crisis, leveraging over $300 million to preserve more than 2,000 units of naturally-occurring affordable housing (NOAH) since 2019.

Prior to joining Ascent, Mark was a Vice President at Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital where he arranged debt and equity financing for multi-family, mixed-use, office and retail projects.

Mark currently serves on the boards of Housing Impact Fund and Housing Collaborative. He co-chaired the City of Charlotte’s Source of Income ad hoc advisory committee in 2021/2022 and has served on variety of multi- sector initiatives addressing housing affordability and homelessness in the Charlotte region.

Mark is a Charlotte native and graduated from Princeton University in 2010.

Dr. James E. Ford is an award-winning educator, equity strategist, and public education advocate serving as Executive Director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED), a North Carolina–based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating racial disparities in education from early childhood through postsecondary systems. A nationally recognized voice on educational equity, systemic racism, and public policy, Ford previously served on the North Carolina State Board of Education from 2018–2023 and was named the 2014–2015 North Carolina Teacher of the Year after teaching World History and Sociology in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

In addition to leading CREED, Ford is the founder of Filling the Gap Educational Consultants, LLC, where he advises organizations on equity-centered strategy and professional learning. A two-time TEDx speaker, published columnist, and frequent commentator on education and democracy, his work focuses on closing the “knowing-doing gap” between research and practice in public education. Through CREED, Ford has helped advance statewide conversations on teacher diversity, culturally affirming education, school discipline, and race-conscious policy reform across North Carolina.

Dr. Laura Gerald is president of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, one of North Carolina’s largest private foundations. A pediatrician who was born and raised in rural North Carolina, she has decades of leadership experience in health care delivery, rural health, philanthropy, and public health. Under Dr. Gerald’s leadership, the Trust has deepened its commitment to racial equity and systems change and announced in 2022 it will divest from tobacco and invest $100 million of the foundation’s corpus in socially responsible funds supporting North Carolina residents. Prior to joining the Trust, she served in critical roles focused on statewide health improvement including serving as the North Carolina State Health Director. Dr. Gerald holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges, a medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University School of Public Health. She is the former Board Chair of Grantmakers in Health, on the Board of Trustees for Winston-Salem State University, on the Advisory Board for Center for Effective Philanthropy, and adjunct faculty at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. In 2024, Dr. Gerald was appointed to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Wisdom Council to provide expertise to the national foundation as it embarks on its Truth, Repair and Transformation process. She is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow in American Academy of Pediatrics.

Troy M. Hanna serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Spartanburg County Foundation. He leads work with Trustees and staff in fulfilling the nonprofit organization’s mission – to improve the lives of Spartanburg County residents.

Troy became the sixth Foundation President and CEO in 2014. Before joining the Foundation in 2014, Troy served as Vice President and Client Relationship Manager for TD Wealth and Vice President and Private Banking Relationship Manager for Wachovia Bank, both in Spartanburg. Troy and his wife Cecilia have lived in Spartanburg for 27 years. Their children, Lillian and Mac, drive Troy’s inspiration and commitment to ensure that the community where they and their peers live becomes an even better place in the future.

A Spartanburg resident for nearly three decades, Troy is deeply familiar with the intense spirit of collaboration that defines Spartanburg County and that has garnered national attention. He considers it his daily privilege to have a front-row seat for witnessing and supporting all that community leaders and residents are doing to make Spartanburg a better place for all.

Troy is often found helping fundholders meet their philanthropic goals, working with community leaders to strengthen partnerships and local impact initiatives, and sharing the work of the Foundation with other organizations.

Troy loves history, which was the focus of his studies at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and St. Andrews University in Scotland.

Stephanie Hoopes has overseen the expansion of ALICE from a pilot study of the low-income community in Morris County, New Jersey, to a national effort with ALICE data for all 3,000 U.S. counties. Her research has garnered the attention of local, state, and national media and legislators.

Before joining United Way of Northern New Jersey, Hoopes taught at Rutgers University-Newark and Columbia University, and at the Universities of Sussex and Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Hoopes has a doctoral degree from the London School of Economics, a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College. She received a resolution from the New Jersey Assembly for work on ALICE (Asset, Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed) in 2016.

DeWitt House, Vice President of Community Investments at The Harvest Foundation, joined Harvest in 2014. He works primarily in the areas of economic development, education, housing, and broadband. He brings over 30 years of experience to the Foundation in the field of education, having formerly served as teacher, coach, athletic director, principal, and as the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for the Henry County Public School system. DeWitt is a graduate of Lincoln Memorial University and received his master’s degree in education from Radford University in 1989. He enjoys reading, playing golf, and is a passionate and die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. DeWitt resides in Henry County with his son, Evan.

DeWitt House joined The Harvest Foundation in 2014 and currently serves as Vice President of Community Investments, where he leads strategic initiatives in economic development, education, housing, and broadband across Martinsville-Henry County. With more than three decades of experience in public education, DeWitt brings a deep understanding of community needs and systems-level change to his philanthropic work.

Prior to joining Harvest, DeWitt served in various leadership roles within the public school system, including Assistant Superintendent for Instruction for Henry County Public Schools. His career also includes roles as principal, assistant principal, athletic director, coach, and teacher, each contributing to his legacy of student-focused leadership and community service.

A graduate of Lincoln Memorial University, DeWitt earned his master’s degree in education from Radford University in 1989. He has been recognized for his professional excellence, including the Lincoln Memorial University Student Teacher of the Year award and an award for excellence in professional development from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education.

Deeply rooted in the Martinsville-Henry County community, DeWitt has served on numerous local boards, including the Martinsville Area Community Foundation, Piedmont Arts, and the YMCA. He enjoys reading, playing golf, and is a lifelong, die-hard fan of the Boston Red Sox. DeWitt resides in Henry County.

Meliah Bowers Jefferson joined the Jolley Foundation as Executive Director in June 2022. She guides grantmaking, investments, and community engagement to advance the foundation’s vision of a just, compassionate, and vibrant community for all. Meliah brings 20 years of professional experience in law, business, and community leadership to the Foundation.

Meliah graduated from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business and earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. During her legal career, she clerked for Chief Justice Jean H. Toal (ret) at the South Carolina Supreme Court and United States Circuit Court Judge J. Michelle Childs. She also practices law in civil litigation, intellectual property, and alternative dispute resolution as a member of Wyche, P.A., where she previously served as a member of the executive leadership team.

A community servant at heart, Meliah has nearly 18 years of nonprofit board experience and currently serves on the boards of directors for the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and Greater Good Greenville. She is a Liberty Fellow, a Fellow of the Furman University Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative, and a graduate of Leadership Greenville. Under her leadership, the foundation stays true to its core mission of creating a thriving Greenville community. Meliah lives in Greenville with her daughter.

Marion joined LGF with over a decade of experience at the intersections of philanthropy, research, and community engagement. Most recently, she served as a Regional Program Officer at the Asset Funders Network, where she managed coalitions of funders and policymakers to advance economic equity across the Carolinas. Previously, at Frontline Solutions, Marion led equity-centered strategic planning and evaluation projects for philanthropic and nonprofit organizations nationwide, helping institutions reimagine and deepen their practices toward justice and accountability. 

Marion is highly aligned with LGF’s values, demonstrating integrity, inclusiveness, and a strong commitment to community power-building. In her relationship and partnership-building efforts, she has excelled at facilitating transformative conversations across difference and holding groups accountable as they shift power and pursue equity and justice. A skilled listener and strategist, she’s known for her ability to help funders and movement partners align values with practice, strengthen culture and relationships, and co-create lasting progress towards a shared vision for liberation.  

She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke University and a Bachelor’s in English from Wellesley College, and currently serves on the board of DataWorks NC. 

As Director of Impact Investments, Tracy Kartye leads the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s impact investment portfolio. Casey has allocated 4% of its endowment to projects that achieve financial returns and social impact — to build a brighter future for children, families and communities in the United States. 

Since joining Casey in 2005, Kartye has managed more than $300 million invested in funds, private entities and projects across the country. These investments have leveraged more than $1 billion in support of thousands of new jobs, affordable housing units and community facilities nationwide. 

Kartye has a background in community and economic development, working for the Local Initiatives Support Corp. in Houston, Texas, and the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. in Brooklyn, New York, before joining Casey.

She sits on the boards of Episcopal Housing Corporation and Healthy Neighborhoods in Baltimore. She is a graduate of Hendrix College and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University.

Glory Kilanko, is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women Watch Afrika, Inc. (WWA), an Atlanta based grassroots, nonprofit, international, national, and local social justice organization focused on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls, the promotion of social and economic development and health equity of women, and the acculturation of immigrants and refugees arriving to the United States from 23 African nations. In line with its goal, Women Watch Afrika provides Social Services, Advocacy, Health and Legal Education, Know Your Rights workshops, Citizenship Preparation, Legal Services, Domestic Violence/FGM Prevention; Civic Engagement; Advocates against unjust, discriminatory laws that affect our community.
WWA has an office in Clarkston, Georgia.

WWA is guided by its mission to “promote improved quality of life, health, and well-being of African refugees and immigrants”. This is accomplished with conducting and promoting activities to eliminate discriminatory practices, abuse, and health and housing inequities with focus on low-income, underserved African American communities. WWA advocates for the self-sufficiency, independence, and empowering of women and girls, while supporting social and economic development of underserved refugee and immigrant women from African nations. Ms. Kilanko has wealth of experience working with women and youths locally and internationally in many parts of Africa, Europe, and the United States. Ms. Kilanko has extensive experience teaching, training, and developing curricula for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. She has been involved in women’s right and development for over 47 years.

Her success story in socio-economic development programs for women include, the setting up of the only daycare center for working mothers within the labor movement in her country, initiated and set up a rural women’s cooperative society in five states in Nigeria, and the sitting of boreholes (wells) in three local communities in Nigeria. As a civil rights activist, she co-built a strong Human Rights movement in Nigeria that challenged the undemocratic military regime. She is currently involved in an international movement to end all forms of violence against women including female genital mutilation, widowhood rites, HIV/AIDS as a form of violence against women and forced and early marriages. She has participated in local, national, and international conferences on the rights of women and the girl child and was a consultant to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the area of women’s right, violence against women and female genital mutilation

As an advocate of environmental justice, Ms. Kilanko was in the forefront of the Ogoni people struggle with Shell Oil Nigeria from 1990 -1995 over the pollution and devastation of Ogoni land. Ms. Kilanko was eventually exiled by the military dictatorship for advancing the Ogoni Bill of Rights and exposing the execution of the Ken Sar-Wiwa and the Ogoni 9 at an international conference. The Ogoni bill of right demanded environmental protection for the Ogoni region, and self-determination for the Ogoni nation.

As a human rights activist Ms. Kilanko co-founded and was in the leadership of the five major human rights organizations in Nigeria. Driven by her passion for human rights and gender equity she has participated in local, national, and international conferences on the rights of women and the girl child, and was a consultant to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in the area of Women’s Right, Violence Against Women and Female Genital Mutilation. Ms. Kilanko provides expert testimony for battered immigrant women who are victims of cultural and religious violence. She is a well-known motivational speaker and a national transformation for change trainer for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, (HIAS). She is currently involved in an international movement to end all forms of violence against women including female genital mutilation, widowhood rites, and forced and early marriages.

She has a Diploma in Journalism from the London School of Journalism, postgraduate diploma in Comparative Labor Studies and Gender Relations, at Warwick University, UK, and various professional certificates. Glory is married and has three children, they are: an attorney, a technician, and a clinical psychologist respectively.
 
Ms. Kilanko was instrumental to the passing of the Clarkston Non-Detainer Policy in May 2017, to make Clarkston safer and welcoming for refugees, immigrant, and all resident. An in 2021 worked with the City of Clarkston to put in place the Clarkston Redistricting Resolution calling for transparency and inclusion.

Ms. Kilanko serves on many boards and has received many distinguish awards and recognitions for transforming many lives. Ms. Kilanko is the immediate past Co-Chair of Live Healthy DeKalb Coalition, (a coalition of 176 organizations and individual working to make DeKalb resident live healthier and better lives); President Women 4 Change Initiative in Diaspora, State of Georgia, and Board Member WRFG 89.3FM Community Radio. She also served as the Stop Violence Against Women Coordinator for the State of Georgia Amnesty International; she is a Task Force member for DeKalb County Faith Based Domestic Violence Sub-Committee; Member of the Georgia Coalition Against Family Violence; Member - Georgia Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (GIRRC), Member- Piece by Piece – A Regional Housing Foreclosure Initiative and member of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
 

William L. Kincaid, MD, MPH is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and the St. Louis University School of Medicine. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston. He served in the U. S. Navy Medical Corps from 1972 to 1979.

Dr. Kincaid served as a local health officer as the Director of Health for the City of St. Louis from 1989 to 1995 during the peak of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He moved into managed care to become the Executive Director and Medical Director of GenCare MC+, one of Missouri’s initial Medicaid Managed Care providers. GenCare was purchased by UnitedHealthCare and he remained with United Healthcare until 2003 as a medical director.  He retired in 2003 to devote his time to community activities. He returned to the City of St. Louis Department of Health in 2005 and left in 2007.

Dr. Kincaid was on the adjunct faculty at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health from 2008 to 2010 in the Department of Health Management and Policy. He served as the interim director of the Health Policy Program where he taught a course in Public Health Law. 

He has a long-standing interest in a variety of public policy issues. He is particularly interested in public and private investment in community health and the maintenance of public health infrastructure and systems. His other interests include the development of health education projects for physicians and consumers, nurturing local community collaboratives that address community needs and special at-risk populations. He has, of necessity, become interested in the issues surrounding the demographic shift in America’s population and its impact on older Americans.

He has been a member of the Foggy Bottom West End Village in Washington, DC since 2018 where he served on their board for 3 years. He joined the Board of the Village to Village Movement in 2023 and currently serves as the Board President. VtVN is a national nonprofit organization that serves a “Village Commons” for the 270+ member Villages in 42 states, Canada and Australia. 

Christine Laporte lives in Asheville NC and serves as the Program Manager for the Truist Foundation Western NC Recovery and Resiliency Fund at the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s goal is to guide grant makers and donors in their understanding of disasters, including the drivers that create vulnerabilities and the pre-existing inequities that hinder recovery. She is a member of the Funds Management and Coalition Building team which mobilizes philanthropy across the globe by supporting localized resilience and recovery across sectors.  

With more than 30 years in nonprofit leadership, conservation and Indigenous rights philanthropy, her expertise includes strategic cross-disciplinary analysis, nurturing robust relationships and collaboration. Christine holds an MES in Conservation from Yale University’s School of the Environment and a bachelor’s in environmental studies from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC.
 

As associate director of Policy Reform and Advocacy, Karina Jiménez Lewis leads the Foundation's state policy, reform and advocacy efforts, including engaging young leaders to advocate for policies that can improve the lives of youth and families in states where the need is greatest.

In her most recent role, as a senior associate with the policy reform and advocacy team, she worked with state advocates to help advance policy strategies grounded in evidence and data, with a focus on the well-being of young people of color. Her portfolio included the KIDS COUNT®, Partnership for America’s Children and State Priorities Partnership networks.

Before joining the Policy Reform and Advocacy team in 2016, she developed expertise in child welfare over 15 years of social work policy and practice in state agency and nonprofit settings, including working with Casey Family Services, the Foundation's former child welfare agency.

Jiménez Lewis earned a master’s degree in social work with a focus on policy practice at the University of Connecticut and a bachelor’s degree from Elms College in Massachusetts.

Tess Martin serves as Senior Director of Impact Investing at Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina (CCF), where she has led the Foundation’s Place-Based Impact Investing (PBII) strategy for the past eight years. She oversees the design and execution of investment approaches that intentionally pair concessionary financial returns with measurable community impact, advancing economic mobility, nonprofit sustainability, and affordable housing across coastal South Carolina.

Working across a nine‑county region, Tess partners with nonprofits, mission-driven developers, CDFIs, and local intermediaries to structure and deploy catalytic capital into community-centered projects, particularly in historically underserved and under-resourced communities. Her work strengthens local capital ecosystems by expanding access to flexible, values‑aligned financing and by coordinating philanthropic, public, and private resources to support long-term economic resilience.

Under her leadership, CCF has more than doubled its impact investing assets and significantly expanded its pipeline of investable opportunities. Through the PBII strategy, she has helped shape regional approaches to affordable housing and community development by bringing together capital providers, partners, and community priorities. She has also played a pivotal role in launching a new collaborative housing impact fund designed to address structural barriers to opportunity, expand access to flexible capital, and preserve long-term affordability across the region.

Andy Mermans has served as President of The Merancas Foundation since 2014. For more than 35 years, the Foundation has supported nonprofits across the community, with a focus on education, housing, and wellbeing.

Under Andy’s leadership, Merancas continues its values-driven philanthropy, providing direct grants to over 120 nonprofits annually, funding postsecondary scholarships, and advancing affordable housing through land banking initiatives. By partnering closely with community organizations, the Foundation ensures its resources create lasting impact.

Before joining Merancas full-time in 2018, Andy spent over 20 years in supply chain management with Flex, Inc. and Solectron, Inc. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech, along with an MBA and an M.S. in Engineering from the University of Washington.

Andy and his wife, Robin are the proud parents of five children and two puppies.

Sara Manning serves as a Senior Vice President and Head of Operations and Special Programs at Truist Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Truist Financial Corporation. She has oversight over the financials, investments and special programs such as the Program Related Investment (PRI) fund, teammate relief fund, disaster relief and recovery, scholarship program, matching gifts, and the Truist Foundation Inspire Awards. She brings 20 years of experience working with the management of private foundations, donor advised funds and other charitable strategies.

Most recently Sara served as a Senior Philanthropic Specialist in the Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services group for four years, and prior to that she was with SunTrust Foundations and Endowments Specialty Practice for over 10 years.

Sara holds a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and earned her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College.

Erin Dale Mcclellan (she/her) is the executive director of The Partnership Funds, a c3/c4 funder collaborative that has defined the practice of grantmaking to advance community and independent political power held at the Assets Under Management. The Partnership Funds core values are wholeness, belonging and cooperation and its focus is on basebuilding, organizing and income generation to secure community power. It has invested over $17 Million into power building organizations across the country since 2014. She is the former Executive Director of Blueprint NC where she served for 12 years, leading the charge to develop and coordinate integrated voter engagement programs at the state level. She is a founding member owner and the President of the Fertile Ground Food Cooperative in Southeast Raleigh. This cooperative effort has grown from 8 owners and $800.00 to over 1,035 owners and $5 Million secured for store development. She also serves on the boards of Advance NC, Imagine NC First and Southern Partners Fund.  

Erin brings over 25 years of experience in successful coalition work on campaigns including increasing the minimum wage, public financing of judicial campaigns and same-day voter registration. She is a mother, healer, community activist, political strategist and cultural worker in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was raised in a military family with deep roots in the south.  

She is a proud mother of two sons. She is a fashionista who loves comedy, reading and gardening. She has a degree in Sociology from the College of William and Mary.  

Rohit Menezes is a partner in Bridgespan’s San Francisco office. Through his work, he hopes to help build a vibrant civil society reinforced by dynamic leaders, community-led nonprofits, and justice-oriented philanthropists.

Over the last 17+ years at Bridgespan, Rohit has served as an advisor to a wide range of nonprofits/NGOs and foundations in the United States and India on strategy and operations. Rohit has often led client and knowledge-generating work on topics related to community, including on place-based change, peer-driven change, and effective community-based multi-service organizations. Select clients include Harlem Children’s Zone, UpTogether, St. Anthony’s Foundation, The Bail Project, Skoll Foundation, and Tata Trusts. Rohit has a particular interest in and commitment to supporting Native American sovereignty and has led much of Bridgespan’s work with Native-serving and Native-led organizations.

Prior to Bridgespan, Rohit had experience as a corporate management consultant at Boston Consulting Group, a telecommunications consultant, and a crisis communicator. He also co-founded a telecommunications start-up.

Rohit has a B.A. from Williams College and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He has nonprofit board experience with Native Forward Scholars Fund, Safe Horizon, Rachel Women's Center, and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and for-profit board experience with Avaya Global Connect.

Yara Quezada Miller joined the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers as the Strategic Initiatives Coordinator in July 2023 and was promoted to Collaboration and Partnerships Manager in 2025. Prior to joining NCNG, she worked as a fellow at The Duke Endowment. There, she helped oversee the Summer Literacy Initiative, a partnership with rural congregations to combat learning loss in their communities. She has a B.A. from Davidson College in Public Health. Yara enjoys traveling to new places, listening to audiobooks, and hanging out with her husband and their two kitties, Bucky and Curly.  

Susan Mims, MD, MPH, FAAP, with over 20 years of experience in clinical and healthcare leadership in North Carolina, currently serves as the President and CEO of the Dogwood Health Trust, a $1.7 billion private foundation, where she leads a team of public health-oriented philanthropists using creative and innovative investments to change the factors that influence health beyond health care services focusing in four strategic priority areas, housing, education, economic opportunity, and health and wellness, grounded in equitable opportunity for all.  

Prior to joining Dogwood Health Trust, Dr. Mims worked with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) as the Chair of a new Department of Community and Public Health at UNC Health Sciences leading the Asheville campus of the UNC Gillings School of Public Health in collaboration with UNC Asheville, community health outreach programs, rural and minority health professions workforce development.  

Through 14 years with Mission Health System, Dr. Mims held several roles working to meet the healthcare needs of the people and families of western NC, including Vice President for Children’s Services, Chief of Pediatrics, and Vice Chief of Staff. Arriving in western NC in 2000, Dr. Mims served as medical director at the Buncombe County Health Department for six years, leading all aspects of public health and the largest community health primary care clinic in the county.  

Dr. Mims attended college at the University of Georgia on an athletic scholarship. After college she volunteered in Guatemala for a year in community development before returning to UNC in Chapel Hill to earn a Master of Public Health and MD degrees. She continued her medical training at UNC Hospitals in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine and Public Health and attained board certification in all three disciplines.  

Dr. Mims is active in national, state and WNC regional community organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, NC Pediatric Society (Past President), and the Buncombe County Commission on Early Childhood Education. Spending her early years living in a variety of towns and cities in the US, she is grateful to call Western North Carolina home for nearly 25 years now and loves spending time with her family in these majestic mountains.

Georgia Mjartan is president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. Her experience as a leader in the nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors informs her vision for growth and innovation at the community foundation.

Georgia has been recognized as a Southerner of the Year by Southern Living Magazine and was awarded the prestigious Aspen Institute Ascend Fellowship. Ms. Mjartan serves on the national board of Parents as Teachers, the Community Investment Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and the Post and Courier Education Lab Advisory Council.

Mjartan’s work has been featured on national news programs, including NBC News, USA Today, and PBS. In Arkansas, she was named Nonprofit Executive of the Year and an Arkansan of the Year. In South Carolina, she was recognized as Advocate of the Year, a Woman of Distinction, a member of the Columbia Power List, and honored with a Resolution by the SC House of Representatives.

Previously, Mjartan led a state agency, South Carolina First Steps, which expanded PreK statewide, more than doubling the reach of programs to directly serve over 60,000 young children annually and creating a first-in-the-nation tech innovation that transformed the way citizens apply for public early childhood programs.

Mjartan began her career working on rural development projects for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the US Administration for Children and Families. After several years as a strategy and communications consultant, she led the turnaround of a large-scale, anti-poverty nonprofit called Our House, dedicated to moving families out of homelessness. She created an employment pipeline and job training programs, developed the state’s first after-school and summer program for homeless youth, and built a 20,000-square-foot center for homeless infants, toddlers, and school-aged children.

Over over two decades, Georgia has served on numerous boards including as a founding member of City Year Little Rock and Harmony Health Clinic. She has also been appointed to public boards including the Columbia Housing Authority, SC Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children, SC Coordinating Council for Workforce Development, and Arkansas Housing Trust Fund.

Georgia earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs and Political Communications from the University of Ulster (UK) as a George Mitchell Scholar and bachelor’s degrees in English and Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as a Donaghey Scholar. She is a graduate of Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government program and is a Riley Diversity Leaders Initiative Fellow. Georgia is married to Dominik Mjartan, a bank CEO who has led multiple community banks. Their parenting journey has included foster care, adoption, and birth. They have three children.

Rosie Molinary is a facilitator, activist, and creative who creates experiences and art that promote/support gentle self-awareness, radical self-acceptance, a deep sense of well-being, and a kinetic moment of connection. 

The author of Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self Acceptance (Seal Press) and Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina (Seal Press), Rosie offers workshops, keynotes, and retreats on self-acceptance, self-care, burnout prevention, and intentional living around the country. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College and a BA in African-American Studies and Urban Education Issues from Davidson College.

A committed activist, Rosie founded Circle de Luz, a Charlotte, North Carolina based non-profit that radically empowers young Latinas by supporting their transformation through extensive mentoring, holistic programming and scholarship funds for further education. 

Kellan became the second President and CEO of the John Rex Endowment in 2017.

She leads the overall management and strategic direction for the Endowment, in partnership with five team members and 14 directors. The Endowment’s mission to strengthen organizations that center racial equity and justice to improve the social-emotional health of children living in Wake County (Raleigh, NC)

Kellan has over 30 years’ experience in the philanthropic sector. Prior to the John Rex Endowment, she was the founding executive director of Care Share Health Alliance, served as program officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, was supervisor of corporate giving at Progress Energy, and executive director of the Foundation of Hope.

Her proudest accomplishment is working with her board, staff, community, and other funders to re-imagine philanthropy, grantmaking and advocacy by centering racial equity in all that we do. Our journey has just begun, but our commitment is for the long haul.

Kellan has deep ties to her family, friends, and community. She serves as Board Chair for Raleigh Village East, a nonprofit that helps seniors age in place in their homes. She loves traveling, reading, movies, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her dog, Oliver.

Letha Muhammad is the Co-Executive Director of the Education Justice Alliance (EJA), a Raleigh, North Carolina–based organization working to dismantle the school-to-prison and school-to-deportation pipelines and advance educational equity for Black, Brown, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized students. A longtime community organizer and education justice advocate, Muhammad leads statewide efforts focused on equitable school funding, ending harmful school discipline practices, protecting immigrant students, and building parent and youth power across North Carolina.

Her work centers the leadership of directly impacted families, students, and communities through organizing, advocacy, and leadership development. Muhammad serves on the Coordinating Committee of the Dignity in Schools Campaign and has helped lead coalitions such as Every Child NC. Under her leadership, EJA has become a leading voice in resisting attacks on inclusive public education and advancing policies that support safe, supportive, and fully funded public schools.

I am on a mission to leave the world a little better than it was when I arrived. As Chief Impact Officer at the Humana Foundation, I bring over a decade of leadership at the intersection of corporate philanthropy, social impact strategy, and communications. My work focuses on advancing health equity through data-driven evaluations, impact measurement, and strategic partnerships in nutrition and mental health. Collaborating with the CEO and board of directors, I ensure that our investments deliver measurable, sustainable change. I also lead publication strategies that amplify our mission, influence ideas and advance knowledge about solutions to health equity.  

Previously, I managed a $25M grant portfolio at Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, driving measurable progress for racial equity in education, criminal justice, health, and economic mobility. During my nearly ten years at Lilly, I worked cross-functionally and globally to advance health and worked with executives from VPs to the CEO to design effective communications. I am known for influence, strategic clarity and empathy. 

Outside of work, I find joy in roasting and drinking coffee as well as writing poetry and fiction. I am the co-founder of Uncharted Coffee Supply and the author of Modern Psalms of This Woman’s Walk, a poetry collection on grief, healing, and spiritual discovery. At the heart of all I do is a simple goal: to create lasting, positive change, and to empower the people I work with and institutions I work for to do the same.

A leader for immigration and Latino equity in Georgia and the region with over 20 years of experience in the areas of general management, strategy, operations, marketing and fund development in both for-profit and nonprofit spaces. She is a recognized advocate and sought after speaker deeply engaged across the state. She is the recipient of numerous awards and sits on the board of Resilient Georgia and the advisory board of the Atlanta Speech School. She was raised in Lima, Peru and has lived in Asian and Europe.

Dr. Katrina Polk leads the DC Villages Collaborative. Over her career, she has led public and private-sector organizations focused on serving older adults, including developing programs for aging in community at the Community Preservation and Development Corp.; building strategic alliances for affordable housing at Enterprise Community Partners; and, overseeing community and aging services for the city of District Heights, Maryland. Dr. Katt also founded Dynamic Solutions for the Aging, a social enterprise firm focused on solutions for the health and housing industries, with a focus on aging and community development. She was appointed co-chair of the Housing Domain for Age-Friendly DC and sits on the AARP DC Executive Council.

Phil Purcell currently serves as Territory Director of Planned Giving for the Central Territory of The Salvation Army. In this role, he is the directional leader of thirty planned giving staff who close $80 million in planned gifts annually. 

Phil is counsel for the National Community Foundation Legal Help Desk, Philanthropy Southeast, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, and Philanthropy Ohio. He has served as independent counsel for over one hundred community foundations throughout the U.S. He served as Director of Gift Planning for the Central Indiana Community Foundation, consultant for Kansas Association of Community Foundations, consultant for the Florida Philanthropic Network, and a legal and peer reviewer for the Community Foundations National Standards Board, Council of Foundations.

Phil teaches courses on law and philanthropy, nonprofit organization law and planned giving as adjunct faculty for the Indiana University Maurer School of Law (Bloomington, IN) and Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and Fundraising School (Indianapolis, IN). He is a senior consultant for the Heaton Smith Group, a national legacy planning consulting firm. Phil serves as editor for Planned Giving Today, a national monthly publication, as well as a content editor for Giving USA.

Phil is an attorney and member of the Indiana and American Bar Association.  He serves as Vice Chair of the Charitable Giving and Organizations Committee of the Real Property, Trust, and Estate section of the American Bar Association. He is president of the American Council on Gift Annuities board of directors, and formerly served on the boards of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (secretary), Indiana Charitable Gift Planners (president), AFP – Indiana (president), and was AFP-Indiana Fundraiser of the Year.

Phil received his B.A. degree from Wabash College (magna cum laude) and his J.D. and M.P.A. degrees (with honors) from Indiana University.  He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Alpha Alpha as well as a Truman Scholar.

I am a senior operations and strategy leader with over a decade of experience strengthening organizational effectiveness across public and nonprofit sectors. I currently serve as Vice President of Operations at Central Carolina Community Foundation, where I lead internal operations, data strategy, and organizational alignment to advance the Foundation’s mission and impact.

Previously, I held multiple executive leadership roles at South Carolina First Steps, most recently as Chief of Strategy and Research, where I led performance management, strategic planning, and data systems supporting a $70M+ portfolio of statewide programs. My work has included building case management systems, directing evaluations of program impact, advancing data-informed decision-making, co-leading multi-year strategic plans, and strengthening cross-functional and interagency collaboration. Across my career, I have overseen communications, evaluation, and research functions and led organizational change during periods of growth and transition.

I hold a PhD and MSPH in Epidemiology from the University of South Carolina and a BS in Biology from the University of Massachusetts Boston. I teach graduate-level quantitative methods as an adjunct instructor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and affiliate faculty at the University of South Carolina.

Sara Rossi is Managing Director of the Health Resiliency Fund at Direct Relief, where she leads initiatives that strengthen healthcare preparedness and resilient infrastructure in communities facing disasters, conflict, poverty, and public health emergencies in the U.S. and low- and middle-income countries globally. Her work focuses on energy resilience for healthcare facilities and cross-sector partnerships that improve preparedness. She is driven by a belief that where a person lives should not determine whether they can access safe, reliable healthcare during times of crisis. Sara holds an MPA and MPH from Columbia University and lives in Santa Barbara, California with her family. 

Tracy Russ serves as senior vice president, strategy + impact, with the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at Foundation For The Carolinas. In his role, he leads development and implementation of strategies to advance the foundation’s civic leadership mission; builds relationships, partnerships and collaborative opportunities; and creates pathways for people, organizations and institutions in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg region to empower collaboration, move forward on shared aspirations, and to meet challenges and opportunities together.  

Tracy brings more than 25 years of experience and deep joy to the work of advancing FFTC’s philanthropic mission and its role as a trusted civic convenor, facilitator of shared solutions, resource for meeting complex challenges, and an institution recognized for innovation in civic and public sector leadership. Tracy previously served as managing director of Solid, a strategic communications, civic engagement and social brand consultancy serving Fortune 100 companies, national foundations, NGOs and governments. He has worked within and alongside FFTC and community partners to develop, support and lead key FFTC civic leadership initiatives since 1995, including regionally based Voices & Choices, United Agenda for Children, Crossroads Charlotte, Project LIFT, E4E, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Opportunity Task Force and Beyond Open. 

Tracy has a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in political science from Guilford College. He is a native Charlottean and is engaged to be married to his longtime partner Ian Leonard. Tracy and Ian live in Charlotte with their beloved pets and family members, Toby and Max. 
 

Brittany Schulman is an enrolled citizen of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe and grew up in rural North Carolina. As a traditional storyteller, Brittany’s perspective is grounded in her experience growing up with her mother, siblings and grandparents on their family farm and her Waccamaw Siouan community. She has been an active citizen since she was a child and continues to attend council meetings and provide opportunities for her people.  

Brittany has led many initiatives in her community including the Waccamaw Siouan Cultural Day Camp and the Waccamaw Youth Ambassadors. Brittany has served in many leadership roles including Rockwood Fellow and American Express Leadership Academy 2.0 Fellow and mayoral appointee to Albuquerque Commission of American Indian/Alaskan Native Affairs.  

Brittany has started several initiatives including the Native Leadership Collective of Albuquerque, a space for Native Executive to organize around urban Indian issues, Wrong NDN podcast, which was a pop culture commentary and interview show, and Good Relatives Book Club, a Indigenous children's book of the month online community. She is also a published author through the Scholastic "Our Voices" series.  

Brittany has held many positions over the years including teacher at Fairmont High School, Director of Indigenous Leadership Initiatives at Americans for Indian Opportunity and currently, Chief Programs Officer at Native Americans in Philanthropy.  

Brittany is married to a wonderfully supportive husband, Joseph (Leech Lake Ojibwe) and they have two children - Corrina Nakoma and Jerod Wakita.

Sabrina Slade has spent nearly 30 years working in the nonprofit sector — working with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations striving to make a deeper, more lasting impact in communities they serve. Her career spans across some amazing organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the United Way of Forsyth County, the YWCA of Winston-Salem, and The Winston-Salem Foundation, each shaping her understanding of what it really takes for communities to thrive.

Sabrina joined John Rex Endowment in 2019 and currently serves as Vice President, where she leads work at the intersection of philanthropy, racial equity, and systems thinking. She's guided by a core belief: that people most proximate to challenges in our communities are the true experts, and the most powerful impact happens when solutions are community-driven.

Sabrina recently completed six years on the board of the NC Center for Nonprofits, including a term as Vice Chair. She holds a BA in Industrial Psychology, an MBA, and is a Certified Systems Thinking Associate - a combination that shapes how she approaches complex social challenges with both heart and rigor.

A proud Winston-Salem native, Sabrina finds renewal outside of work through travel, gardening, time with family and friends, and cheering on track and field athletes and college basketball teams.

Fred Smith joined the Community Foundation in July 2016. He holds an associate of science degree from Southern Union Community College, a bachelor’s degree in marketing, and a master’s degree in public administration from Jacksonville State University with concentrations in business administration and education counseling. Fred is also a graduate of the Alabama Association of Not-for-Profit Executive Leadership certificate program. He completed Essential Skills & Strategies for New Grantmakers in 2016.  He was a guest facilitator and speaker at the Philanthropy Southeast Essentials training in 2018 and 2025.

Fred earned his accreditation as a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® from The American College in December 2021. The Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) program equips professionals with broad knowledge and skills to assist donors in achieving their financial and philanthropic goals. The American College awards the designation to those who fulfill the rigorous educational, experience, and ethical requirements. 

Fred developed the implementation of the E2 program model. This model focuses on best practices for reframing poverty. This model was adopted and implemented in partnership with community leaders, participants, and CFNEA. Fred led the regional partnership to honor the 100^th anniversary of Susie Parker Stringfellow by creating 18 Open Spaces Sacred Places™ throughout our nine-county region. Fred currently serves on the board of Nature Sacred. A national organization whose goal is to provide an opportunity for a deeper human experience by inspiring and supporting the creation of public green spaces that offer a temporary sanctuary, encourage reflection, provide solace, and engender peace and well-being. In addition to his inspiring work with Nature Sacred, he leads a coalition of leaders and leading organizations to produce the annual Out of the Shadows Summit, which focuses on mental health advocacy and the destigmatization of mental health treatment.

Fred is an expert in grants, partnerships, and fund development. He speaks from experience in training not-for-profit organizations and working with donors to achieve their charitable dreams and plans.   

Fred served on the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama Roundtable, a group that allows young civic and business leaders to study issues and government policy in Alabama. On a national level, he has participated in Foundations on the Hill, an annual event held in Washington, D.C., that brings together community foundation leaders and advocates from the Southeast to Capitol Hill to advocate for philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector in the Southeast. Before joining the Community Foundation, Fred was an instructor at Gadsden State Community College. Later, he served as the Director of Jacksonville State University’s Community Wellness Program. A program recognized locally and statewide for its successful example of being an impactful community wellness program.

Fred met his lovely wife, Rochelle, while attending Jacksonville State University. They have two daughters, Eden and Zion, and reside in Jacksonville, AL.

Recently named to the TIME100 Philanthropy 2026 — The Most Influential Leaders in Giving, Erik (he/him) serves as Chief Executive Officer of Native Americans in Philanthropy, a national organization advocating for stronger and more meaningful investments by the philanthropic sector in tribal communities. Previously, he served as the Executive Director for the Center for Native American Youth at the Aspen Institute. He has held positions at the Center for American Progress on their Poverty to Prosperity team, as Majority Staff Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and in the Obama administration as a Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education. Erik began his career in Washington, D.C. at the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center.

He holds a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, an M.A. in American Indian Studies from UCLA’s Graduate Division, and a B.A. from Whittier College.

Seasoned recruiter and business executive Crystal Stephens is passionate about her clients and helping them reach their goals. She knows that finding the right leader means the difference between success and mediocrity. Crystal has led mission-critical searches for clients such as Year Up, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Communities in Schools and the Anti-Defamation League.

Crystal excels in understanding the unique aspects of her clients and takes their mission into the market to attract leaders who otherwise might not be interested. She has a track record of recruiting civic-minded business leaders into nonprofit roles and an impressive track record of repeat assignments with national clients. With each well-executed search, Crystal knows we affect not just the client served, but the community.

Crystal joined BoardWalk in 2012 after extensive experience working with top-tier organizations in sales, marketing and recruiting. She spent the majority of her corporate career with IBM in senior sales and marketing positions which included leading an emerging channel of 1,000 inside sales and e-commerce teams, as a Director of ibm.com, and subsequently as a Vice President, leading a national sales and client coverage team.

As Executive Vice President at Monster.com, she managed a global sales team. She has received several leadership and sales awards throughout her career. Crystal moved into executive recruiting with Russell Reynolds Associates, where she led an expansive search portfolio in the technology sector.

After taking time off to start a family, Crystal returned to recruiting in a space where she combines her passion for serving the community along with her client-serving skills.

Crystal is an active volunteer and currently serves as Vice Chair of BreakThrough Atlanta. She has served on the board of a Georgia-based chapter of the Boys and Girls Club, and a division of the Woodruff Arts Center. Crystal was also the Board Chair of Elite Women of Excellence for over four years.

As a media contributor, Crystal hosted a technology segment on TV for a former education program, Kids These Days, and has appeared on the local NBC news affiliate as an expert on emerging technology.

Crystal grew up in St. Louis and went to college in Chicago where she received her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and MBA from Emory University.

Above all, family is most important to Crystal. Traveling together is especially memorable with favorite destinations including sailing in the Caribbean, and adventures in Africa and Canada.
 

Andrew serves as an Investment Advisor for Zenith Wealth Partners, assisting institutional partners such as Nonprofits and Foundations align their capital with their values. Prior to joining Zenith, Andrew founded and operated Alchemist Wealth, a fee-only financial planning and investment management firm. In his community volunteer efforts, he noticed a lack of quality service and alignment for organizations that serve women and diverse communities. This sparked a passion to help institutions better invest for impact and achieve their missions.

Andrew has a unique blend of investment expertise and a charitable giving skillset. He holds his CFP, received his Chartered Advisor of Philanthropy designation, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Wittenberg University. Andrew was awarded the prestigious NextGen Financial Services Professional Award from The American College of Financial Services and named 50 under 50 by the Association of African American Advisors.

Andrew lives in Charlotte, NC with his wife Lauren. He enjoys collecting vinyl records, cooking with fresh ingredients, and exploring the world one country at a time.

Michael Waller leads Georgia Appleseed’s work to develop policy solutions and practical tools that help keep children safely at home, engaged in school, and out of justice-system involvement. His work focuses on school discipline, school climate, child welfare, and healthy housing, with particular attention to children in poverty, children of color, children with disabilities, and youth in foster care. Before joining Georgia Appleseed in 2018, Michael served as an attorney at the Federal Trade Commission and represented low-income clients at Atlanta Legal Aid Society. He holds degrees from Sewanee, Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and American University Washington College of Law.

Ms. Wenger is a past board president of Rapp at Home, a 10-year old virtual senior village in rural Rappahannock County, VA. During her 7-year tenure, she worked to increase membership from 200 to 700 members; increased the variety and number of services provided, primarily through volunteers; and increased donor participation and grant funding (including a Federal government grant related to healthcare) to exceed Rapp at Home’s 2025 operating expenses of $365,000.

Ms. Wenger is a founding member of the advisory board of the Virginia Villages Collective, which seeks to increase the number of villages in Virginia. She participates in the Rappahannock Mental Health Roundtable and in Aging Together activities, and was a member of the Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services Aging Services Advisory Council. 

She retired from Booz Allen Hamilton in 2009 after 40 years in consulting and in technology research in private sector profit and nonprofit, government, and academic organizations. Since retiring she participates in the Master Naturalist program, the Rappahannock Association for the Arts and Community, the Rappahannock County Schools Pathway Program to support students, the Rappahannock Garden Club, the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection, and previously was on the boards of the Child Care and Learning Center (vice chair) and the Virginia Native Plant Society (grants manager).
 

Sarah Mann Willcox joined NCNG in 2014, and was named executive director in 2022. Prior to joining NCNG, Sarah served as the director of sustainability - primarily a development role - at the N.C. Center for Nonprofits. She is a graphic facilitator and spends a lot of time studying and thinking about how adults learn best. Sarah serves as a board member of the United Philanthropy Forum and has also volunteered on several local nonprofit boards including the Durham Symphony Orchestra and the Triangle Youth Philharmonic. She has a master’s degree in public administration from N.C. State and has a B.S. from Appalachian State. Sarah is a classically trained violinist and Irish fiddle player and is something of a hobby collector. Lately, she's been into tap dancing and sewing.

Tiki Windley is a Senior Program Manager at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, where she helps drive the planning and execution of cross-functional initiatives that advance health and community impact across the state. Drawing on prior experience in program management and stakeholder engagement, she works closely with diverse partners to move strategy into action, with a focus on meeting community needs and supporting measurable, sustainable outcomes. Tiki takes a proactive approach to turning ideas into practical steps, strengthening processes, and navigating challenges. Known for her collaborative and thoughtful style, she is committed to fostering partnerships and contributing to meaningful, mission-driven work. 

She holds a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Elizabeth City State University. 
 

Mike Woodward is an educator, mentor, and philanthropist. He currently serves as the Director of Education and Civic Engagement at the Schott Foundation for Public Education. In this role he works closely with grantees and external stakeholders to cultivate and support effective campaigns focused on building systems to provide all students an opportunity to learn and thrive.

Mike comes to the Schott Foundation from College Track, where he served as the Site Director and the Regional Executive Director in New Orleans, and most recently the Chief Program Officer, working to support twelve centers and more than 3,000 first-generation college students nationwide from 9th grade through bachelor’s degree and beyond.

Prior to College Track, Mike was a high school math teacher and department chair at Lake Area New Tech Early College High School in New Orleans. Mike began his career in education as director of special projects at Urban League College Track.

Among his awards and acknowledgments, Mike has been selected as an ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellow, Grantmakers for Southern Progress Fellow, Gates Millennium Scholar, Ron Brown Scholar, an Emerging Philanthropist of New Orleans, and a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow. He currently serves as a Trustee for both Philanthropy Southeast and the Institute of Mental Hygiene, co-chairs the Education Action Table for the Greater New Orleans Funders Network (GNOFN), and as a board member for College Beyond. Mike holds an MPH with a concentration in Epidemiology from Tulane University and a BS in Bioengineering from Stanford University.

Based in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mike is a self-proclaimed foodie and enjoys playing basketball, tennis, and chess.

Aaron Zeiler (he/him) is the director of partner strategies for the Center for Public Interest Communications. In this role, Aaron maintains existing projects with internal and external partners as well as steward and engage new relationships with potential partners.

Aaron’s background has centered on building the communication capacity of organizations and foundations working on issues ranging from public interest technology, prison abolition and public health. He has helped build social media and media relations strategy, facilitated trainings and coachings on storytelling and strategic communication, and led the communication efforts of a national non-profit. 

Cindy Zeldin serves as Vice President of Health Policy and Government Affairs at the Initiative. With more than 25 years of experience in health policy and advocacy, Cindy brings strategic expertise, deep knowledge of Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act, and coverage and access issues, as well as a proven ability to translate complex policy into actionable solutions. She excels at connecting partners, bridging sectors, and advancing initiatives that center people and communities while driving long-term impact.

Cindy previously served as the founding executive director of Georgians for a Healthy Future (GHF), where she built organizational capacity for policy development, coalition-building, communications, and advocacy. She later served as a Senior Consultant for Health Management Associates, a national research and consulting firm focused on publicly financed health care and has held a variety of roles in state government, national think tanks, and nonprofit advocacy—gaining broad insight across health policy and advocacy.

Cindy earned her Masters in Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, a Master of Arts from The George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Emory University. Cindy’s education, paired with her professional experience, enables her to navigate complex policy landscapes while keeping the needs of people and communities central.