Bio

I’ve had an incredibly blessed and diverse philanthropic journey. My extended family was (and still is) full of generous givers, volunteers, and public servants. Generations of donors endowed funds that ensured I could afford to go to liberal arts colleges. At age 25, I was asked to overhaul and lead state government grant and tax credit programs. (Yes, I made precocious mistakes.) Over 12 years, a community foundation plunged me into multiple roles in grantmaking and scholarships, community change, donor services, and asset development. A multi-generation philanthropic family trusted me to steward a number of changes to its work in a short time.

The upshot? I am an active philanthropist, philanthropoid, and philanthropy geek. I love working at the intersection of meaningful giving and community results. I love connecting older, established forms of philanthropy with emerging trends and experiments. And, I love asking and answering, “How can we do and serve better?”

Career History

  • Independent philanthropic advisor since 2008.
  • Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, Executive Director, 2011-2015. The foundation had 30+ trustees from 3 generations involved in granting more than $3 million nationally. While there, I facilitated a 2020 visioning process and facilitated changes in investment management, impact investing, grantmaking, trustee education and engagement, and back-office management.
  • Central Indiana Community Foundation, Indianapolis, IN, 1996-2008. I served progressively as Program Officer, Director of Community Initiatives, Philanthropic Services Director, and Associate Vice President. While there, I provided philanthropic advising for 100+ donors and their advisors, helped entrepreneurs and wealthy families close and launch funds and foundations, developed and led grantmaking programs and leadership initiatives, attracted $39 million in philanthropic investments and funds, co-founded a social enterprise providing technology support to nonprofits, and supported external relations and communications projects.
  • Indiana Department of Commerce, 1989-1995. I was Main Street Coordinator and then Community Development State Grants Manager. I designed and led technical assistance, community planning, grant, and tax credit programs benefiting nonprofits and local units of government.

Education and Professional Development

  • Ongoing continuing education in family philanthropy and family dynamics, grantmaking, foundation management, impact investing, gift planning, facilitation, and other philanthropic impact topics.
  • Fundamentals Of Sustainable And Impact Investment, US SIF, 2021
  • Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® certification, The American College, 2015 (verify that credential is current here)
  • Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth, Executive Education Program, 2002-2004
  • National Development Council, Certified Economic Development Professional, 1993
  • Butler University, Masters in Music with an emphasis in arts administration, 1994
  • Manchester College, Bachelor of Arts in business, communications, and arts, 1989

Professional Affiliations

I am a member of the National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers (NNCG) and the Purposeful Planning Institute. I am committed to NNCG’s Code of Ethical Conduct and the NACGP’s Model Standards of Practice for the Charitable Gift Planner.

Civic Involvement

I serve as a board member of 412 Food Rescue, senior advisor to the Impact Finance Center, and peer reviewer for papers submitted to the Foundation Review. I previously was a:  donor-trustee of Awesome Pittsburgh and Awesome Boulder; board member of the Union Project, Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania, Neighborhood Allies, and Grassroots Grantmakers; and advisory committee member for the National Center for Family Philanthropy and National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers. I’ve reviewed proposals for United Ways, arts agencies, and other funders in many states. And, over the years, I’ve served on coalitions for homeless service funding, family strengthening, historic preservation, community development, and arts advocacy; and committees for library planning, parks fundraising, volunteer recruitment events, and church stewardship and missions.