Fellows

Heather McLeod Grant is a donor advisor, author, and serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of leadership in social impact. She is currently working with ultra-high-net-worth women to unlock greater giving for climate, democracy, and women/girls. In 2015, Heather co-founded Open Impact—a national women-owned philanthropy advising firm in Silicon Valley—where she helped foundations and wealthy families channel more than… Read More

Ricshawn Adkins Roane works at the intersection of philanthropy, public opinion, and policy for economic, racial, and gender justice.  Her philanthropic vision is to lead the return of resources extracted by colonialism, exploitation, racism, exclusion, and sexism to the communities most impacted. She is a values-driven leader with high emotional intelligence, an impactful communicator with strong management skills, and a… Read More

Dr. LaTonya Penny is a longtime advocate for those who have been pushed to the margins. She brings over 20 years of experience leading organizations, serving as an executive director, consultant, and organizer. She founded Mary’s Grace Incorporated in 2013 to assist faith communities and schools with creating safe spaces of inclusion with persons who are differently abled. Her previous… Read More

Khalilah Burt Gaston is a proven leader, skilled strategist, and passionate advocate for inclusive communities with more than 20 years of experience in social sector leadership, governmental ,elations and cross-sector partnerships.  Featured in Next City, Dwell Magazine, New York Times, Huffington Post, Chicago Public Radio, and the Harvard Family Research Project, her work centers on helping organizations thrive. Khalilah is… Read More

Will Cordery is the founder and principal at Freedom Futures—a philanthropic advisory firm moving money to the frontlines of social transformation for Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. Will is also a senior advisor with Liberated Capital—a Decolonizing Wealth fund that aims to move untethered resources to Indigenous and Black led change through a model of reparations and healing… Read More

Elizabeth (Liz) Snowdon Bonner is president of the board of the Hill-Snowdon Foundation, a family foundation based in Washington, DC that supports community organizing for racial and economic justice issues. Liz is vice chair of the board and chair of the advancement committee of the National Children’s Museum in Washington, DC. She serves on the development committee of the governing… Read More

Liz Sak became the second executive director of the Cricket Island Foundation in 2008, overseeing all aspects of the foundation’s management including finance, program development, grantmaking and field building. Prior to joining the foundation, Liz spent more than two decades running nonprofit organizations. This work included securing millions of dollars of public investment in youth development work in the South… Read More

Carrie Avery is the former president of the Durfee Foundation in Los Angeles, California, which focuses on leadership by providing fellowships, grants to new organizations and sabbaticals to long-time nonprofit leaders. Prior to working for the Durfee Foundation, Carrie practiced law, first with the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C., and later with a private firm in San Francisco… Read More

Virginia M. Esposito, is the founding president of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. In January 2020, Ginny transitioned to the role of Senior Fellow to focus her efforts on research, writing, and consulting with families. For more than 35 years, Ginny has worked to advance private philanthropy through research and education. For 30 of those years, she has focused… Read More