BY Pat Smith, President & CEO, The Funders Network
I truly believe in our network’s vision to create generations of courageous philanthropic leaders who are engaged, emboldened and equipped to bring about a just society.
That’s why I am thrilled to share that TFN’s Board of Directors recently welcomed three new members at our annual conference in New Orleans: Isabel Barrios of the Greater New Orleans Foundation; Lisa Jacobson of Boston-based Barr Foundation (and a TFN PLACES Alum); and Nathaniel Smith of the Partnership for Southern Equity in Atlanta, who also served as one of our exceptional #TFN2023 co-chairs.
Rounding out the 2023-2025 slate of directors is Sheena Solomon of The Gifford Foundation in Syracuse, who was elected to a second board term. Sheena is also an alum of TFN’s PLACES Fellowship, and currently chairs the PLACES Advisory Board.
The board approved the 2023 – 2025 slate of directors in January, and the slate was elected by virtual ballot among the organizational membership in March.
The board also selected its officers for the coming year:
- Vice Chairperson: Sheena Solomon
- Treasurer: Karla Twedt-Ball, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation
- Secretary: Elizabeth Love, Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation
Officers were elected for one-year terms, with the exception of Chairperson Don Hickman of the Initiative Foundation, who is halfway through a two-year term.
March also marked a bittersweet milestone, with four of our board members concluding their service:
- Michael Coffey, formerly of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, who is a PLACES alum and most recent TFN board treasurer;
- Michelle Knapik of the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation;
- Craig Martinez of the The California Endowment, who is a PLACES alum and a former TFN board chair; and
- Scot Spencer of The Annie E. Casey Foundation, who has also served as a TFN board chair and is an honorary PLACES alum.
I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude to our departing board members for their dedication, support and guidance over the years.
TFN offers funders so many leadership opportunities — not only through board service, but also as members of working groups, steering committees, and other task forces. These roles certainly help the network as a whole, but they are also great ways for you to deepen your connections to each other and to this work.
Please feel reach out to me or a member of our team if you’re interested in serving or getting more involved in our many programs and initiatives.
TFN Board of Directors Class of 2023-2025
The Funders Network’s Board of Directors is composed of representatives from across the membership and represents both national and place-based foundations. View the full list of all 13 members of TFN’s Board of Directors here.
TFN Board Officers
