Resource Type: Leader spotlights

Five Minutes with… Niagara Cares’ Ann Canela

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

For this installment of Five Minutes With, NationSwell sat down with Ann Canela, director of Corporate Giving at Niagara Bottling and head of Niagara Cares, to talk about the new “Love Your Happy Place” campaign — a colorful, citywide initiative encouraging people to show love for the places they call home.

Rooted in behavioral science and built on empathy rather than guilt, the campaign aims to make environmental action feel joyful, personal, and contagious — proving that small, “too-small-to-fail” acts can add up to big community impact.

Here’s what Ann had to say:

NationSwell: What was the inspiration for this kind of community-focused coalition building? What are the main goals of the initiative? 

Ann Canela, head of Niagara Cares: The “Love Your Happy Place” campaign began as a national initiative but drew its real inspiration from local communities. The idea was to spark local “too-small-to-fail” actions — picking up litter, recycling, joining a cleanup — that collectively show love for where we live. Grounded in behavioral science, we studied why recycling rates stagnate, following people in their daily routines to understand their confidence, confusion, and barriers. What we found was that emotion — especially empathy and optimism — moves people more effectively than guilt or logic. This insight shaped a campaign that leaned into joy, play, and gamification in order to motivate environmental action.

Our first pilot in Austin wrapped the city in messages of love — from murals and bus wraps to community events—and boosted recycling confidence and civic pride by double digits. That success has since expanded to San Diego, where coalitions of partners are leading beach cleanups, park recycling competitions, and tree plantings, with activations culminating around Valentine’s Day and Earth Month. The model is spreading rapidly — next stops include Denver, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Oakland — and has already earned Keep America Beautiful’s award for Best Sustainable Communications. It’s a campaign powered by optimism, local pride, and the belief that love, expressed through small daily actions, can create measurable change.

NationSwell: What do you think it is about small coalitions that activates this optimism or civic pride lever in folks’ brains? 

Ann Canela: People see these huge signs that say love and it’s disruptive, it makes you stop and look, but it’s also universal. Love is something everyone understands; to me, it’s the purpose of everything. The challenge with many climate-related campaigns is that we often ask too much of individuals. But when you break it down into small, tangible actions — like picking up a piece of litter on a walk — and remind people that thousands of others are doing the same, the collective impact becomes visible and real.

Those simple acts connect people to a larger purpose. It’s not just about one person recycling or cleaning up; it’s about feeling part of a shared movement that turns small gestures into massive change. There’s a kind of magic in that: When people can see themselves reflected in the solution and recognize that love, expressed through everyday action, truly adds up.

NationSwell: What compelled you to get involved in sustainability in the first place? What galvanized your interest in piloting bold solutions? 

Canela, Niagara Cares: When I joined Niagara, there wasn’t a formal CSR platform, just a family fund rooted in decades of charitable giving. My career throughline has always been strategic philanthropy: using funding in ways that align with a company’s purpose, engage employees, and resonate with consumers. For Niagara, that meant mapping philanthropy to what we make — water — and investing in recycling, water restoration, and disaster relief. Rather than forcing climate work into our business, we’ve focused on making every dollar work smarter, advancing multiple goals at once: driving impact, supporting employee volunteerism, and shifting culture.

As a private, B2B company, we’re not a household name, but our products touch people’s lives daily. That’s why we hold ourselves accountable for every philanthropic investment — we want each dollar to serve both business and community. Beyond funding, we take an active role with grantees: fundraising alongside them, hosting events, and investing deeply in their success. My goal is to help move philanthropy forward — not just by what we fund, but by how we give, ensuring it’s collaborative, strategic, and built for lasting change.

NationSwell: What do you feel is the North Star of your leadership — the principle or ideal you look to in order to be the most effective leader possible? 

Canela, Niagara Cares: I’ve always believed that effective leadership, like strong branding, requires a balance between head and heart. To truly connect with people, you need both strategic clarity and emotional authenticity. I’m not afraid to show emotion; the issues we work on are real and deeply human. My approach is to pair a thoughtful, data-driven strategy with genuine empathy — to be both the mind and the soul of the business. That balance allows me to lead in a way that’s motivational, grounded, and real.

At the same time, none of this work happens alone. Behind every success is a team that inspires me daily, partners who share our vision, and nonprofits doing the hard work on the ground. It’s a collective effort — each part strengthening the other — and I couldn’t be prouder of the people I get to collaborate with. Together, we make each other better and turn strategy into meaningful, lasting impact.

NationSwell: What is exciting you right now? What is the next thing on the horizon that has you really excited? 

Canela, Niagara Cares: What’s exciting is that this is a new strategy for Niagara — we launched it at the start of 2024, so we’re only in our second year. The first year was about benchmarking: understanding what was possible and how to execute it. By year two, we established ambitious KPIs — feeding 150,000 people a month, planting a million trees, and restoring a billion gallons of water over five years. But we’ve already surpassed expectations: 400,000 trees planted this year alone, 70,000 people fed, and water goals we’ll likely reach within 18 months.

Now we’re asking ourselves what’s next — how we can stretch even further and scale our impact. Reevaluating and expanding these goals isn’t just a metric exercise; it’s a reflection of the legacy we want to leave in the world. Seeing how much we can accomplish in such a short time makes me incredibly proud and motivated for what’s ahead.

NationSwell: What, to your mind, is sort of defining the world of philanthropy right now? What are you seeing that is giving you the most hope? 

Canela, Niagara Cares: In corporate philanthropy, the shifting flow of money is redefining everything. Funding models are changing so quickly that many nonprofit leaders are struggling to adapt — but what I find hopeful is how many corporate peers are stepping up to help. Companies are working more closely with partners, offering flexible funding, and showing real empathy for the challenges nonprofits face. I recently joined a roundtable on the state of corporate giving where people were moved to tears — and to me, that emotion reflects deep commitment to sustaining impact in uncertain times.

Even as traditional funding sources dry up, I’m inspired by the innovation happening across the sector. Nonprofits are reorganizing, forming new partnerships, and finding creative ways to stay resilient. We may see more collaboration and consolidation, but not collapse — and that gives me tremendous hope. There’s a shared determination, both in business and philanthropy, to evolve together and continue supporting the work that matters most.

Five Minutes with… Katie Levey of TCS Digital Empowers

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

As technology continues to reshape every industry, too many workers and communities are at risk of being left behind. The Digital Opportunity Playbook, developed by the Tata Consultancy Services’ Digital Empowers team with partners across business, government, and the nonprofit sector, offers a practical roadmap for closing that gap. Drawing on insights gleaned from more than 70 leaders nationwide, the playbook outlines four “plays” that help communities and employers move from access to agency: expanding digital inclusion, strengthening K–12 STEM, building digital confidence, and reskilling adults for meaningful careers.

At a moment of rapidly shifting workforce needs, the Digital Opportunity Playbook is designed to help industry and community partners act together to align economic growth with equity by ensuring digital skills and pathways are accessible.

For this installment of Five Minutes With… NationSwell sat down with Katie Levey — Global Program Director of Digital Empowers — to learn about how the playbook came together, what it reveals about the future of work, and where the work is headed next.

NationSwell: Can you give us an overview of the playbook’s scope — how does it build upon TCS’s legacy of community investment?

Katherine Levey, Global Program Director, Digital Empowers: TCS has a long history of supporting underinvested communities’ entry into the digital economy through STEM, literacy, entrepreneurial and career readiness programs.

Digital Empowers builds on that legacy by bringing together stakeholders across sectors to collaborate on these issues. Sometimes that looks like research, insights, and webinars; other times, it looks more like collective action with partners who are working toward specific solutions in STEM, digital opportunity, or workforce readiness.

Before moving forward with the playbook, we spoke with 70 leaders from business, government, and nonprofits across the U.S. to help us understand where the need was greatest. From those conversations, we identified four key themes, or “plays,” that form the foundation of our work: expanding digital inclusion, strengthening K–12 STEM, building digital confidence, and reskilling adults for high-demand careers. 

NationSwell: What makes the playbook unique — how does it stand apart from other reports or initiatives in the space?

Levey, Digital Empowers: Unlike many white papers, the playbook draws on interviews with a wide cross-section of stakeholders to define problems as communities and industry see them together. The process took a lot of time, all of which proved to be a valuable investment. It  gave us a really strong pulse check on shifting needs and perspectives. The findings now serve as a foundation for collaboration through regional events and the new national Digital Opportunity Council.

The response from stakeholders has been consistent as we’ve shared elements of the playbook: Across companies and communities, there’s strong alignment around ideas related to workforce reskilling needs. These aren’t abstract “future of work” conversations anymore — the challenges are here and now. With limited funding and increasing constraints, collaboration is essential, and this initiative is designed to create the partnerships needed to address them.

NationSwell: During the course of those interviews, did you uncover any particularly surprising insights that might be surprising to readers?

Levey, Digital Empowers: Two points really stood out for us: First, in the workforce, there’s growing recognition that, while four-year degrees remain important, alternative pathways are  critical for the many people who can’t immediately access a bachelor’s degree. Companies are increasingly exploring credentialing, learn-to-work programs, and apprenticeships as viable routes to support opportunity.

Second, when we talk about STEM education, we’re not just talking about technical skills anymore. There’s a strong push to integrate social and emotional learning — soft skills like problem solving, leadership, communication, and the ability to collaborate and contextualize work. What surprised me is how often practitioners emphasized that this isn’t a “nice to have”; it’s essential. To ground AI and other technologies in the real world, people need both technical literacy and human skills. Teaching STEM proficiency alone isn’t enough. Without addressing barriers to areas like resilience and belonging, these technical skills can only go so far. The combination of STEM and social-emotional learning is what truly prepares people to thrive.

NationSwell: How does TCS define its role in shaping inclusive digital ecosystems, and what do you see as your responsibility beyond the private sector?

Levey, Digital Empowers: This work is really part of our DNA. TCS’ parent group, Tata Sons, was founded in 1868 with a vision to help India grow and develop. As the company grew into a global enterprise, Tata has invested in communities through skilling, literacy, and partnerships with diverse populations around the world, and that legacy of community investment continues to shape how we operate today.

With Digital Empowers, our focus is on building an inclusive ecosystem by working with communities rather than imposing solutions. While we run STEM-education, literacy and other programs nationwide, this initiative — and the playbook — has been more about listening: we’re gathering feedback, learning from different perspectives, engaging stakeholders closest to the issues, and bringing corporate partners into the fold. Through regional events and advisory councils, we’re ensuring collaboration is built in at every step.

NationSwell: What are the next steps for Digital Empowers after this report — and what are your call-ins for the NationSwell community?

Levey, Digital Empowers: Digital Empowers is launching a series of regional events, Collaborating for Connected Futures, in New York, Detroit, Chicago, and Dallas to take the playbook deeper at the community level. The first, held in New York during UN Week, will bring civic, industry, and nonprofit leaders together to explore digital inclusion, hear directly from community voices, and spark new partnerships that adapt the four “plays” locally.

In parallel, we’re also establishing the Digital Opportunity Council — a national forum of companies and select nonprofits committed to expanding digital opportunity and workforce development. Designed to be light on time but high on impact, the Council will focus on digital skills, workforce readiness, and community partnership, with members connecting regularly to co-define problem statements and co-design informed solutions. We are currently accepting partners interested in serving on the Council.

To learn more about opportunities to get involved, reach out here.

Five Minutes With… Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

For this installment of 5 Minutes With, NationSwell sat down with Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to talk about her new book, Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children.

The book explores how breakthroughs in adolescent brain science reveal what young people need to thrive, why our systems so often fail to provide those essentials, and how families, communities, and institutions can come together to build the stable relationships, opportunities, and supports that help all children reach their full potential.

We asked Lisa what the research means for educators, policymakers, and young people themselves — here’s what she had to say:

NationSwell: Your book weaves together a lot of powerful new insights from brain science. How should this research change the way educators, youth leaders, or policymakers show up for young people?

Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation: The research is clear: young people’s brains are still under construction through their mid-20s — especially the parts that control judgment, planning and emotional regulation. We also know they are wired for rewards, highly influenced by peers and learn best when they’re actively engaged rather than passively instructed. That means that some of the behaviors we sometimes label as defiance in young people is often just development in action.

Knowing this, we should redesign systems to work with the adolescent brain, not against it. That means moving beyond one-size-fits-all instruction and embracing hands-on, real-world learning; shifting from compliance to connection; prioritizing relationships and rewards; and creating meaningful opportunities for young people to shape programs and policies that affect their lives. 

As I write in Thrive, when we align our programs and policies with what science tells us young people need, we not only set them up for success — we strengthen our workforce, our communities and our country’s future.

NationSwell: We know relationships and real opportunities are essential for kids to thrive. Where do you see the biggest disconnect between what the science says and what young people actually get from our systems today?

Lawson: The science tells us teens need caring adults and chances to learn and lead. But our systems too often offer punishment without purpose and rules without relationships. 

In foster care, for example, tens of thousands of teens age out each year without a permanent family. Many want to be adopted, but to do so, they may be forced to cut legal ties with their birth family. That’s why the Annie E. Casey Foundation partnered with young people to create the SOUL Family Framework. It lets youth choose a circle of caring adults who can support them legally — without cutting off their existing connections. Kansas has been the first state in the nation to create a SOUL Family legal permanency option. 

At the end of the day, if we want different outcomes, we need different systems that trust young people’s voices and build with, not for, them.

NationSwell: Unequal experiences of adolescence often ripple into lifelong inequities; what does it look like in practice to make sure every young person — especially those growing up in poverty or foster care — has a fair chance to thrive?

Lawson: It starts with meeting their most basic needs. When young people are just trying to survive — worrying about food, housing, health care or safety — they can’t thrive.

That’s why “basic needs” is one of the five essentials the Foundation invests in through our Thrive by 25 ® effort. But we go beyond survival. We work with communities to ensure youth have stable relationships, flexible education paths, real work opportunities and chances to lead.

NationSwell: Outside of formal systems, what role do you see families and neighborhoods playing in putting brain science into action for everyday adolescent development?

Lawson: Families and communities are such an important part of the construction crew for the bridge to adulthood. Brain science tells us teens are wired for rewards and responsive to relationships — which means parents, neighbors, coaches and mentors have enormous influence.

Just being present, especially during the messy moments, is powerful. The guidance of one caring adult can buffer trauma, strengthen resilience and shape a young person’s sense of identity and possibility.

Even small acts of support — like a teacher who listens, a neighbor who offers a job or a relative who sticks around — can anchor a young person during this period of immense growth.

NationSwell: If you could wave a wand and get policymakers to make one change tomorrow that aligns with what we now know about adolescent development, what would it be and why?

Lawson: I would have policymakers shift from crisis response to prevention. Too often, our systems only engage with young people after something has gone wrong — after they’ve dropped out, gotten in trouble or landed in foster care. But adolescent brain science tells us prevention isn’t just more humane — it’s also smarter and more cost-effective.

Imagine if our child welfare systems invested as much in strengthening families on the front end as they do in out-of-home placements. Or if our cities dramatically expanded summer job programs and mentorship opportunities, which we know reduce the likelihood that young people will come into contact with the justice system.

Policies that reflect adolescent development would focus on building stability, opportunity and connection before a young person falls into crisis. That shift would not only change individual lives — it would strengthen our workforce, our communities and our country’s future.

NationSwell: Finally, thinking about NationSwell’s community of leaders and changemakers: if there’s one call to action you’d want them to take from Thrive, what would it be?

Lawson: I would call on them to use their influence to shift the narrative about adolescence. Too often, we see teenagers through a deficit lens — focusing on what’s wrong instead of what’s possible. Thrive makes the case that adolescence is one of the most powerful windows of opportunity we have to shape the future.

That means every leader, no matter their sector, has a role to play in building a stronger “bridge” from childhood to adulthood. I use this metaphor throughout the book because adolescence really is a long, sometimes shaky crossing. Young people are still developing the skills and supports they’ll need to stand firmly on the other side. When the bridge is missing planks or guardrails, too many fall through. But when we reinforce it with caring adults, real opportunities and policies grounded in science, we give every young person a sturdy path forward.

Policymakers can invest in prevention instead of waiting for crisis. Employers can create meaningful first-job experiences. Communities can make sure every young person has at least one caring adult walking alongside them.

If NationSwell’s leaders step up in these ways — guided by the science and by the voices of young people themselves — we can ensure this generation doesn’t just make it across the bridge, but thrives once they do. And when our young people thrive, so does our country.

Five Minutes With… Liz Lund, Medtronic Communities Foundation

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

For this installment of Five Minutes With, NationSwell sat down with Liz Lund, Senior Director of Philanthropy at Medtronic Communities Foundation, which is working to propel 1 million students from low income households into life-changing careers in health tech – transforming their futures, their families, and their communities.

We asked Liz about expanding science, technology, and engineering opportunities for underrepresented populations, her leadership style, and the subtle shift from being solely a funder to becoming a service provider.. 

Here’s what she had to say:

NationSwell: What brought you to the field that you’re in right now? Was there a moment, a relationship, or an experience that galvanized your commitment to driving bold action?

Liz Lund, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Medtronic Communities Foundation: I am not a stranger to the impact non-profit and community-based organizations can have. I grew up in a modest household and relied on a range of programs that helped shape my path. One of the most formative experiences was joining Inroads in high school, where I learned how to navigate professional spaces and prepare for college. With the support of incredible mentors, I secured a four-year internship at Target, which laid the foundation for my business career.

Years later, when my mother had a stroke that left her paraplegic, I once again turned to the nonprofit sector for help. Organizations like Courage Kenny and the United Way connected me with critical resources as I stepped into a caregiving role. These experiences deeply ingrained in me the importance of giving back—through time, service, and philanthropy. Eventually, I transitioned from a traditional business role into community relations at Target, bringing my career full circle and solidifying my commitment to this work.

NationSwell: How would you describe your leadership style? What is it about the way that you lead in the space that makes you an effective leader?

Lund, Medtronic: I try to be a very thoughtful leader — to really make time and space to understand the goals and objectives of not only the work, but of the people that work with me. 

I also fundamentally understand that the work doesn’t get done by any one individual, it gets done by a collective, so the health of the collective is what’s critically important to achieving great results. I really try to understand the culture, what the needs are, what the opportunities are, what the skills of the collective are, and what role can I play in helping to grow. 

I consider myself to be a continuous learner; I’m learning things every single day from the people that work for me in addition to the subject matter experts that I work with in this space, and I find that exhilarating.  I fundamentally have an operations brain, so I’m always trying to figure out how things come together. I love problem solving, and so I love collaborating with people that work with me that are undaunted by the problem. 

NationSwell: Is there a particular program, a signature initiative, or some facet of the work that you would like to spotlight for us that you feel is particularly exemplary or differentiated?

Lund, Medtronic: When I joined the Medtronic Foundation, one of my early projects was assessing our program portfolio to determine where we should focus long-term. I’m a whiteboard person, so I mapped out an idea to concentrate more intentionally on expanding STEM opportunities for underrepresented populations. Then COVID hit, and that plan went on the back burner. But what we did during the pandemic became one of the most meaningful efforts of my career.

We pivoted quickly from traditional grantmaking — long applications, financial analyses, six-month review cycles — to something radically different. In 12 countries, we launched virtual interview-based applications to rapidly support nonprofits identified by our employees. We did our due diligence on the back end and got funding to our partners within six weeks. Even more importantly, we let nonprofits define what success and impact looked like. It was collaborative, fast, and deeply human. The feedback we received from our partners was overwhelmingly positive.

That experience shifted how we approach grantmaking even today. It showed us the power of trust, flexibility, and partnership. 

NationSwell: You’ve mentioned all the ways that you moved with agility and speed to fast track different approval processes. How much of that is carried over to the new, post-COVID modus operandi?

Lund, Medtronic: What’s really carried over is the belief in the art of the possible. We’re now operating with a 10-year commitment from our board — something we’ve never had before, and that’s rare for corporate foundations, especially those tied to publicly traded companies. Social impact takes time, and historically, corporate timelines haven’t always allowed for that. But we’ve done things differently, experimented, and brought our board along with us. That long-term commitment is a powerful reflection of the trust we’ve built and the results we’ve started to show.

Another key lesson is knowing when to step back and let subject matter experts lead. As funders, one of our greatest responsibilities is to listen — really listen — so we can make informed investments that actually move the needle. That mindset shift started during our COVID response and continues to guide how we work today: stay open, trust the people closest to the work, and fight for what matters.

NationSwell: Finally, what are some of the challenges you’re facing? How can NationSwell’s social impact community help you with those challenges?

Lund, Medtronic: The biggest opportunity we have right now is tied to a major shift in how we operate. Historically, the Medtronic Foundation — like many others — focused on making direct financial investments in nonprofit organizations delivering services. But we’re now building and executing our own programs, moving from being solely a funder to also becoming a service provider.

This is a significant pivot, and it means we need to absorb as much insight as possible to do it well. We’re especially focused on workforce development — from early stage learning to a career — and committed to continuously refining our programs to ensure they’re designed for real, lasting impact.

Welcoming New Advisors to NationSwell’s Strategic Advisory Team

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

Driven by our steadfast commitment to advancing bold, effective leadership across the impact sector, NationSwell continues to deepen the ways we serve our community, expanding the insights, expertise, and strategic guidance available to help members lead with clarity and drive meaningful change. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome three exceptional leaders to our Strategic Advisory team: Kim Dabbs, Shannon Schuyler, and Celeste Warren (pictured left to right).

They join a distinguished group of NationSwell Strategic Advisors who bring real-world experience to the challenges and opportunities facing today’s impact leaders. Together, this group supports our members across some of the most strategic and exemplary work and needs in the sector, including building resilient organizational cultures, embedding impact into business strategy, the practice of impact leadership in organizations, architecting strategies that are differentiated and built to last, and leading on issues ranging from workforce innovation to diversity and inclusion to corporate responsibility.

Kim, Shannon, and Celeste bring deep expertise and a proven track record of leading transformational change across sectors. They will support our members in a variety of ways, including one-on-one consultations, roundtable conversations, and tailored guidance. Through these engagements, they will offer new opportunities to advance impact, strengthen strategy, navigate complexity, and accelerate our members’ most important work. Their involvement will help deepen the value of membership and expand what is possible for the leaders in our community.

We’re proud to welcome them into this remarkable community of changemakers and excited for the impact they’ll have in shaping the future of social good. Read on to learn more about their journeys and the expertise they bring to the NationSwell network.

Kim Dabbs

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Belonging and Purpose, Social Innovation, Organizational Culture, DEI, Identity and Purpose, Workplace Culture, Organizational Development

Kim Dabbs is the Global Vice President of Impact at Steelcase, where she drives social innovation and fosters inclusive environments. With a background as the Executive Director of the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology and a residency at Stanford’s d.school, Kim brings deep expertise in creating equitable spaces.

 She is the best-selling author of You Belong Here: The Power of Being Seen, Heard, and Valued on Your Own Terms, which provides a framework for cultivating belonging. Kim is also the founder of To Belonging, a global community of changemakers exploring the intersection of identity and purpose. As a sought-after speaker, Kim has delivered keynotes at organizations like Google, Microsoft, MIT, and The Guggenheim, helping leaders create inclusive and impactful workplaces.

Shannon Schuyler

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Culture Activation; Aligning Purpose with Performance; Value Creation through Operational and Revenue Resilience; C-suite and Board engagement

Shannon Schuyler brings over three decades of experience transforming how organizations drive sustainable success through cultural innovation and purpose alignment. At PwC, she held multiple global leadership roles, including Chief Purpose Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer, Chief Diversity Officer, Climate Risk Leader, Corporate Responsibility Leader, co-Leader of CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, and President of the PwC Foundation. She has guided C-suite executives and boards across industries in embedding purpose, values, and sustainability into organizational strategy, culture, and stakeholder engagement. Shannon has also served on nonprofit boards, leading strategic planning, pro-bono funding initiatives, and executive succession.

Her insights on the link between culture and strategy have earned recognition from Fortune, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Insider, and Fast Company. Named one of the 100 People Transforming Business and a World Changing Woman in Conscious Business, Shannon is a sought-after speaker and advisor who helps organizations align purpose, culture, and strategy to achieve lasting business and societal impact.

Celeste Warren

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Organizational Culture, Talent Development, STEM Education, Leadership Strategy, Change Management

Celeste Warren is the Founder of Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, where she guides organizations in implementing impactful diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. With over 28 years of experience, she previously served as the Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at Merck, where she led global diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and developed diverse talent pipelines.

Celeste is also the co-founder of Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit focused on supporting students of color and students in need pursuing degrees in STEM. Her work has earned her recognition as one of Black Enterprise’s “Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion” and Diversity Global Magazine’s “Influential Women in Global Diversity.” She was also named Chief Diversity Officer of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council in 2024.

A published author and frequent speaker, Celeste’s diversity, equity and inclusion insights have been shared globally across major platforms, publications and conferences.

To learn more about our membership community, visit nationswell.com/membership

Five Minutes with… NationSwell Strategic Advisor Rose Kirk

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

NationSwell’s Strategic Advisor Network is a group of accomplished leaders who have steered global nonprofits, scaled purpose-driven companies, shaped policy, and catalyzed systems change. Together, they bring unparalleled experience and visionary leadership to strengthen our mission-driven community.

In our latest installment of Five Minutes With…, we sat down with one member of this network, Rose Kirk — a C-level executive in the telecommunications industry with more than 35 years experience leading sales, marketing, customer service, go-to-market strategies, and responsible innovation functions — to give our community a closer look at her leadership journey, what drives her work, and the impact she’s championing today.

Here’s what she had to say:

NationSwell: What is the “why” behind your impact work? What’s your personal north star?

Rose Kirk: The thing I come back to again and again is how best to develop and empower a team. People need leadership that is strategic and purposeful, that holds them accountable, and that expects them to deliver. My mission isn’t just to delegate, but to work alongside my team and give them the tools to meet their goals. The most successful leaders step up with excitement, embrace the challenge of finding new opportunities, move work forward in fresh ways, and measure real outcomes.

My path into ESG and corporate social responsibility was almost accidental. What began as a temporary assignment at Verizon became permanent when I realized the opportunity to use corporate assets to make a broader impact on society.

And really, who doesn’t want to go to work every day thinking about what a company owes its citizens, how it can leverage its assets, and how it can both drive revenue and deepen purpose? Looking back now, post-Verizon, at the legacy I left and the work still continuing, I feel affirmed that the vision was right, the execution strong, and the opportunities enduring.

NationSwell: What’s one insight or trend you think every impact leader should be paying more attention to right now?

Rose Kirk: I can speak to the trends we’re seeing both as someone who’s practiced this work day-to-day and now from the vantage point of a corporate board. Corporations, especially in the U.S. but also globally, are trying to navigate today’s systems and government engagement on a wide range of issues. One of the biggest opportunities I see is grounding this work directly in business strategy. That requires practitioners to truly understand how the company makes money, align with the broader strategy, and build relationships across P&L functions in ways they may not have before. They also need to help the CEO navigate the current environment. Those who succeed earn a seat at the table, where their perspectives are valued. That’s what will sustain this work and carry it through challenging times.

NationSwell: What role do you see NationSwell playing at this moment? Why did you choose to get involved?

Rose Kirk: What I love about NationSwell is that it’s not just about the network — it’s about the insights, perspectives, and willingness to tackle complex issues in ways that lead to real solutions. The thoughtfulness in how rooms are curated, and how members themselves are empowered to curate, creates a true give-and-take that sets NationSwell apart. Unlike other organizations where events feel one-directional, NationSwell is a genuine two-way street.

What also stands out is the culture of sincerity. When leadership asks, “How can I help?” it isn’t just talk — they take action. Too often organizations want more from their members than they’re willing to give back, but NationSwell operates differently. As a Strategic Advisor, I take that seriously and strive to represent the brand with the same spirit of generosity and authenticity that defines its leadership and community.

NationSwell: In your experience, what’s one underrated lever for advancing social or environmental progress from inside an organization?

Rose Kirk: One of the biggest levers many practitioners overlook is building relationships with the board of directors and the board’s committee chair for ESG.  Presenting to the board is valuable, but the real opportunity lies in connecting with those leaders directly. Board members are often senior executives at other corporations, serve on multiple boards, and bring a wealth of insight into where the company is headed and what it needs. Developing those relationships helps hard-code this work into the company in a more integrated way. Many ESG leaders don’t utilize this connection. 

At Verizon, I was fortunate to have the CEO’s support, the reputation, and the relationships that allowed me to engage meaningfully with the board and several of its members.

NationSwell: What’s one book, podcast, ritual, or person that’s fueling you lately?

Rose Kirk: I’m definitely a consumer of The Daily — I appreciate how they break down the news and give you a broader sense of the “why.” I also love Michelle Obama’s podcast, and how she shows up with such generosity — constantly sharing wisdom, being vulnerable, and giving back when she doesn’t have to. Her podcast with her brother is such a powerful example of sibling relationships and how to navigate grief. After losing their mom, the way they lean on each other — the only two people who shared that lifelong bond with her — is both moving and joyful. They manage to be insightful, vulnerable, and fun at the same time, which always makes me want to text my own siblings little love notes.

What I especially value is that it isn’t political — it’s just real conversations about life. And I think that matters: stepping away from politics to simply connect with the humanity and joy in someone else’s journey.

Five Minutes with… NationSwell Strategic Advisor Maggie Carter

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

NationSwell’s Strategic Advisor Network is a group of accomplished leaders who have steered global nonprofits, scaled purpose-driven companies, shaped policy, and catalyzed systems change. Together, they bring unparalleled experience and visionary leadership to strengthen our mission-driven community.

In our latest installment of Five Minutes With…, we sat down with one member of this network, Maggie Carter — a senior advisor and consultant specializing in strategic planning, impact measurement, program development, and partnerships who previously served as Director of Social Impact at Amazon Web Services (AWS) — to give our community a closer look at her leadership journey, what drives her work, and the impact she’s championing today.

Here’s what she had to say:

NationSwell: What is the “why” behind your impact work? What’s your personal north star?

Maggie Carter: My “why” stems from my childhood, growing up in a multi-generational household where my parents and grandmother taught me the importance of giving back. I saw them model this firsthand, spending Thanksgiving and Christmas packaging meals and clothes for the homeless in Washington, D.C. That instilled in me the value of using whatever resources you have to help others.

That foundation was cemented during my time at the NBA, when Hurricane Katrina struck. I saw firsthand how vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by catastrophic events. That experience stuck with me and fueled a passion for mobilizing resources for social good.

That’s where my time at AWS became so meaningful. We weren’t just about providing technology; we were about applying our scale and resources to solve problems in real-time. This was never clearer than when I co-led Project Sunflower, AWS’s global response to Ukraine. We mobilized over 350 employees and technologies to support more than 30 organizations, earning us the Ukraine Peace Prize. That experience showed me how powerful it is when a company’s core business value is intentionally used to create meaningful, lasting good.

At its core, my “why” is to help build and support organizations that genuinely live their values by using their unique strengths and resources to create lasting good in the world. My north star is to contribute to a future where values consistently drive decisions and actions, creating a virtuous cycle of innovation and impact.

NationSwell: What’s one insight or trend you think every impact leader should be paying more attention to right now?

Maggie Carter: Impact leaders must simultaneously embrace two critical aspects: technological curiosity and profound self-awareness. They need to regularly assess whether their leadership style and the organization’s current structure effectively meet present and future needs, especially in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

NationSwell: What role do you see NationSwell playing in this moment; why did you choose to get involved?

Maggie Carter: The social sector is at a crossroads, with an urgent need to transition from performative to transformative action. I see NationSwell as a trusted convener, amplifier, and catalyst for this essential change. In a time when many leaders grapple with defining meaningful progress, NationSwell offers a vital space for courageous dialogue and nurtures a community committed to tangible action.

I joined NationSwell because I wanted to be part of a community that addresses challenges authentically and transparently. It’s an opportunity to sharpen my practice, deepen relationships, and actively contribute to a future where values truly drive decisions.

NationSwell: In your experience, what’s one underrated lever for advancing social or environmental progress from inside an organization?

Maggie Carter: In my experience, finance is one of the most underrated levers for advancing social and environmental progress within an organization. Finance teams uniquely understand the priorities of executive leadership and boards, and how investments are measured. They can push thinking beyond short-term ROI to include social ROI, long-term outcomes, and opportunity costs. When CFOs, controllers, and budget managers become true stewards of social impact, rather than just financial health, they can unlock significant scale, accountability, and systemic change.

NationSwell: What’s one book, podcast, ritual, or person that’s fueling you lately?

Maggie Carter: I’m currently reading “Non-Governmental Organizations, Management and Development” by David Lewis. This book is shaping my understanding of how the social sector develops strategies, architects organizational structures, and delivers impact. It’s also prompting me to consider how organizations should navigate crises and who is best equipped to lead through such changes: whether it’s the CEO, a donor, or the Board.

My recent daily ritual involves a morning walk through town. This simple act allows me to connect with nature, reflect on ideas, and find inspiration. I also have weekly walking meetings with peers, which I find incredibly invigorating and conducive to creative problem-solving outside traditional meeting settings.

What We Can Learn From The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Tomi Hiers, VP of the Foundation’s Center for Civic Sites and Community Change

Posted on by NationSwell Team

This summer, as part of NationSwell’s Place-based Impact Collaborative, we explored the power of community-led change through an immersive experience in Atlanta, GA. This experience would not have been possible without our host, The Annie E. Casey Foundation. 

As place-based work popularizes, new actors should pay attention: nearly 25 years into their place-based commitment to the city, what the Foundation is building in Atlanta is a testament to place-based investment done right. Long-term, community-rooted, structurally sound, and boldly committed to building a brighter future for youth, families and communities the Annie E. Casey Foundation is unwavering in striving toward greater opportunity for all Atlantans. 

A group of NationSwell members walk past the icon ferris wheel in Atlanta

Why Atlanta?

Many view Atlanta as a booming metro hub, but it is also the city with the lowest rate of economic mobility in the United States. A child born into poverty in Atlanta has less than a 4% chance of escaping it. The Annie E. Casey Foundation established its Atlanta Civic Site in 2001, recognizing the city’s unique potential, alongside its stark disparities.

“Atlanta has a vibrant economy (one of the fastest growing in the country) and rich culture,” says Tomi Hiers, “It continues to be an attractive city, as its rapidly growing population shows.”

But as she points out, “Atlanta has one of the country’s fastest-growing economies, but that growth is uneven across its communities….Communities along and below I-20 continue to face some of the most persistent poverty rates in the country.”

A three-pronged approach: The Foundation’s theory of change in Atlanta

The Foundation’s commitment in Atlanta is long-term and multifaceted, focusing on three investment pillars: economic opportunity, neighborhood transformation, and educational achievement.

“Atlanta is the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s second hometown (Baltimore is the other),” says Hiers, “We encourage action and transformation in Atlanta through a combination of strategic partnerships and investments, spanning beyond individual neighborhoods. Our work continues to be undergirded by the belief that strong communities are possible when young people have the family connections, relationships, communities and educational and employment opportunities they need to thrive.”

Neighborhood transformation: Pittsburgh Yards

Home to the Foundation’s Atlanta Civic Site is Pittsburgh Yards, a 31-acre development in Atlanta’s historic Pittsburgh neighborhood — a community founded by formerly enslaved people in 1883. The south side of Atlanta carries deep scars from redlining, disinvestment, and broken promises, but it also holds the legacy of resistance, culture, and community pride. It’s here that Pittsburgh Yards rises, not just as a development, but as a reclamation of possibility.

Pittsburgh Yards is both a business hub and a model of community-driven development. After purchasing the site in 2006, the Foundation undertook a years-long design process that engaged local residents and businesses. This investment resulted in the Nia Building (Swahili for “purpose”), which now houses over 100 office spaces and supports nearly 160 local businesses through both leased spaces and accessible co-working memberships.

With property values near the Beltline increasing by over 500% in just five years, the Foundation’s investments are carefully designed to prevent displacement. From affordable leases to technical assistance and business development programming, Pittsburgh Yards is a market disruptor in commercial real estate. 

Economic opportunity: Supporting local entrepreneurs

Many entrepreneurs in Atlanta, limited by social and economic barriers, are unsure if the city has room for their dreams; targeted investments from the Annie E. Casey Foundation support small business owners through space and ownership, reshaping how they imagine their futures.

The Foundation partners with organizations like Our Village United and the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), which provide coaching, funding access, and business strategy training. Entrepreneurial support at Pittsburgh Yards is not limited to real estate. Innovative models like the container courtyard, a marketplace of rotating micro-retailers and food vendors built from shipping containers, have provided flexible, low-barrier entry points for businesses to scale and test new concepts.

Hiers highlights the urgency of this work: “Even when it comes to entrepreneurship, one of the primary drivers of wealth, company owners from certain demographics lag behind, creating a gap in revenue generation.” 

Educational achievement: Starting from birth

Approximately 8 out of every 20 children in Atlanta aged 0-5 are considered economically disadvantaged, with 5 of them living in poverty. The Foundation’s commitment to educational achievement begins in early childhood. Through supporting initiatives like “Promise All Atlanta Children Thrive” (PACT), the Foundation has galvanized a citywide action to make Atlanta the best place to raise a child.

Partners like GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students) have helped build a collaborative that includes public and private leaders, all aligned around improving outcomes for children from birth to five. This coalition has led to coordinated grantmaking, Head Start provider collaboration, childcare stabilization grants during the pandemic, and aligned advocacy to shape systems and policy change.

A culture of collaboration and honoring legacy

What sets the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s approach apart is its commitment to authentic collaboration. Both cross-sector and community efforts are designed with shared purpose, long-term structure, and community voice. The Foundation’s partners reflect that spirit — from housing advocates and public health leaders to artists, educators, and entrepreneurs.

“I learned very early in my career that people with lived experience and those who are closest to challenges have unique perspectives that can lead to innovative and lasting solutions. I have made it a priority to ensure that people who live in the communities where work takes place or those who participate in targeted programs have a voice in helping to set priorities, developing strategy and getting the work done.”

This immersive experience was offered to NationSwell through the NationSwell Collaboratives. To learn more or get involved, visit nationswell.com/nationswell-collaboratives/

Meet NationSwell’s Strategic Advisors

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

In today’s environment, impact leaders need trusted, experienced partners in their corner. To provide cut-through personalized support and deep value to the impact leaders we serve, NationSwell is thrilled to welcome six extraordinary leaders into our community as Strategic Advisors.

One of our aims at NationSwell is to fast-track our members to the most valuable and actionable insights, knowledge, best practices, relationships and thought-partnership that they need to accelerate their impact and lead at their best. These days, there is no time to waste. 

Our Strategic Advisors have been admired and effective practitioners. They have led the functions that our members lead, have sat in their seats and bring practical insights, perspective and approaches that will help our community members to navigate the current waters effectively, with principle and in service of impact work that is built to last. They will join NationSwell tables, provide 1:1 advisory sessions and contribute to the spirit of mutual support, connection and inspiration at the center of our community.

Most have been long-term members and dear friends. We are thrilled to welcome them now as Strategic Advisors. Get to know them below.

Dr. John Brothers

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Social Policy, Community Development

John Brothers most recently served as President of the T. Rowe Price Foundation and T. Rowe Price Charitable, overseeing $750M in assets. He founded and led Quidoo, an international consulting firm, for over a decade before merging it in 2015. At T. Rowe Price, he spearheaded initiatives like the Elevation Awards, DesignFest, and Baltimore Children and Youth Fund, establishing the firm as a leader in trust-based philanthropy and community partnerships.

Dr. Brothers has over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, with expertise in youth development, social services, and the arts. He has taught social policy and nonprofit management at NYU, Rutgers, and served as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard. He also holds honorary and visiting roles at Queens University Belfast and the China Global Philanthropy Institute.

A prolific writer and speaker, John has contributed to Stanford Social Innovation Review, Nonprofit Quarterly, and Huffington Post, and been featured in major media including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Inspired by his upbringing in poverty, he began his career as a community organizer and case manager, advancing to leadership roles that support vulnerable families across the U.S. and internationally.

Maggie Carter

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: CSR, Health Equity, Impact Measurement, Tech for Good, Cause Marketing, Community Resilience

Maggie Carter is a senior advisor and consultant specializing in strategic planning, impact measurement, program development, and partnerships. She previously served as Director of Social Impact at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where she led initiatives in health equity, disaster response, environmental equity, and tech education. 

During her tenure, she co-directed Project Sunflower, earning the Ukraine Peace Prize. Before AWS, Maggie was Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at UNICEF USA, overseeing corporate engagement, philanthropic grants, and cause-related marketing. She also served on the Steering Committee for UNICEF Innovation. Previously, as Deputy Director of the Shot@Life campaign at the United Nations Foundation (2011–2014), she co-created the award-winning “Get a Shot. Give a Shot.” campaign with Walgreens. Maggie began her career in social responsibility and community relations with the National Basketball Association and the Atlanta Braves. She is pursuing a Master’s in Public Policy at George Mason University and holds a Bachelor’s in Health Sciences from James Madison University.

Tom Key

EXPERT IN RESIDENCE
Areas of Expertise: Career Advisory, Talent Networking

Tom has built his career in executive search and career advisory, pioneering talent networking programs for top management consulting firms, now industry standards. Starting at Egon Zehnder, he founded Bain & Co.’s executive talent network and later replicated it at BCG. In 2022, he joined World 50 Group to expand career advisory services for executives.

Having coached around 1,000 executives, Tom expertly navigates executive and board-level searches across public and private sectors. An avid networker, he connects leaders to accelerate career transitions.

Tom is an adjunct professor at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, teaching courses on executive search and networking since 2004. In 2025, he began co-teaching entrepreneurship at Brandeis University and advises Emory’s Laney Graduate School on PhD career transitions. He has also spoken at HBS, Kellogg, and Wharton.

He holds a BA in Economics and Asian Studies from Denison University and an MBA from Emory. Tom lives in Atlanta with his wife, dogs, a retired horse, and their twin college-aged daughters.

Michael Kobori

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Sustainability Leadership, Human Rights, Sustainable Finance, ESG Regulations, Industry Collaboration.  

Michael Kobori is an independent Board Director at Bunge Global and recently retired as Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, where he led environmental sustainability, social impact, and human rights. Previously, he was Vice President of Sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co., helping establish the company as a leader in sustainable apparel. He has nearly a decade of experience at The Asia Foundation supporting human rights and economic development in Asia. Michael serves on the President’s Leadership Council of The Asia Foundation, the U.S.-Japan Council, and is Executive Producer of Utopia Theatre Project, a social justice theater company. 

Michael has taught corporate sustainability at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and served on numerous sustainability boards and advisory committees, including the Better Cotton Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition. He holds a Master’s in Public Policy and undergraduate degrees in Asian Studies and Psychology from UC Berkeley and studied sustainable finance at Oxford University.

Rose Kirk

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Areas of Expertise: Go-to-market, Responsible Innovation, Impact Imperative, Career Development, Building Influence and Reputation

Rose Kirk is a C-level executive with more than 35 years of experience leading sales, marketing, customer service, go-to-market strategies, and responsible innovation. Beginning as an award-winning journalist, she rose to senior leadership at Verizon across Corporate Social Responsibility and Marketing, earning a reputation as an innovator and trailblazer.

She serves on the board of Casella Waste Systems, contributing to its Compensation and Nominating and ESG committees, and has held leadership roles in global nonprofits. Passionate about history’s role in shaping the future, Rose is on the National Archives Foundation board and supports the arts through Texas Women for the Arts.

Rose holds a BS from Arkansas State University and is completing a master’s thesis at Washington University. Featured in outlets like Good Morning America, Forbes, and BBC, she is also executive producer of the documentary Without A Net: The Digital Divide in America.

AiLun Ku

STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Areas of Expertise: Leadership Development, Educational and Workforce Access, Systems Change Strategy, Community Building, Organizational Growth and Management

AiLun Ku is the Vice President of Community and Capacity at the EGF Accelerator, where she redesigns and leads leadership development programs, community-building efforts, and strategic grantmaking to strengthen the nonprofit sector.

Previously, AiLun was the President and CEO of The Opportunity Network, where she scaled programs reaching over 50,000 students annually and secured the largest unrestricted gift in the organization’s history. There, she led all aspects of the organization, including programming, evaluation, finance, operations, and national growth. 

She is a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Facilitator, a Pahara Fellow, a Heckscher Leadership Fellow, and a dedicated educator and advisor. AiLun is passionate about access, leadership, and cultivating inclusive, high-impact communities.

Before OppNet, AiLun worked at NYU Wagner, the Equal Justice Initiative, and other social impact organizations. She holds an MPA and BA from NYU and is a 2019 MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow.

To learn more about our membership community, visit nationswell.com/membership

Five Minutes with Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

For this installment of 5 Minutes With, NationSwell sat down with Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose — a nonprofit donation platform that helps connect teachers with the resources and materials they need to create the inspiring classrooms and projects that ensure a great education.

Ahead of Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5 – 9, 2025), we asked Guerrier about how DonorsChoose is helping to address racial and socioeconomic inequities in school funding; the impact milestones he’s most excited about; and how the platform is helping to support teachers who come from HBCUs. 

Here’s what he had to say:

NationSwell: Tell us about your personal connection to education — is there anything about your background that gives you a unique perspective or emotional connection to this space?

Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose: I became a math teacher after I did investment banking, and I found teaching to be by far the more challenging profession! It remains the toughest job I’ve had. But the thing that I loved most about teaching was witnessing students as they understood new concepts. I would feel so fortunate to be able to observe kids as they were starting to do things that, before, they were not able to do. It’s an incredible privilege to be part of a kid’s journey as they learn and develop new skills.

NationSwell: Where are the existing gaps in school funding models, and how is DonorsChoose helping to close those gaps?

Guerrier, DonorsChoose: Public schools aren’t created equal. Schools that serve mostly students of color receive $23 billion less in state and local funding each school year – a funding gap of $2,266 per student. This inequity is reflected in teacher out-of-pocket spending. Teachers working at schools in lower income communities and with more students of color reach into their own wallet more to buy classroom materials. Our DonorsChoose platform gives members of the public a transparent, accountable way to bridge that inequity.

Every time a teacher submits a project to DonorsChoose, we receive a collection of data points on that classroom: number of students, subject area, items requested, teacher demographics, and more. We integrate this national data into our platform to help donors and institutional partners target their support where it will make the biggest impact. By highlighting schools that have been historically underfunded due to racial and economic inequity, we’ve made it easy for anyone to help us move the needle towards equity — whether they have $5 or $5 million to give.

NationSwell: Are there any anecdotes or moments that stand out to you in terms of the tangible impact you’ve seen DonorsChoose create for teachers?

Guerrier, DonorsChoose: What immediately comes to mind is the preschool classroom of Dominique Foster at Friendship Blow Pierce in Washington, DC, where the majority of students are Black or Latino and qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. You won’t find a better equipped or more engaging preschool classroom, and that’s because of Dominique. In December 2024, she used DonorsChoose to fund costumes for her students to dress up as veterinarians, doctors and dentists, skeleton models, weighted stuffed animals to serve as the patients, toothbrushes, and Band-aids – among so many other resources. 

Since posting her first DonorsChoose project in 2019, Dominique has raised $120,000 for her classroom through our platform. Along the way, her colleagues, too, have discovered DonorsChoose. More than 300 projects, posted by 78 teachers, have been funded at Friendship-Blow Pierce – totaling more than $300,000 in resources. Through DonorsChoose, educators like those at Friendship-Blow Pierce are accessing materials that their students uniquely need for an enriching education.

NationSwell: What has your experience at DonorsChoose taught you about the role technology has to play in the education system — what is the potential that you’re seeing?

Guerrier, DonorsChoose: DonorsChoose has always embraced technology as a fuel for social good. In fact, crowdfunding wasn’t even a word when we launched 25 years ago. Teachers have similarly embraced tech advancements, and their resource requests over the years on DonorsChoose show that progress within education.

Right now, there are a lot of conversations about the potential benefits and harms of artificial intelligence (AI) for both education and technology overall. Wherever you stand, it’s clear that AI is a remarkably powerful tool that isn’t going away — teachers and students are already engaging with it on a daily basis. We need to listen to the educators on the frontlines of this progress and make sure they’re a part of our national conversation about AI so that we can create a just and equitable future for our children.

NationSwell: Are there any new initiatives in the works that you’re particularly excited about and would like to lift up?

Guerrier, DonorsChoose: DonorsChoose is gearing up for Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9, 2025), and we’re planning even more support for public school teachers across the U.S. Teachers should stay tuned that week for more opportunities to get funding for their classrooms.

A new initiative this school year that I’m very proud of is Quad to Classroom. Studies show that the graduation rate among Black students increases by 33% if they have at least one Black teacher between third and fifth grade. In 2021, DonorsChoose conducted the largest survey of male teachers of color, and the survey shows that Black male graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) spend the most time engaging with students. The DonorsChoose Quad to Classroom program is inspired by these findings. The program helps to boost the pipeline of teachers who come from HBCUs and to provide them with funding on DonorsChoose.

NationSwell: Finally, what are some of the challenges you’re currently facing, and how can NationSwell’s community of changemakers help you with those challenges?

Guerrier, DonorsChoose: According to our annual DonorsChoose survey of our teacher community, teachers spend between $600 and $700 out of pocket on classroom supplies in a school year. We know that it’s often much higher than that. In fact, teachers on DonorsChoose told us that if it weren’t for our website, they’d be spending more than double out of pocket on classroom supplies. 

At the same time, teachers’ salaries have decreased as much as 15% between 2000 and 2017 and are decreasing much faster than those of comparable workers, yet they’re still reaching into their own pockets to get what their students need to learn. 

Anyone, from an individual to a corporation, can go to DonorsChoose to help a teacher avoid reaching into their own pockets again. DonorsChoose will not stop until every single student and teacher has the resources they need to thrive, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that and to rally others to join us in empowering educators.