Resource Type: Leader spotlights

Impact Next: An interview with Siegel Family Endowment’s Katy Knight

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2025, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Katy Knight, Executive Director and President of Siegel Family Endowment.

Greg Behrman, Founder and CEO, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? What has your journey to becoming a senior impact leader been like?

Katy Knight, Executive Director and President, Siegel Family Endowment: My first job at 14 was as a reading tutor, and later I interned at that same organization. That’s when I discovered the nonprofit world, which felt meaningful to me, even though my family had the usual “doctor or lawyer” expectations. At first, I wanted to start my own nonprofit, but quickly realized there were already plenty out there. When I learned about philanthropy, I was drawn to the idea of investing in social impact ideas, but found there weren’t many entry-level paths into the field. Soinstead I stayed in nonprofit, then moved to Google, which allowed me to work with nonprofits while also learning about how tech could be used for positive impact. Eventually, I left to lead corporate social responsibility at a company called Two Sigma, where I connected with one of the cofounders, David, who was starting a foundation. That opportunity brought together everything I had learned from nonprofits, CSR, and government affairs, which led me becoming the deputy director of the foundation.. 

It wasn’t a traditional path. Through various nonprofit roles, stints at Google, and even catering on the side to make ends meet. Honestly, I had almost given up on working on this side of the table before I finally landed here.

But I had incredible support, especially from my grandmother Angelina, who recently passed away. She always kept it real with me that there would be a lot to overcome in life as a woman of color who didn’t come from a family of money. When we buried her, my great aunt, her sister, grabbed my hand and said, “You know, your grandma thought you would be president of the United States — she believes you can do anything.” That unyielding support is really the kernel of  the seed that she and my mom really nurtured – this belief that, even though it’s going to be really hard, you can do anything you want to do.

Behrman, NationSwell: What would you describe as the North Star of your leadership? Are there any particular principles or philosophies that guide you?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: I see my role as helping others grow. Whether as strong individual contributors or future leaders. I believe deeply in giving people the autonomy to try new things, even if it means making mistakes along the way. 

My team jokes about it, but when someone comes to me with a new or unconventional idea, nine times out of ten I’ll say ‘sure, go for it — I don’t need to know any more, just try it and let me know how it works out.’ I’ve learned so much through my own mistakes, and I want people to have the opportunity to be scaffolded, to know what they’re doing, to succeed in their job, but also to try new random novel things and make mistakes on their own so that we can learn and grow together.  I try to walk alongside people across all levels of the organization and stay engaged with them as they evolve in their roles and grow in confidence.

Behrman, NationSwell: As an impact leader, how are you sense-making the current moment? How are you navigating where we are and where we’re going?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: We’re living in a moment where everything feels complex and divided, where clear answers are hard to find and shared facts are increasingly rare. When I zoom out, it’s clear this is a historically unique moment. What’s challenging, but important, is serving people across the country who may not share our politics or even understand why philanthropy or social impact matters. What keeps me grounded is our mission: to use technology to ensure everyone has a fair shot in an innovation-driven society. That mission cuts across political and ideological lines. We want to level the playing field for everyone, regardless of their views. Technologyhas played a role in deepening some of the divides we’re facing. But  t I believe we can also use it to help fix what’s broken. I’m trying to hold onto that hope as I make sense of what has happened and what we want to happen for things to be better.

Behrman, NationSwell: Is there anything about the impact strategies, initiatives, or partnership models you’re championing right now that feels particularly unique or differentiated in the field? 

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: At Siegel, we have a strong focus on infrastructure. But we think of infrastructure broadly: not just bridges and roads, but also the physical, digital, and social systems needed for society to thrive and for everyone to have equal access to opportunity. That perspective shapes our grantmaking. We prioritize efforts that build capacity and durability, beyond just short-term pilots.. 

For example, last year we partnered with the Walton Family Foundation on the Learning Landscapes Challenge. Instead of asking for new education ideas, we asked what existing efforts could improve or scale with better infrastructure. We’re about raising awareness but also creating lasting impact, and it’s exciting to see this infrastructure approach gaining traction among peers.

We also think intentionally about our place-based strategy.. While we’re anational funder, we know that solutions must be tailored to local contexts. We’ve done deep work in New York, expanded our K-12 computer science efforts to Atlanta, partnered with the Center on Rural Innovation to understand diverse rural communities, and recently started exploring workforce and education initiatives in Birmingham, Alabama. Each community offers unique insights, and we’re excited to continue learning and connecting changemakers together.

Behrman, NationSwell: If there were two big problems you could solve for that would make your work easier and more effective, what would they be?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: The first is digital divide. It’s embarrassing that, in one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries in the world, many people still lack access to reliable high-speed internet. . In many cases, this isn’t a massive infrastructure issue — I call it the “last 200 feet” problem, where getting the internet from the main road into the subdivision is the infrastructural challenge we need to solve for. Solving this would open up opportunities in education, employment and so much more.

The other problem I’d solve is a bit more ephemeral, but closely related which is capital concentration. This year, I asked my team to imagine a map of the U.S. where opportunity isn’t just confined to the  coasts. Right now, most venture capital and resources flow to a few select markets, but what if we could redirect that capital to create hubs all across the country? We could unlock new economic hubs, creating jobs supporting entrepreneurs and revitalizing communities that have been left behind.That’s the big-picture vision I’m aiming for.

Behrman, NationSwell: Of your peers in the social impact space, who are a few whose leadership inspires you, and whom you hold in high esteem?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: I’m fortunate to be surrounded by incredible women doing remarkable work. One is my friend and colleague Dr. Allison Scott at the Kapor Foundation — an amazing leader on computer science equity, tech, and the digital divide. She’s smart and funny, which is always important. We’re lucky to work together often with Michele Jawando at Omidyar Network, who is also incredible. Another is Lydia Logan from IBM, who’s done everything and been everywhere-I want to be her. I was just on a panel with her last week, and she’s insanely talented; the world is lucky to have her. Closer to the ground, my friend and colleague Nabiha Syed, now leading the Mozilla Foundation, is brilliant. She’s done incredible work as a lawyer, founder of The Markup, and is guiding Mozilla’s next phase, focusing on tech and society to build a better world. She’s contributed to major efforts like the Snowden files. I’m truly surrounded by greatness and just trying to keep up every day.

Behrman, NationSwell: Could you recommend any insightful resources – maybe a book, report, podcast, or article — that has significantly influenced your thinking or inspired your leadership?

Knight, Siegel Family Endowment: I’ll confess to being a bit of a nerd — I have a classic “Nevertheless, she persisted” Elizabeth Warren poster on my wall, and I look up at that on tough days. It’s become a rallying cry for women this decade. I also have a shelf full of books on philanthropy and social impact. One of the earliest I read was Carnegie’s classic The Gospel of Wealth, and now pair it with Darren Walker’s New Gospel of Wealth. When I think of these seminal, foundational texts, I’m reminded that philanthropy has a rich but imperfect legacy. Reconciling that history with the world we want to create guides how I think about the future of philanthropy and social impact.

Impact Next: An interview with New Profit’s Tulaine Montgomery

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2025, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Tulaine Montgomery, CEO of New Profit and and host of the Say More podcast.

Greg Behrman, Founder and CEO, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? What has your leadership journey been like?

Tulaine Montgomery, CEO, New Profit: I can’t say there was ever a premeditated plan guiding me; I’m a creative at heart, so a linear plan has never really been my approach. What truly got me here is my family background. My parents and extended family were students of history and futurists, even if they didn’t use those terms. My dad was an ethnomusicologist and longtime Dartmouth professor, and throughout his life has basically willed himself into experiences and expertise — he doesn’t ever entertain that he’s not enough to do what he desires to do. He immersed himself in the study of the African diaspora, mastering percussion and exploring cultural connections in places like Mali, Haiti, Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, Kenya, and Japan. He was even named a master drummer in Ghana in his early twenties. Growing up, I absorbed these rhythms and lessons.

My mother is equally expansive in her worldview. For decades, she has convened Black leaders and educators from around the world, fostering a community focused on understanding our present, envisioning our future, and thriving together. This annual tradition has lasted over thirty years.

My parents have always dreamed of a better world and taught me what we can look back on in history to see what we can borrow from and what to avoid.

Behrman, NationSwell: What are the attributes, philosophies, or practices that help you to be an effective leader in this space?

Montgomery, New Profit: It took me a while as a human, as a professional, and ultimately as a social entrepreneur and leader to really own my multitudes. For years, I believed my interests in business strategy, playwriting, and music history couldn’t coexist, and I would compartmentalize myself depending on the environment. I would go into certain spaces and think, okay, only these parts of me actually make sense here. I didn’t come to that idea by myself — we’re entrenched in tons of systems that encourage such a perspective — but I certainly held it within me, and that’s where it actually matters most.

Today, my leadership is informed by a radical acceptance of all the pieces of myself, and I strive to create environments where others can do the same. I want everyone I work with and support to experience the power of embracing their whole selves, because effective systems change requires us to bring all our strengths to the table.

Another core aspect of my leadership is empathy and curiosity. I try to approach situations and people with openness rather than judgment. For example, when I feel resistance or misunderstanding, I ask people to “say more,” which helps me move from judgment to curiosity. This practice has allowed me to connect more deeply, resolve misunderstandings, and even turn skeptics into supporters. Curiosity isn’t just altruistic, it’s pragmatic — it helps me understand others and navigate complex challenges.

Behrman, NationSwell: Is there anything about the impact strategies, initiatives, or partnership models you’re championing right now that feels particularly unique or differentiated in the field? 

Montgomery, New Profit: There’s growing discussion around systems change, and at New Profit, we see what we refer to as “the MIC” — multiracial intergenerational, cross-sector coalitions for change — as a key engine of that work. Here in the U.S., it sometimes feels like we’re less poised for the MIC than ever because there’s so much division and fragmentation, but at New Profit we’ve been really excited to support and partner with entrepreneurs who understand the power and timeliness of this coalition and who are, in a local way, doing powerful work to advance it. That’s why New Profit supports entrepreneurs through a focus on three pillars: capital, capacity, and community. We provide unrestricted funding, capacity-building support (often in collaboration with organizations like Deloitte), and foster a sense of community among social impact leaders. We believe working as peers, rather than maintaining traditional power dynamics, is crucial for real change.

We also partner with groups like Shared America to highlight and grow examples of unity, collaboration, and local leadership across the country. Despite the noise and division in media and politics, there is abundant innovation and collective power already at work in communities. By shifting our focus to these solutions and investing in proximate leaders, we can drive meaningful progress. True systems change requires courage, collaboration, and a willingness to imagine — and build — a better future together.

Behrman, NationSwell: Of your peers in the social impact space, who are a few whose leadership inspires you, and whom you hold in high esteem?

Montgomery, New Profit: Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green, is someone who really owns her multitudes — she’s a medical doctor by training, a social entrepreneur, organizer, artist, a lover of Beyoncé. Her ability to bring her whole self to her work is a powerful antidote to the fragmentation many leaders face.

Angela Glover Blackwell, founder of PolicyLink, similarly integrates joy, intellectual rigor, and compassion in her leadership. She frames joy as part of resistance, a quality she’s embodied throughout her career, and understands that lasting change requires addressing policy, capital, and narrative — the power of stories to shape solutions.

Marc Freedman, founder of CoGenerate, has illuminated the importance of intergenerational collaboration in today’s diverse society. His work highlights how connecting across generations fosters both personal and societal growth.

And finally, Dr. Richard Davidson, a renowned neuroscientist, has advanced the science of empathy and well-being. He translates research into practical tools for cultivating well-being, making neuroscience accessible for social change. Like the others, he combines rigor with deep kindness — a quality I deeply admire.

Behrman, NationSwell: Could you recommend any insightful resources – maybe a book, report, podcast, or article — that has significantly influenced your thinking or inspired your leadership?

Montgomery, New Profit: I’m a student of bell hooks, who teaches that love is about action, accountability, listening, and change — not about accepting mistreatment. I appreciate how she, as a scholar and public intellectual, frames love’s role in social impact, emphasizing its importance in leadership. I often write love letters to the broader community to celebrate this.

Another resource I’d recommend is “Defectors” by Paola Ramos, a journalist whose book explores how Latino engagement with the far right challenges ideas of unity versus uniformity in America. She courageously immerses herself in these communities to understand and share their perspectives beyond stereotypes.

I’d also mention my podcast, Say More with Tulaine Montgomery, which highlights the abundant community of people committed to love and collective power in social change. It reminds us there are far more of us than the dominant narratives would suggest who are fostering dialogue and hope.

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.

Five Minutes With Hala Hanna, Executive Director of MIT Solve

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

For this installment of 5 Minutes With, NationSwell sat down with Hala Hanna, Executive Director of MIT Solve — an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that advances lasting solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing problems.

We asked Hala about how MIT Solve has built and maintained its vast network of thought leaders and industry innovators, the impact milestones she’s most excited about, and how the initiative is deploying AI to create lasting transformation. 

Here’s what she had to say:

NationSwell: Tell us about MIT Solve’s mission and vision—what makes this initiative so unique and impactful?

Hala Hanna, Executive Director of MIT Solve: MIT Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. We find and help scale the most promising solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges and forge lasting partnerships with our Solver teams, providing ongoing funding, strategic connections, and support long after their initial program ends.

Our secret weapon? A powerhouse community of thought leaders, industry pioneers, and MIT’s extensive ecosystem—all united by the belief that technology, in the right hands, can transform lives. We seek entrepreneurs from underrepresented regions and backgrounds whose lived experience is the expertise they bring to problem-solving. 

NationSwell: What does using technology for good look like? How are MIT Solve and its innovators envisioning a present and future where scalable tech can solve big problems?

Hanna, MIT Solve: Tech for good isn’t just aspirational—it’s our Solvers’ work today. AI powers 20% of our portfolio, demonstrating how emerging tech can be deployed as a powerful means of improving people’s lives and driving positive societal transformation—from bettering health and learning outcomes to mitigating the effects of climate change. 

In addition to the breadth of application, AI helps with scaling impact: solutions in Solve’s portfolio that are powered by AI reach twice as many lives as those not making use of the technology. 

While AI global venture capital investments exceeded $290 billion between 2019 and 2024, less than 1% of this funding went to initiatives aimed at social impact. This stark disparity reveals a profound misalignment between AI’s transformative potential and its current applications that we should all want to fix.

NationSwell: What is exciting to you about the funding that MIT Solve provides to innovators? Tell us about MIT Solve’s impact to date.

Hanna, MIT Solve: The $70 million we’ve mobilized has catalyzed extraordinary change, with our Solver teams now touching 280+ million lives globally. This translates to environmental and health monitoring for 97+ million people, internet access for 4.6+ million, educational content for 56+ million children, and vital health services for 26+ million patients. These aren’t just numbers—they represent real people experiencing better health outcomes, educational opportunities, and improved livelihoods. 

We are also proud that for Solver teams selected in the past five years, over 95% are operational—compared to 70% for similar programs. Moreover, our for-profit and hybrid teams have raised over $1 billion since their organizations’ inception—together, they are engines of economic growth for their communities.

NationSwell: Is there a grantee story that you’d like to lift up?

Hanna, MIT Solve: I cannot possibly pick just one! Instead, let me invite you to experience our award-winning docuseries, The Big Idea. It follows three Solver teams on their journey: an innovator stabilizing vaccine temperatures in remote regions, a creator of antiracist technology reducing Black maternal mortality, and a developer of robot-building kits empowering Indigenous youth. With hundreds of thousands of YouTube views, features at 17 global festivals, and awards including a Webby, these stories exemplify the ingenuity and impact of our community.

NationSwell: A year from now, what are you hoping to be celebrating? What milestones are you looking to cross?

Hanna, MIT Solve: Next year marks our 10th anniversary—a decade of catalyzing world-changing innovation! There’s a lot in store to celebrate this milestone, including at our flagship events, Solve at MIT in May and Solve Challenge Finals in September. We’re building a new model where social innovation isn’t seen as charity but as the highest-leverage investment possible. By our next decade, we aim to shift billions toward solutions that scale exponentially and reach communities where traditional systems have failed.

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

Hanna, MIT Solve: Funding for international development work faces unprecedented headwinds. Even before current events, we saw a stark disconnect: $238 billion sitting in Donor-Advised Funds while we face a $4 trillion gap in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our mission is to bridge this divide by connecting innovators with funding opportunities, regardless of the political climate. NationSwell’s network is invaluable in helping us reach the communities that need innovation most. The most precious resource isn’t money—it’s the courage to back transformative ideas when they need it most. We invite the NationSwell community to come Solve with us!

Five Minutes with Kiana Jackson, Director of Data and Research, New Disabled South

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

For this installment of 5 Minutes With, NationSwell sat down with Kiana Jackson, Director of Data and Research at New Disabled South, to discuss the launch of the new think tank, Black Disability Institute. Housed under New Disabled South’s Research and Data team, the Black Disability Institute aims to initiate original research and bolster existing advocacy efforts examining issues uniquely affecting Black people with disabilities.

Here’s what she had to say:

NationSwell: Tell us a little bit about your journey in advocacy work and research — what is your personal connection to the Black disabled community? What inspires or motivates you — personally and professionally — to do this work?

Kiana Jackson, Director of Data and Research at New Disabled South: My journey in advocacy started with community organizing in rural Georgia, where I saw firsthand the health disparities and systemic inequities Black communities face. Over time, I became more involved in research, trying to uncover why these inequities persist and how we can tackle them at the roots. My personal connection to this work comes from my own experience as a Black disabled woman from the rural South, where I ran into everything from limited accessibility in schools to scarce resources for complex disabilities. Seeing how these barriers affect not just me but so many in my community drives me to keep going. What truly keeps me motivated is the incredible resilience I see among Black disabled people. Even when the deck is stacked against us, our community finds ways to create joy, support, and innovation. I want to help shift the conversation around disability away from merely “fixing” people or adding accommodations onto flawed systems, and instead push for broader, structural changes that allow us to thrive.

NationSwell: What is unique about the experiences of Black disabled folks living in the American South? Why is research so critically needed at this time?

Jackson: Black disabled people in the South occupy a very particular space, facing racial discrimination, ableism, and the unique challenges that come with living in a region that is often under-resourced. Legacy issues—like entrenched racism in institutions, lack of healthcare infrastructure, and inaccessible public spaces—combine to create more hurdles than what you might see elsewhere in the country. At the same time, the South has a legacy of resilience and activism that runs deep, with strong community networks supporting one another. Despite that legacy, Black disabled Southerners are often overlooked in national policy and research, which makes it harder to bring about meaningful policy reforms. If we don’t have accurate data and storytelling that center these experiences, we can’t demand the changes needed in healthcare, housing, or education. Focused research is crucial right now because it pushes back against harmful narratives and ensures our communities’ realities become part of the broader conversation on disability justice and equity.

NationSwell: What are New Disabled South’s existing advocacy efforts like for the Black community, and where are you most excited about expanding that advocacy work?

Jackson: We’re committed to intersectional disability justice, and that means ensuring Black disabled voices directly shape our policy and research agenda. Through our Black Disability Institute (BDI), we will conduct original research and connect with Black communities, making sure people’s lived experiences inform our work. For example, in our broader research initiatives, we’re investigating racial disparities in Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waitlists—vital supports that Black disabled Georgians often wait years to receive, even though the state has the means to address the backlog. We’re also examining how policing intersects with disability and race in the South. Our data shows Black disabled voters frequently report discrimination in encounters with law enforcement. By pinpointing where these problems occur, we can push for better training, alternative crisis response teams, and more accountability. Looking to the future, I’m eager to see the Black Disability Institute grow and take on more community-centered research in healthcare, criminal justice, and the economy. Our broader vision is a South where Black disabled folks have the resources and autonomy we deserve—and where our lived experiences are front and center in every advocacy effort. We view research as both a tool and a call to action. The data we collect does more than reveal problems; it drives our advocacy strategies and helps us collaborate effectively with state officials, healthcare providers, and fellow advocates. Through all of this, our guiding principle remains clear: The fight for disability justice in the South must uplift Black experiences, voices, and leadership every step of the way.

NationSwell: What are the Institute’s primary goals, and what is its theory of change?

Jackson: Black Disability Institute (BDI) operates as a think tank under New Disabled South’s Research Department, aiming to reshape how we talk about Black disability and ensure that research benefits the community. We focus on bridging gaps between researchers and Black disabled communities, building trust where it’s often been broken, and spotlighting lived experiences through studies and community outreach. Ultimately, we want more funding and attention directed to the challenges that keep Black disabled people—especially in the South—from having economic independence and quality care. Our theory of change is that real progress comes when rigorous research, grassroots engagement, and institutional partnerships come together. By keeping Black disabled voices at the heart of what we do, we can confront the systems that leave us out and create lasting policy change. In our first three years, we’re zeroing in on Poverty & Care, working with healthcare leaders, policymakers, and local organizers to give Black disabled Southerners a comprehensive network of support—from accessible housing to decent-paying jobs. Our hope is that by driving both research and advocacy, BDI can help build a future where Black disabled people are fully recognized, respected, and resourced.

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?

Jackson: One of our biggest hurdles is the lack of detailed data and targeted funding for Black disabled communities in the South. Too often, policy and research discussions don’t address—or even acknowledge—the multiple layers of racism and ableism we encounter. Changing this requires significant effort and resources. Another challenge lies in shifting the broader narrative: disability is still widely seen through the lens of “accommodation” rather than justice, and Black disabled people can get lost in both racial justice and disability advocacy spaces. NationSwell’s community can help by sharing resources, forging strategic partnerships, and amplifying our research so the experiences of Black disabled Southerners reach decision-makers. We also welcome support in reshaping the narrative—through storytelling, media, and campaigns that show the realities and resilience of Black disabled people. By joining forces, we can push for systemic changes that move us past “inclusion” and toward genuine equity and justice.

Impact Next: An interview with Visa Foundation’s Graham MacMillan

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

This year, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Graham Macmillan , president of Visa Foundation.

Greg Behrman, CEO and founder, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? Was there a formative relationship or experience that led to you becoming a leader in this field?

Graham  Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I knew in college that I wanted to be passionate about something and intellectually challenged, and thankfully, because of some great professors, I got inspired to think more about international development, which was a term way back in the 1990s to describe social impact. 

I was really interested in these organizations that were out there trying to solve big problems and challenges, and asking what they could do to support communities, and I started to realize this was the direction for a career that was both interesting to me and would allow me to go to sleep at night knowing that I was trying to make things a little bit better than they were before. 

You get tested over the course of your career, of course, but those moments also have the potential to be very affirming. If you’re lucky enough to have a passion, to be interested in the work that you do, to be surrounded by really fun, terrific people that share a common sense of purpose, you can make a career out of that without a problem. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What makes you an effective leader in your organization? Is there a particular philosophy of leadership or an approach that comes to mind?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I don’t know that it’s my place to call myself a leader — that’s for others to determine, in my view. What I try to do that may have characteristics that speak to leadership is having a sense of purpose, having a vision for what could be that is better than what it is now, taking some risk, and always ensuring that your role is in service of supporting the people that actually do the work.

I do nothing except cause trouble for my team. I get in the way. I slow things down. I ask too many questions sometimes. They’re the ones that actually do the good work. My job is to make sure that they are prepared, they have the resources, the support, the belief that they can get it done and solve any problems that might come up. So that’s what my job is and my belief in where I can add the most value. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are two or three facets of the work that you’re leading that you think are special — what feels important to lift up?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: The signature work that Visa and Visa Foundation have been focused on is the role that small and micro businesses can play in advancing economic growth. What we’ve managed to accomplish over this five-year period is to establish a strategy that would advance small and micro businesses in a meaningful way that aligns with both the values of our 30,000 employees and our stakeholders around the world — putting women and underrepresented founders at the center of that strategy. 

We know that there’s a tremendous gap between the resources that are allocated to women-led or underserved entrepreneurs, and we wanted to pry that open and demonstrate that they actually are not only viable, but there are actually tremendous, high-growth opportunities in doing so for a whole range of reasons. 

The distinguishing characteristic of our approach over the past five years has been not only grant making but actually investing to support these small and micro businesses. We have about a $500 million endowment, which makes us somewhat unusual for a U.S. Corporate foundation — we manage the assets, and we’ve worked with the board to establish that we manage the assets as if we were more like a perpetual foundation without an annual distribution of funds. 

Behrman, NationSwell: Anything else about your work that feels particularly differentiated in the field?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: There are a ton of foundations that don’t invest at all. What we have constructed is essentially a toolbox of all the things that we could use, and it’s not a monolithic application — we look at every circumstance and we open ourselves up to what the partners actually need. We tell them what’s available to them and we’re not prescriptive, we don’t assume we know what they need better than they do.

I believe that corporate philanthropy is elevated when you’re harnessing the power and capability of the business — that is fundamentally differentiated from private philanthropy. It just is. When done well, change can occur at a pace that is just fundamentally different. We are on the precipice of seeing that happen, and we’re currently trying to set up conditions by which we can then be effective at that next phase. 

Behrman, NationSwell: Who are a few of the peer leaders whose work or leadership styles you most admire?

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my boss at Citi, Brandy McHale, who taught me more about corporate philanthropy and philanthropy in general than almost anyone I know. In many ways, everything that I do is modeled off what I learned from her, both in terms of culture and humility and good sense of humor. 

A colleague that I’ve long admired but have recently gotten to know more and more is Delilah Wilson-Scott. Delilah is incredible in my opinion: she’s navigated two very complex, large companies at the highest level, and she does it with grace, with humor, and she’s super smart. 

And then last but not least, of course, is my former colleague, Darren Walker, who I spent a few years working with at Ford. Darren is a fundamental believer in the power of the market as a force for good, he knows finance, he knows governance, and what he’s been able to build out of that knowledge is tremendous. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are some of the resources that have really inspired you as a leader? 

Macmillan, Visa Foundation: I would honestly point to the NationSwell community: there’s substance, there’s thought, there’s content, there’s community, there’s gathering. The breaking of bread — that’s a resource unto itself. 

In terms of podcasts, I love “The Rest is History” — it’s fantastic. I’m a huge follower and fan of history, and the podcast is led by two British hosts, and there’s something about talking about history with a British accent that just feels right. It’s also really good if you want to fall asleep. There’s also another terrific one called “Empire” — I’m grateful to any resource that I can use to take my head out of this space but still be thoughtful and think of the patterns in history that become our future.

Impact Next: An interview with Gilead Sciences’ Carmen Villar

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster underserved communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

This year, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Carmen Villar, Vice President for Corporate Citizenship and ESG at Gilead Sciences.

Greg Behrman, CEO and founder, NationSwell: What brought you to this moment? Was there a formative relationship or experience that led to you becoming a leader in this field?

Carmen Villar, Gilead Sciences: I come from a background where social good and social justice was really important in our family. My mother was a public school teacher and my father was a social worker and a community organizer, and service is kind of baked into the DNA of who I am as a person. 

Most of the early part of my career was in public service. I worked for the U.S. government, and I did a lot of work on the ground with health departments and ministries of health overseas. Toward the end of my time in the public sector, there were some crises that were complicated to manage.  We called on private sector partners to assist, as they had unique abilities.  We started to partner with them a bit, and we were able to get their support through a foundation associated with our agency. 

When I thought about what I was going to do next in my career journey, I started talking to people in the private sector and was basically told, “Carmen, you can do all of the great things you’ve been doing in the public sector for the greater good where you are or somewhere in the non-profit sector, or you can come here and you can do that same kind of work with the power and the weight and the resources of this big company.” And that was when it clicked in my head that I was at this pivotal moment in my career development. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are two or three facets of the work you are leading that you think are particularly special or differentiated in the field — what feels important to lift up?

Villar, Gilead: In the first quarterly all hands I attended at Gilead, two things were highlighted as key to the company. Scientific innovation and health equity. I almost fell out of my seat when I heard that — I thought, oh wow, I’ve made it. It was super exciting to think that a publicly-traded company would use health equity to drive a lot of its work. 

What my team at Gilead has done really well over time is embrace community through grantmaking and philanthropy and build trust in those relationships so that we can hear more from communities about what is working and what is not working. People know us, and most of the time trust us and want to share their feedback with us, and that has been a huge accomplishment for a company like ours. My focus now is on how we continue that in a way that can address our three big pillars, which are around reducing stigma, improving access to care, and focusing on community-led or -driven interventions in health.

Behrman, NationSwell: What makes you an effective leader in your organization? Is there a particular philosophy of leadership or an approach that comes to mind?

Villar, Gilead: As I think about how Gilead grows the next generation of workers and what that means, again, where people come from and what their world views may be is very important to understand as a supervisor. I know I was very fortunate to have had the parents that I had. My dad sometimes says that he thinks he was too hard on me because, as a woman, he knew it was going to be more challenging for me to navigate the workplace, and even harder as a woman of color. I remember when I was 14, he made me change a tire — I couldn’t even drive yet. 

That resilience that my father seeded in me has made a huge difference in my confidence, in my ability to fail quickly, in my performance, and in accepting that there are things I do well, things I don’t necessarily do well, and that’s okay. I carry an attitude of, ‘I’m just gonna do what I can and be my best self,’ and it’s served me well so far. I try to impart the same sentiment on the rest of my team at Gilead and in all that I do, as a voluntary board member, mother, etc.

Behrman, NationSwell: You mentioned the need to be comfortable with failure and learn from mistakes or missteps. How do you think about cultivating that mindset in a way that allows you to be successful and creative?

Villar, Gilead: Perseverance — you have to persevere. If this work is at the heart and core of who you are, then you have to keep on keeping on. When I think about leadership, mentorship is a huge part of what I do because not only does it invigorate me and help me understand what other people are doing, it helps keep people going and keeps them motivated to do this work. I try hard to provide that mentorship, to provide development opportunities to people that I work with, but also to people who might reach out or I might meet somewhere who just say, I’m really trying to do this, how do you think I can do better?

If you’re not developing your people, it’s hard to check in and make sure you’re doing the right things in the right way. Failing quickly, brushing that off and moving on, that’s not always the easiest thing to do, but with some encouragement and mentorship, it gets a little bit easier.

Behrman, NationSwell: As a leader in this space, how are you sense-making when it comes to this moment, and how are you thinking about the unique opportunities and challenges inherent to it?

Villar, Gilead: We had a huge upswing of interest in 2020, and we were able to harness a lot of that attention and those resources and do good things. In business, the pendulum swings one way or the other, and yet the advances that we have made over time keep us a little bit ahead in terms of the progress level, so even when we feel like we’re going backward, we’ve really made it two or three steps forward. 

My fear is that now we’re taking that step backward, particularly when it comes to diversity and inclusion. Without those diverse voices, we are not able to ask and answer hard questions that make our people and our business stronger and constantly growing and improving. It’s critically important to continue to bring those voices forward, even though policies or laws or rules have been changed, because that informs us and reminds us of why we do this work every day. 

Gilead continues to be a responsible business in all aspects of our operations. We have a strong network of employee resource groups (ERGs) and are focused on the inclusion of the range of perspectives across the enterprise. The company is very much aligned with global responsibility frameworks like the SDGs. In fact, SDG 17 (partnerships) is a critical aspect of how we operate.  Our commitments in the partnership space far exceed that of many others, and we continue to rely on our partners to help us understand where the biggest pockets of healthcare needs exist.This leads naturally to our focus on SDG 3 (health) and our efforts to improve access to health and positive health outcomes.

Behrman, NationSwell: Who are some of your peers in this work that inspire you as a leader? 

Villar, Gilead: It’s hard to call out just a few, but I will try. Julie Gerberding, who was a former head of the CDC, hired me for a job at Merck, and she is great — talk about a total advocate for population health and for female leaders. 

I’d also name Ken Frazier, who was formerly the CEO of Merck. For people that don’t know him, Ken was an amazing CEO — he was very clear about where he stood on certain issues and on what was right and what was wrong, and he made that known in lots of different venues. That was groundbreaking for a CEO coming up when he did. I think Deb Telman, our EVP at Gilead, is very similar.  She is the person that really recruited me to come to Gilead last year.

Finally, I’d also shout out Alan Greenberg, who was one of the best mentors I ever had. He doesn’t work in this space, but he does run the Center for AIDS Research at George Washington University and is the Chair of Epidemiology in the Public Health School there. He was so critical in my development and was always sharing his pearls of wisdom around management and leadership and encouraging me to be who I was, even when things become difficult. With that kind of support, I was really able to test out my management style and figure out what worked for me.

Impact Next: An interview with Wells Fargo Foundation’s Darlene Goins

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

At a moment of inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2024, Impact Next — a new editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Darlene Goins, President of the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Greg Behrman, CEO and founder, NationSwell: What brought you to this field? Was there a moment in your life that galvanized your commitment to driving bold action in the impact space?

Darlene Goins, President, Wells Fargo Foundation: I grew up the daughter of a minister and seeing the service to others and community that my father provided instilled in me a need to provide service to others. As I entered my adult life and career, I became fascinated by the idea of decision analysis — making decisions through data. When I was in graduate school, and then later when I was at FICO, I realized there was a ton of consumer confusion around credit scores. I knew I wanted to help demystify credit scores for people and provide financial education with it — to help people improve their scores and chart the path forward — so I created a program that allowed financial institutions to share FICO scores for free. Seeing the impact that program had unlocked passion in me to do more, beyond the credit space. I came to Wells Fargo excited to scale relationships that can be used to further financial capability, and to create lasting community impact on the lives of underserved, underestimated families and businesses. 

Behrman, NationSwell: As a leader in the space, how are you sense-making when it comes to this moment, and how are you thinking about the unique opportunities and challenges inherent to it?

Goins, Wells Fargo Foundation: It’s clear that we’ve made meaningful progress, but we still have a long way to go. We are seeing that some of society’s toughest problems are still widely prevalent — the housing crisis, an unmanageable cost of living, the difficulties so many people face in getting ahead. But at the same time, I’m encouraged by the collective effort I’m seeing from so many organizations to drive change and move us in the right direction. That’s one of the reasons I feel so blessed to be in this role, to have the ability to leverage philanthropy as a catalyst and test new and innovative ideas at scale. 

Behrman, NationSwell: Are there any trends we’re seeing in the current moment that make you feel particularly optimistic?

Goins, Wells Fargo Foundation: From a philanthropy perspective, one of the changes I’ve seen over the course of the last nine years has been the general attitude shift I’ve seen around really integrating a community’s lived experience and wisdom into investment decisions. Historically speaking, the traditionally held attitude of philanthropy was that you could come into communities and you automatically knew what would work best. These days, I’m seeking more of an orientation toward community co-design — leveraging the experience of the people you’re trying to help. This trend around community-led design gives me real optimism for the future. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are two or three facets of the work you are leading that you think are particularly special or differentiated in the field — what feels important to lift up?

Goins, Wells Fargo Foundation: One of the things I really like to think about is how we can leverage the full breadth of our resources. As a financial institution, Wells Fargo Foundation has four primary funding priorities: affordable housing, sustainability, small business growth, and financial health. Bringing the full resources of the bank to bear is critical to the work of strengthening marginalized communities, and that intentional approach allows us to go deeper on societal issues.

One example of this multi-pronged approach can be found in Minneapolis, where we invested in the development of a mixed-use, multi-income housing development in the commercial corridor that was destroyed in wake of George Floyd’s murder. After a period of intentional and highly engaged community outreach, the finished development will feature 100 new affordable housing units, a Wells Fargo branch, and a community meeting space — the combination of commercial and corporate properties that can create a lasting impact.

I’m also very proud of the work we’re doing in the small business growth space, particularly with the Open for Business Fund. When the pandemic hit, our CEO decided to take the gross processing fees the government issued for administering the PPP loans — equivalent to around $420 million — and put that back into a fund to deliver urgent capital and expertise to racially and ethnically diverse small business owners. Fast forward four years, and we’ve been able to serve 336,000 small businesses, which has helped to generate or preserve more than 461,000 jobs. 

Behrman, NationSwell: What are some of the resources that have really inspired you as a leader? 

Goins, Wells Fargo Foundation: One resource that’s really helped shape my thinking on how to position the work is an article that McKinsey published on the business case for financial inclusion, which looked at Black and white Americans and access to financial products and the racial wealth gap. It concluded that if Black Americans had the same access to financial services that white Americans have, companies could realize up to $60 billion in additional revenue each year. That is something I’ve really come back to over and over again, and it has helped me with positioning this work on numerous occasions.

As a leader, I also love the book More than Ready by Cecilia Muñoz. I have dealt with imposter syndrome in the past, and her book helped me to recognize that I am ready for the seat that I occupy. It’s also been helpful in providing strategies for dealing with microaggressions and unconscious bias, and just generally reminding me that I’m not alone in this work.

There’s a quote I come back to often: “Never accept criticism from someone from whom you wouldn’t seek advice.” I think that pretty much speaks for itself.

Impact Next: An interview with the Seattle Foundation’s Alesha Washington

Posted on by Brianna Provenzano

At a moment of growing inequality and division, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster our most vulnerable communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2024, Impact Next — a new editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Alesha Washington, President and CEO of Seattle Foundation.

Chloe Lew, Senior Vice President of Partnerships, NationSwell: How did you come to be the President and CEO of the Seattle Foundation? I’d love to hear about any key milestones, mentors, or experiences that brought you here.

Alesha Washington, President and CEO, Seattle Foundation: For me, it started with a general curiosity about nonprofit organizations because of my experiences with them growing up. I was a volunteer camp counselor at my neighborhood YMCA, and my first internship experience was with the ACLU. As I became more aware of nonprofits, I quickly learned that philanthropy played a role in funding all of these amazing experiences I was having as a kid, and I knew I wanted to do something to give back to this sector that was giving so much to me.

I also had a notable mentor in Dave Abbott, the former president of the George Gund Foundation in Ohio — he was the one who instilled in me the power of public policy and philanthropy. He taught me that if we make a grant to an organization, it will benefit a group of people, but if we change the law or the regulation that’s causing the need in the first place, we can help many more. He was always thinking about how to use philanthropy as a catalyst for public policy and systems change. I became a lobbyist because of his influence and used my position to create change in the civic sector. By the time Seattle Foundation became a possibility for me, I was impressed by how explicit the foundation was about racial equity and justice, and how clear it was about the role that a community foundation could play in systems-change work through grant making and advocacy. 

Lew, NationSwell: You have been at the Seattle Foundation for nearly three years. What has been guiding your leadership as you’ve taken the helm of the organization?

Washington, Seattle Foundation:  Three things come to mind. First, there were some operational challenges when I stepped into Seattle Foundation, and I came in eyes wide open — the opportunity I saw was: How do you unlock resources for a community while also building a stronger business, and how do you do that with purpose? Wrestling with this solidified the need for a very clear and accessible vision. When you go through big shifts as an organization, there are bound to be questions and pent-up energies — the ability to set that vision early on and give folks something to aspire to helps them know that even when it’s hard, it’s hard for a reason.

The second thing is that I genuinely believe organizations are only as strong as their people, and at the end of the day if the people aren’t well, the organization isn’t healthy either. Stepping into this role, I spent time early on with every single person who works at the Foundation so that I could hear their stories and understand their point of view. It starts to give you a real temperature check on the health of the organization as a whole when you hear how people are showing up to work every day.

Finally, the thing I hold at the very center of my work is joy. In a space where there is so much polarization and so many people coming from different lived experiences, joy is something that we all still seem to find some unity in. Holding space for joy doesn’t mean that things aren’t chaotic or difficult; it just means that we can recognize the beauty of that discord and move through it with meaning, strength, purpose, and hope.

Lew, NationSwell: How do you center joy within the Foundation — what does that look like in practice? 

Washington, Seattle Foundation: The reality is given the changing nature of community foundations – the shift towards sustainable business models that can drive real impact – we will be in a state of evolution constantly. Navigating change is hard, so a key focus for us is building trust in order to ensure that our people feel valued and heard. We put out a robust staff engagement survey in an attempt to create mechanisms for people to share thoughts and perspectives. We use our people manager meetings to offer training on change management, really focusing on how to manage through change joyfully so they feel equipped to support our team. 

We’re always thinking about how to create safe spaces for people to share thoughts, but then also how to respond to those concerns so folks have clarity and transparency around our thinking. Our team that works on learning literally put together a Jeopardy game to bring people deeper into the work and make it fun — you can make gaining knowledge and trust a really joyful experience.

At the end of the day, we’re trying to create a fun and joyful environment internally while also being intentional about transparency and trust mechanisms that help people step into more of their power in the work. My personal barometer for that is how many staff feel comfortable reaching out to me to say, “Can we grab coffee?” or “Can I talk to you?” I’m seeing an uptick in that in a way that lets me know we’re doing something to foster something good here, even if it’s hard. 

Lew, NationSwell: How are you thinking about the current moment in social impact, and the economic landscape more broadly?

Washington, Seattle Foundation: Nikole Hannah-Jones did a piece on the colorblindness trap that I think is essential reading. Especially now as I consider where we are post this election. She very skillfully and artfully tracks the impact and legacy of slavery to where we are in the present day, with a number of lawsuits and efforts to attack diversity, equity, inclusion, to turn the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act on their heads and systematically reverse a lot of the efforts to create more opportunities for Black people and other people of color.

So much has gotten lost in translation through this time that I’m not quite clear or sure how astute and clued in we all are as a society. If nothing else, it is illuminating how powerful and sometimes dangerous narrative can be. One thing I still hold onto from NationSwell’s immersive experience in Montgomery is when Bryan Stevenson shared with the group that the biggest sin of slavery wasn’t slavery itself, it was the way that we justified it — the narrative around it.

I think what it means in my work, and for philanthropy as a whole, is that we get prepared for sophisticated legal, financial, and reputational threats that are meant to make us back away from anything we are doing that would be seen as too controversial in this current environment. We need to stay focused and close to each other. We need to keep our values at the center of every move we make. And we need to keep funding narrative change, community organizing, and power building in the communities we serve. 

I want to know that we’re able to stand the test of this time, that we don’t shrink away and acquiesce to a moment and then find ourselves in a situation a decade from now where these things we fought so hard for around a more inclusive democracy, around opportunities for those that never had a fair shot to a get ahead, all of that is turned on its head.

Lew, NationSwell: What are some of the initiatives, ways of working, or projects that you feel represent the best or most differentiated work that the Seattle Foundation is doing? What would you lift up for other leaders in the field?

Washington, Seattle Foundation: We have a vision of a joyful region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice. As a grantmaker, we’re always thinking about how we resource organizations — especially BIPOC-led and -serving organizations — in a way that helps make that vision a reality. 

We’ve always done that through this very tiny pot of money that represents our core discretionary dollars — around 5% of what we do as a whole — with the other 95% driven through our donor-advised funds. The foundation has had to get innovative to figure out how we shift from impact work happening through a tiny discretionary grantmaking pool to bringing all the resources under our control to drive toward our vision. We have to think about all of the tools in our impact toolkit and how they support traditional grantmaking, and so we’ve really started to deepen our work with impact investing.

One of our primary vehicles for this is the Evergreen Impact Housing Fund, which is our way of contributing to the production of affordable housing, something that iis sorely needed in a community like Seattle. Thinking about the creative ways that philanthropy can test, innovate, and de-risk projects around affordability, how we can come into a capital stack of a project to make it more solvable at the end — we really put a lot of energy into that, and it creates opportunities for donors to co-invest with us. We are planning to grow this impact fund over the next year and create opportunities for individual donors to co-invest with us. 

We have refreshed learning opportunities for our donors to help broaden their understanding of community issues and help them get engaged. We’re supporting peer-to-peer learning among our donor base, so while their entry point may be a conversation of interest for them with other philanthropists on environmental justice, we’re there to then help them see what we’re funding and where there are opportunities for them to invest. 

My hope is that by recognizing everybody’s humanity in this — and the fact that we are all linked together in what it takes to get to a joyful community — we’re seeing resources move in more ways that are aligned and connected to what Seattle needs to thrive.  

Lew, NationSwell: Which of your peers in the field most inspire you?

Washington, Seattle Foundation: I have a top three. Fred Blackwell with the San Francisco Foundation is the epitome of cool for me. He has a tremendous heart for social justice. Trisha Finnegan at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation — we have this shared experience of moving to communities that we are not from and stepping in as new leaders attempting to drive pretty significant change. She leads with a level of courage and strength that is beyond anything that I’ve seen, and it gives me a lot of energy and hope. 

I’m also inspired by a phenomenal community leader back home named Leah Hudnall, who runs the Legacy Perspective. Leah really understands narrative change work and is deeply committed to the success of the community that raised her. She’s been very intentional in capturing the stories and legacy of people that would otherwise not be named, and she has stayed true to that calling, even in the face of opposition to her leadership.

Lew, NationSwell: What are the resources that you’ve found have been transformational in terms of how you look at this work and at your own leadership?

Washington, Seattle Foundation: I’m reading a really great book right now called “Leading with Joy: Practices for Uncertain Times,” by Akaya Windwood and Rajasvini Bhansali. I’m big on leadership books for past time reading but it is probably the most insightful, meaningful body of work that I’ve read — it uses short vignettes and stories from both of the authors to reflect on the leadership experiences of women of color through a lens of joy.