Our Team
Anna Fink (She/Her)
Executive Director
As the founding Executive Director of the Amalgamated Foundation, Anna has spearheaded the Foundation’s growth as a bold leader in the philanthropic space through innovative funding approaches, partnerships, and initiatives. With extensive experience in the philanthropic sector, she provides strategic leadership and direction, overseeing various aspects of the Foundation including fundraising, program development, financial management and stakeholder engagement. Anna also serves on the board of The Workers Lab, the Workers Defense Project, and the Women Effect Fund.
Athena Jackson (She/Her)
Finance Manager
A seasoned banking professional, Athena enjoys translating her skillset to serve grassroots and philanthropic communities. She brings her 20+ years of experience as Vice President/Branch Manager at Amalgamated Bank to the Foundation, where she plays a critical role in establishing and managing the foundation’s daily accounting operations, financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and policies. Athena is an avid reader and particularly enjoys biographies and memoirs.
Beth Barefoot (She/Her)
Director, People & Culture
Beth spearheads the People and Culture function at ACF. With a keen strategic vision, she guides the team in fostering collaborative partnership with leaders and managers, ensuring efficient, equitable and inclusive operations. Originally from Oklahoma, Beth now calls Alexandria, VA her home, where she resides with her family.
Beth Hannon Penny (She/Her)
Director, Federal Grants
Beth leads the ACF federal grants program, helping develop, implement, oversee, and maintain all federal grants-related practices. Having faced many of the same challenges her colleagues or subgrantees have faced in her 20 years of experience administering grants, she understands how to leverage federal funds to create social good while ensuring they are used in accordance with all federal requirements. A resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, she enjoys being in nature, jumping on trampolines and spending time with her family and friends.
Cristina Chavez (She/Her)
Director, Philanthropic Services
Cristina leads the Philanthropic Services team, drawing on her expertise, shared values, and unwavering dedication to oversee the day-to-day management and operations of all funds. In her capacity, Cristina serves as a resource and point of contact for the ACF team, donors, funds, and fund managers, providing support and nimble problem-solving to navigate challenges and amplify impact. Outside of her role at ACF, she spends time searching for the best lavender oat milk latte in Austin.
Erin Gleason (She/Her)
Chief Operating Officer
Erin is one of the founding members of the Amalgamated Foundation. In her role as COO, she provides strategic leadership, ensuring the seamless and efficient execution of plans and objectives and overseeing the administration of the day-to-day functioning of the organization. A deeply committed manager, Erin is passionate about growing the Foundation’s team and supporting our clients to make their work more efficient and impactful. Erin lives in Alexandria, VA with her beloved chihuahua mix Juniper. She is passionate about her herbal medicine studies, watches too much true crime TV and loves rainy days and ocean waves.
Evan Bacalao (He/Him)
Director, Growth and Impact
Evan brings his 15 years of nonprofit sector experience to ACF to serve as the Director of the Growth and Impact Team. In his role, he is focused on growing and managing the Foundation’s portfolio of individual and institutional DAFs, combined impact funds, and fiscally sponsored projects. Evan is a board member for the Funders Committee for Civic Participation. Outside of work, Evan likes to try his hand at baking for his kids, who occasionally appreciate it.
Jada Perez (She/Her)
Philanthropic Services Specialist
Jada serves as a Philanthropic Services Specialist, managing the grant proposal and reporting process for ACF’s Combined Impact Funds. Based in Tampa, Florida, Jada is an active member of Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s grant review committee and regularly volunteers in her free time with Fit4Kids, supporting after-school programs.
Jillian Kreitman (She/Her)
Philanthropic Services Associate
Jillian is a part of ACF’s Philanthropic Services Team, where she manages incoming contributions, administrative requests, and supports restricted grants processing. She is passionate about the intersection of charitable giving and environmental justice, and when not working, she can be found hiking with her dog or reading her next book club pick.
Jimmy Martinez (He/Him)
Director of Grantmaking, Partnerships, Products & Services
Jimmy leads Amalgamated Foundation’s grantmaking team. In his role, he manages strategic grantmaking partnerships with an eye toward creating a best-in-class philanthropic experience for the Foundation’s donor advisors. With 12 years of experience in the philanthropic and financial sectors, Jimmy excels at aligning philanthropic goals of donors and grantees. In his spare time, Jimmy enjoys niche video game lore and exploring the latest popular conspiracy theories.
John Christie (He/Him)
Director of IT
John is ACF’s lead technologist, supporting and managing the foundation’s IT products, services, and systems and cybersecurity workstreams. With his vast expertise, he identifies significant technology opportunities and collaborates with internal and external teams to strategize, design, and implement innovative systems and solutions. In his Maine community, John has served as elected school board chair, and is a treasurer and trustee for Monhegan Associates, a Maine Island Land Trust that preserves 400 acres of cliffs and forests for public access.
Kara Follosco (She/Her)
Grants Manager
As the Grants Manager, Kara manages and administers the Foundation’s grant distribution activity. Passionate about utilizing philanthropy to create a more equitable world, she is a valuable thought partner for the Grantmaking Team’s programs and offerings. While off the clock, you can find Kara at new restaurants attempting to find the best gluten-free vegetarian food in New York City.
Kimberly Douglas (She/Her)
Director, Community Stewardship
Kimberly collaborates across ACF teams to design and implement strategies to ensure exceptional client satisfaction and build community across the Foundation’s diverse client base. With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit and progressive organizations, Kimberly has dedicated her professional career to systemic changes that build a better, more inclusive future for all. When she was in college, Kimberly hosted a late-night radio show on WFWM 91.9 FM with a friend.
Luz Bauer Madrid (She/Her)
Communications Specialist
Luz is passionate about leveraging digital media to create social change. In her role, she supports and executes communications strategies, collaborating across teams to refine ACF’s voice and enhance its visibility and impact. Outside of work, you can find her riding her scooter around Brooklyn and catching up on the latest films and TV shows.
Maisie Blaufuss (She/Her)
Philanthropic Services Coordinator
Maisie serves as a Philanthropic Services Associate, supporting the onboarding of new funds and ongoing needs of existing funds and managing communication and activities within ACF’s Donor Services team. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Maisie has served as a girls’ cross country and track coach at a local high school and remains involved in local progressive advocacy.
Megan Licona-Jackson (She/Her)
HR Manager
Megan brings over a decade of experience in HR and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to ACF. She is responsible for the recruiting, onboarding and training of ACF Team members. Megan was born and raised in Hawai’i and instills the Aloha Spirit in everything she does. In her free time, she enjoys rooting for her favorite sports team and eating BBQ.
Parita Amin-Palriwala (She/Her)
Growth and Impact Associate
Parita provides project management and internal support to ACF’s Growth and Impact team. With a strong background in business operations, she plays an instrumental role in growing ACF’s portfolio of DAFs, pooled funds, and fiscally sponsored projects. While not working, Parita enjoys hosting dinner gatherings and creating meals to share with her friends and family.
Shannon Miller (She/Her)
Finance Director
With over 20 years of accounting experience, Shannon leads the accounting and reporting functions at ACF. Her expertise ensures meticulous oversight and administration, driving accuracy and transparency in ACF’s financial operations. Shannon brings joyful enthusiasm to her collaborative efforts to develop streamlined processes and systems to amplify the Foundation’s impact. Shannon volunteers as the Treasurer of Kent Island Beach Cleanups, a nonprofit, grassroots environmental organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the beauty of the beaches, parks and estuaries of Kent Island, MD.
Soma Sharan (She/Her)
Senior Director, Growth and Impact
Soma leads the Foundation's Growth and Impact team overseeing business development and marketing strategies to grow the portfolio of Donor Advised Funds, collaborative giving funds and fiscally sponsored projects. Her work includes identifying opportunities to increase the Foundation’s visibility within philanthropy through initiatives like the Wealth Organizers Network and the partnership with #HalfMyDAF. Soma serves on the board of a family foundation, the Women Donors Network, and Sri Rama Foundation. Soma enjoys writing about her life experiences such as being raised by a silent monk.
Stuti Mainali (She/Her)
HR Manager
In her role, Stuti creates and refines HR systems, processes and procedures encompassing all facets of People Services at ACF. She brings a genuine passion for creating work environments that are not only efficient, but also foster a sense of joy and belonging. Beyond her professional endeavors, Stuti channels her creativity into crocheting hats for her family and friends.
Tiffny Hays (She/Her)
Senior Manager, Compliance and Operations
Tiffny manages organization-wide compliance and contracts process to ensure that ACF is compliant with laws, rules, regulations, and other standards. Overseeing the systems that enable ACF’s work, she leverages her 15+ years of nonprofit operations and grantmaking experience to move resources to the frontlines through efficient administrative practices. Beyond her work at ACF, Tiffny plays the cello and enjoys learning other instruments as time allows.
Board of Directors
Priscilla Sims Brown
Priscilla Sims Brown is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Amalgamated Bank. She is a multi-national board director and C-suite executive with 30 years of financial services experience. Prior to joining Amalgamated Bank, she was the Group Executive for Marketing and Corporate Affairs at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where she focused on rebuilding trust and pride in the bank with direct responsibility for end-to-end marketing, branding, stakeholder insights, government and public affairs, and environment and social policy. She has also held senior leadership roles at AXA Financial, Sun Life Financial and Lincoln Financial Group.
Anna Fink
As the founding Executive Director of the Amalgamated Foundation, Anna has spearheaded the Foundation’s growth as a bold leader in the philanthropic space through innovative funding approaches, partnerships, and initiatives. With extensive experience in the philanthropic sector, she provides strategic leadership and direction, overseeing various aspects of the Foundation including fundraising, program development, financial management and stakeholder engagement. Anna also serves on the board of The Workers Lab, the Workers Defense Project, and the Women Effect Fund.
Dorian T. Warren
Dorian T. Warren is Co-President of Community Change and co-chair of the Economic Security Project. A progressive scholar, organizer, and media personality, Dorian has worked to advance racial, economic, and social justice for over two decades. He previously held the position of vice president at Community Change. Dorian has taught at the University of Chicago and Columbia University and serves on several boards, including Working Partnerships USA.
Ian Fuller
Ian Fuller is a co-founder and partner of WestFuller Advisors, specializing in global wealth advisory, strategic investment management, and philanthropic giving. A specialist in evidence-driven, global wealth advisory and planning, strategic investment management, and philanthropic giving, he works closely with people and institutions to empower wealth with purpose. As an activist and finance nerd, he is the board chair of Common Justice and serves as the treasurer/finance chair for many social justice organizations, including Color of Change, The Workers Lab, Proteus Action League, and the Amalgamated Foundation.
Luna Yasui
Luna Yasui is a Senior Program Officer at the Ford Foundation, supporting young leaders and organizers with a focus on marginalized communities. She draws on over 20 years of experience advocating for racial and gender justice in ways that center the experience of communities most impacted by inequality, with a focus on people of color, women, immigrants, and LGBT people. Prior to joining the Ford Foundation, Luna worked at the Open Society Foundations, where she managed a portfolio focused on advancing gender justice, LGBT rights, and low-wage worker rights.
Morris Pearl
Morris Pearl currently serves as Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, a group of hundreds of high-net-worth Americans who are committed to making all Americans, including themselves, better off by building a more prosperous, stable, and inclusive nation. The group focuses on promoting public policy solutions that encourage political equality, guarantee a sustaining wage for working Americans, and ensure that millionaires, billionaires, and corporations pay their fair share of taxes. He was previously a managing director at BlackRock, one of the largest investment firms in the world. Morris is a CFA Charter Holder and serves on the boards of Verified Voting and The Center for Political Accountability.
Roxana Tynan
Roxana Tynan is the Executive Director of LAANE, where she has been instrumental in the expansion of LAANE’s work and impact over the past decade. She was the guiding force behind the Community Benefits Program, which has pioneered a new model for economic development in Los Angeles and across the country. Prior to joining LAANE, Roxanna served as economic development deputy to L.A. City Councilmember Jackie Goldberg, working to encourage responsible economic growth.
Steven Cole Schwartz
Steven Cole Schwartz is the Vice President of Programs at Inatai Foundation, overseeing an ambitious grantmaking, leadership, and power-building strategy to advance health equity in Washington. Most recently, he served as the executive director of The Partnership Funds, a funding collaborative dedicated to winning greater democracy and equity—from New Mexico to Minnesota to Virginia and beyond. As the founder of his own consulting firm, a senior leader at the Tides Foundation, and an early staff member at Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Steven has earned a reputation as an entrepreneurial, collaborative leader.
Keith Mestrich
Keith Mestrich is the former CEO of Amalgamated Bank. A 25-year veteran of the labor movement with Workers United, UNITE HERE, UNITE and the AFL-CIO, he started at Amalgamated as Director of the bank’s Washington D.C. office. He is a Fellow of the Finance Leaders Fellowship Program and serves on several boards, including The Roosevelt Institute and Democracy Alliance. He serves on the Advisory Boards of Girls Who Invest and The Patriotic Millionaires and is a Trustee on the Consolidated Retirement Fund.