The Women’s Funding Network Board of Directors is proud to welcome three new members, elected unanimously in July, who will begin service on September 7, 2021.
Representing women’s funds and foundations, they were nominated by their peers and vetted by the WFN nominations committee.
Join us in welcoming:
Leela Bilmes Goldstein, PhD
Executive Director, Women’s Fund of Hawai’i
Leela was born in Bangkok, Thailand and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. She is Executive Director of Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i, a grant making foundation dedicated exclusively to supporting women and girls statewide. Leela received her BA in French and her MA and PhD in Linguistics, all from UC Berkeley, and was honored to be named one of Pacific Business New 2018 Women Who Mean Business for her non-profit work.
Gina Jackson
Co-Founder/Co-CEO, Return to the Heart Foundation
Gina Jackson, MSW is Western Shoshone and Oglala Lakota. She is a dreamer and a doer. She worked on groundbreaking Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Guidelines and Regulations then joined the Obama White House Community Solutions Team. She recently worked for Native Americans in Philanthropy bringing the Truth and Healing Movement to the philanthropic sector. She has 20 years’ experience encompassing state/tribal justice, collaboration, policy, and philanthropy. She is a connector, igniter, innovator, and equity builder to bring healing for our nation.
Kelly Nevins
Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Fund of Rhode Island
Kelly Nevins has been the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island since 2016. She speaks about the status of women and girls, why investing in women pays off, and using a gender lens to create systems change. Nevins serves on the Board of Directors for RI Public Broadcasting Service, the Association of Fundraising Professionals-RI Chapter, and the Providence Mayor’s Equal Pay Task Force. She also chairs the AFP-RI Government Relations and Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committees.
“These women bring bold leadership with diverse voices, representing Hawai’i and Native American lands, as well as centering Asian-American and Indigenous voices,” said Women’s Funding Network Board Chair, Michelle Zych. “As we head into a new year of challenges and opportunities, we look forward to tapping into their vast expertise, steadfast leadership of local women’s funds, and their long-lasting commitment to our shared vision of justice and equity for all.”
The Women’s Funding Network Board of Directors is now accepting nominations for their fall slate. Fall appointees will begin their term January 1, 2022. Click here to learn more.