After Successful Inaugural Program, Career Pathways Announces 12 Promising Leaders for 2011–12

One-third of first graduating class already recognized for professional growth

Arlington, Va.—The Council on Foundations is proud to announce that 12 promising philanthropic leaders have been selected to participate in the 2011–12 Career Pathways program. Career Pathways is an intensive one-year leadership preparation program designed to foster diverse talent and excellence among the philanthropic sector's senior executives.

Five members of the first class have already assumed leadership positions of increased responsibility and/or received professional recognition for leadership growth. For example, Tonya Allen, who entered Career Pathways as a vice president of the Skillman Foundation, has since been promoted to chief operating officer.

Participants in Career Pathways engage in facilitated leadership preparation, self-directed career planning, research presented during in-person group-learning sessions, site visits, one-on-one executive coaching, mentoring, and leadership projects. Program participants also forge new connections with professional networks and decision makers. The first graduating class of 2010–11 brought together 15 individuals from diverse backgrounds who are now positioned to better serve and advance professionally in philanthropy.

"The Career Pathways program offers participants the essential tools and resources that leaders require to have greater impact within the philanthropic sector," said Renée B. Branch, vice president, Professional Development and Diversity and Inclusion. "This professional development program combines facilitated learning opportunities with network and skills building for leaders who will help drive the sector's efforts to improve lives and communities."

The 2011–12 Career Pathways class, selected by grantmaking executives, trustees, and human resources professionals, comprises the following:

• Sara A. Boyd, vice president and chief operating officer of the Omaha Community Foundation in Omaha, Neb., assists the foundation in its mission to support and manage the charitable activity of 1,000 local families, corporations, and private foundations; as well as promoting and cultivating relationships with existing donors, professional advisors, prospective donors, civic leaders, and local charitable organizations.
• Angela Brown, director of programs for The Hyams Foundation in Boston, assists the foundation in achieving its mission through grants and programs, as well as managing the foundation's grantmaking for public policy advocacy and neighborhood organizing.
• David A Harris, vice president, Grants and Initiatives at Iowa West Foundation in Council Bluffs, Iowa, is responsible for the planning and implementation of a $20 million grant program, strategic planning, evaluation, and community relations/outreach.
• Kenneth M. Jones II, chief financial officer and vice president of Finance and Administration with The Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore, focuses on ensuring that all finance, accounting, grants management, facility, operations, and information technology functions bolster the foundation's grantmaking efforts.
• Earl Lui, program director of The California Wellness Foundation in Woodland Hills, Calif., is assigned to grantmaking related to environmental health and work.
• Barbara H. McAllister, program officer for the Intel Foundation in Santa Clara, Calif., is responsible for developing and driving specific grant initiatives within the foundation's overall strategic objectives to ensure maximum impact, transparency, sustainability, and clear accountability.
• Amita Nagaraja, senior program officer of Global Employee programs at The McGraw-Hill Companies in New York, N.Y., manages employee programs related to philanthropy and community activities, including volunteer programs, employee matching programs, and strategic community partnerships.
• Lee Christian Parker, director of education initiatives for The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C., leads the development and evaluation of grantmaking, convening, communications, and partnership approaches defining the foundation's education strategy.
• Sharmila Rao Thakkar, senior program officer at The Siragusa Foundation in Chicago, is responsible for evaluating programs of interest and making funding recommendations in the foundation's giving areas of arts and culture, education, the environment, health, and human services.
• Darrell L. Tucci, chief development officer and director of Donor Services at the Liberty Hill Foundations in Los Angeles, leads all revenue development, donor-education programming, and donor-advised grantmaking.
• Belen Vargas, vice president of Grant Operations with the Weingart Foundation in Los Angeles, is responsible for managing the foundation's grantmaking programs and staff.
• Alandra L. Washington, deputy director for the Family Economic Security and Education and Learning teams at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich., supports the vice president for programs in providing overall coordination of the teams' programming efforts in support of the foundation's mission.

The Career Pathways program kicks off July 12–14 at the Council’s conference center in Arlington, Va.

Pathways is part of the Council’s Diversity and Inclusive Practices program and is made possible through the generous support of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, the Weingart Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The program is the result of research commissioned by the Council to identify leadership development opportunities in the sector. The effort included a survey of executives in the field about leadership characteristics and professional success and an analysis of hiring practices, demographic characteristics, and advancement opportunities.

More information about Pathways and the Council’s diversity and inclusive practices efforts is available at: www.cof.org/pathways.

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The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,750 independent, operating, community, public, and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council's mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.