Past Meet the Grantmaker Panels

Explore past Support Center “Meet the Grantmaker” events here. These panels focus on a wide variety of topics and feature a distinguished roster of foundation executives.

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New Strategies in Grantmaking: The Power of Partnering 12/8/2015
- Moderator:
  Jeffrey M. Vega
  President and CEO
  
  Panelists:
  Diane Hagerman
  Deputy Director, Programs
  New Jersey Health Initiative
  (A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program)
  
  Jane Kurek
  Executive Director
  The Provident Bank Foundation
  
  Colleen Maguire
  Executive Director
  Pascale Sykes Foundation
New Strategies in Grantmaking: Meet the NJ Grantmakers 6/23/2015
- Moderator:
  Marsha Atkind
  Executive Director/CEO
  The Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey
New Strategies in Grantmaking: Enriching Communities through the Arts 4/24/2015
- Moderator:
  David Andersson
  Director of Special Projects
  NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
- Zeyba Rahman
  Senior Program Officer, Building Bridges Program
  The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art
New Strategies in Grantmaking: Movement Building & Social Change 3/11/2015
- Moderator:
  Casey Castaneda
  Program Officer
  Moore Charitable Foundation
- Geri Mannion
  Program Director
  U.S. Democracy and Special Opportunities Fund
  Carnegie Corporation of New York
New Strategies in Grantmaking: Funding Sustainable Environments and Just Communities 12/04/2014
- Moderator:
  Melissa Beck
  Executive Director
  The Educational Foundation of America
New Strategies in Grantmaking Series: Meet the Corporate Grantmakers 10/08/2014
- Moderator:
  Carol Kurzig
  President
  Avon Foundation
Meet The New Jersey Grantmakers 6/28/2014
- Moderator:
  Michelle Cash
  VP, Grants & Programs
  Princeton Area Community Foundation
New Strategies in Youth & Education Grantmaking 4/4/2014
- Moderator:
  Melissa Beck
  Executive Director
  The Educational Foundation of America
Meet The Arts Grantmakers 2/14/2014
- Moderator:
  Casey Castañeda
  Vice President & Program Officer, Private Foundation Services
  J.P. MorganPanelists:
  Leah Krauss
  Senior Program Officer, NYC Dance
  Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Meet The New Jersey Grantmakers 1/30/2014
- Moderator:
  Nancy Kieling
  Princeton Area Community Foundation
Embracing the Unknown: Planning for Disaster in the Nonprofit & Small Business Community 11/22/2013
- Moderator:
  Don Crocker, Executive Director/CEO
  Support Center | Partnership In Philanthropy
Poverty, the Social Safety Net, and Philanthropy’s Role 10/25/2013
- Master of Ceremonies:
  Michael Stoller
  Executive Director
  Human Services Council
Meet the Corporate Grantmakers 9/13/2013
- Moderator:
- Nikisha Alcindor, Private Wealth Advisor
  Goldman, Sachs & Co. Corporate Grantmaking Panelists: Hilary S. Ayala, Director, Grassroots Management & Strategic Programs
  Con Edison
  Kelly Fisher, Assistant Manager, Philanthropy
  Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
  Faith Frank, President
  AXA Foundation
  Chris Park, President
  New York Life Foundation
Women & Girls 4/16/13
- Moderator: Melissa Beck, The Educational Foundation of America Panelists: Christine O’Donnell, Philanthropic Solutions, U.S. Trust Katharine Landon, The New York Women’s Foundation
  Kara D’Angelo, The Patrina Foundation
  Stacey Scarpone, Women’s Fund of Long Island
New Jersey 1/24/13
- Master of Ceremonies: David Gray, President Finance Arts, LLC Moderator: Hans Dekker, Community Foundation of New Jersey Panelists: Nancy Kieling, Princeton Area Community Foundation
  Kiki Jamieson, The Fund For New Jersey
  Jonathan Pearson, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
  Bonnie Petrauskas, Johnson and Johnson
Evolving Strategies In Grantmaking: Nurturing The Safety Net: 11/30/12
- Moderator: Doug Bauer, Clark Foundation Panelists: Rene Deida, The Prudential Foundation
  Suzi Epstein, Robin Hood Foundation
  Marilyn Gelber, Brooklyn Community Foundation
  Len McNally, New York Community Trust
Corporate: 9/28/12
- Moderator: Carol Kurzig, Avon Foundation for Women Panelists: Hilary Ayala, Con Edison
  Richard Brown, American Express
  Gayle Jennings-O’Byrne, JPMorgan Chase Foundation
  Tessie Topol, Time Warner Cable
New Jersey – Grantmakers’ Strategy In A Volatile Economy: 7/12/12
- Moderator:
  Heather Robinson, Partnership in Philanthropy
  Panelists:
  Irene Cooper-Basch, Victoria Foundation
  Lois W. Greco, Wells Fargo Regional Foundation & CDC
  Sidney R. Hargro, Community Foundation of South Jersey
  Sheila Rostiac, PSEG
Arts: 4/20/12
- Moderator: Lucas Held, The Wallace Foundation
  Panelists: Elizabeth Bennett, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
  Jennifer P. Goodale, Asian Cultural Council Trust for Mutual Understanding
  Cheryl Ikemiya, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
  Leah Krauss, Mertz Gilmore Foundation
  Edwin Torres, The Rockefeller Foundation
New Jersey: 1/25/12
- Moderator: Hans Dekker, Community Foundation of New Jersey Panelists: Etta Rudolf Denk, Bank of America
  Katherine Durante, Ocean First Foundation
  Marion O’Neill, PSEG
  Doug Schoenberger, Verizon
Education, Employment, Health & Human Services: 11/4/11
- Moderator:
  Rich McKeon, The Leora M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
  Panelists:
  Doug Bauer, The Clark Foundation
  Rene Deida, Prudential Foundation
  Roderick Jenkins, New York Community Trust
  Elizabeth Olofson, The Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation, Inc.
  Deborah Thompson Velazquez, The Altman Foundation
Corporate: 9/20/11
- Moderator: Joanne Heyman, Heyman Partners
  Panelists:
  Hilary S. Ayala, Con Edison
  Matthew Blakely, Motorola Solutions Foundation
  Kim L. Jasmin, JP Morgan Chase Foundation
  Christine Park, New York Life Foundation
New Jersey: 7/31/11
- Moderator:
  Vaughn McKoy, PSEG
Youth & Education: 5/20/11
- Moderator:
  Angela Henry, Grace Angela Henry, Inc.
Arts & Culture Programs: 4/15/11
- Moderator:
  Helene Blieberg, Helene Blieberg and Associates
Philanthropy & Funding for Women & Girls: 3/30/12
- Moderator:
  Carol Kurzig, Avon Foundation for Women
New Jersey Corporate: 12/10/10
- Moderator: Mark Valli, New Jersey After 3, Inc.
  Panelists:
  Amanda Bauman, Campbell Soup Company
  Elliott Lee, JPMorgan Chase
  Rene Deide, Prudential Foundation
  Sloane Lucas, Toys”R”Us, Inc.
  Lois Greco, Wachovia Regional Foundation
Environmental: 11/15/10
- Moderator:
  Roger Pasquier, Audubon New York
Women’s Programs: 10/15/10
- Moderator:
  Joanne Heyman, Urban Zen Foundation
Corporate: 9/21/10
- Moderator:
  Marie Smith, Con Edison
New Jersey: 7/14/10
- Moderator:
  Marion O’Neill, PSEG
  Panelists:
  William Engel, The Hyde and Watson Foundation
  Grace Egan, New Jersey Foundation for Aging
  Larry Leverett, Panasonic Foundation
  Kendall Warsaw, Provident Bank Foundation
Youth & Education 6/25/10
- Moderator: Doug Bauer, The Clark Foundation Panelists: Danielle Scaturro, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation
  Laurie Dien, The Pinkerton Foundation
  Julie Asher, Robin Hood
  Amy Barger, Tiger Foundation
Health: 6/18/10
- Moderator: Jane Englebardt Panelists: M. Starita Boyce Ansari, Camphill Foundation
  Scott Moyer, Jacob Valeria Langeloth Foundation
  George Suttles, NY State Health Foundation
  Atiya Ali, Pfizer Foundation
LGBT: 5/21/10
- Moderator: Gilles Mesrobian Panelists: Lorraine Marasigan, Cricket Island Foundation
  Karen Zelermyer, Funders for LGBTQ Issues
  Andrew Lane, Johnson Family Foundation
  Cori Schmanke Parrish, North Star Fund
Youth & Education: 4/23/10
- Moderator: G. Angela Henry Panelists: Yancy Garrido, The Clark Foundation
  Christopher Cutter, The Elmezzi Foundation
  Jenny Lai, ESA Foundation
  Sonni Holland, Charles Hayden Foundation
  Denice Williams, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Arts: 3/19/10
- Moderator: Helene Blieberg Panelists: Rohit Burman, MetLife Foundation
  Cheryl Ikemiya, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
  Naomi Jackson, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
NJ Corporate: 11/11/09
- Moderator: Mark Valli, New Jersey After 3, Inc. Panelists: Etta Denk, Bank of America
  Eliott D. Lee, JPMorgan Chase Foundation Ellen W. Lambert, The Merck Company Foundation Marion C. O’Neill, PSEG and PSEG Foundation
Health: 11/13/09
- Moderator: Carol Kurzig, Avon Foundation for Women Panelists: Erin Hogan, Ira W. DeCamp Foundation
  Len McNally, New York Community Trust
  Bruce Payne, The Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation
  George Suttles, New York State Health Foundation
  Jacqueline M. Ebanks, The New York Women’s Foundation
Women’s Programs: 10/16/09
- Moderator: Joanne Heyman, Urban Zen Foundation Panelists: Katherine Acey, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
  Nancy Schwartz Sternoff, Dobkin Family Foundation
  Reisa Brafman, Eileen Fisher
  Sheila M. Renovitch, Liz Claiborne Foundation
Corporate: 09/23/09
- Moderator: Marie Cutrone Smith, Con Edison Panelists: Faith Frank, AXA Foundation
  Stacy Papas, CIT
  Louise R. Raymond, The McGraw-Hill Companies
  Suzane Rhee Brown, Morgan Stanley Foundation
New Jersey: 7/22/09
- Moderator: Marion O’Neill, PSEG Panelists: Michael Catania, Conservation Resources Inc.
  Rene Deida, Prudential Foundation
  Jennifer Kastle Goudy, TD Charitable Foundation
  Elaine Katz, Kessler Foundation
  Kathy Smith, Mountainside Health Foundation
Youth & Education: 7/08/09
- Moderator: G. Angela Henry, Grace Angela Henry, Inc.,
  “A Voice for All Seasons” Panelists: Lena Townsend, The Robert Bowne Foundation
  Diana Correa, North Star Fund
  Christopher Bell, The Pinkerton Foundation
  Julie Asher, Robin Hood
Westchester: 4/16/09
- Moderator: Catherine Marsh, Westchester Community Foundation Panelists: Pamela Haas, IBM
  Dennis McDermott, JP Morgan Chase
  Patricia Mulqueen, Con Edison
  George Suttles, New York State Health Foundation
  Marlyn Torres, New York Life Foundation
Funding for Art Programs: 4/15/09
- Moderator: Helene Blieberg, Helene Blieberg Associates Panelists: Rohit Burman, MetLife Foundation
  Joseph Mitchell, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation
  Cheryl Rosario, American Express
  Alison Yu, The Hearst Foundations

Praise from Participants:

“The questions were different than what I’ve heard before and that will be much more useful than the normal questions about grantmakers. Their answers were helpful even if my organization doesn’t fit their guidelines and wouldn’t apply to them. ”

— Katie Sharpe, Integrity House

“Understanding that developing personal relationships with the grantmakers is important.”

— Robin Noble-Zolin

“We got to meet with two foundations that are very interested in our programs. We made connections with other nonprofits and may be able to collaborate with them. The event provided an opportunity to take a step back and look at the bigger picture when it comes to the messages we communicate to all our funders. ”

— Camille Parker, Rising Tide Capital

“The event was long enough so that it didn’t feel like the informaton we received just skimmed the surface. The questions were topical and both the moderator and panelists were well prepared. They were also accessible and we appreciated having the ability to talk to them ”

— Joy Cooper, Theatre Development Fund

“It was a really great dialogue, with insightful questions from the audience and comments from the panel. The moderator was truly great at creating an engaging atmosphere.”

— Courtenay Barton, New Heights Academy Charter School

“This is by far the best grantmakers session I’ve attended. The focus on healthcare in today’s economy was awesome. The participants’ honesty about how the economic crisis has impacted their roles as healthcare grantmakers and the specifics behind the mechanics of what they do and how they do it.”

— Hazella Rollins-LaVar

“Sitting down face to face with the granters was a great opportunity to hear things from the source. That working with them is more than just developing a grant proposal, but more so, developing a relationship.”

— David Juhren, Executive Director of The LOFT LGBT Center

“The most effective part for me was hearing directly and candidly from a program officer at a foundation that we are approaching. It was of course also useful to get a sense of the overall trends in foundation giving at the moment. What I like best about these sessions is that they humanize program officers, who can seem a bit intimidating when you are new to institutional giving and considering approaching a foundation cold!”

— Beth Gerbe, NYC Outward Bound Center – Long Island City

“The presenters were candid, well-informed and easy to converse with in the small sessions.”

— Pamela Benson, Groundswell Community Mural Project

Support Center

Partnership in Philanthropy

Past Meet the Grantmaker Panels

Explore past Support Center “Meet the Grantmaker” events here. These panels focus on a wide variety of topics and feature a distinguished roster of foundation executives.

Praise from Participants:

Workshops