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: Leading Together 07/20/2017
  • Moderator:
    Craig Drinkard
    Associate Director of Operations
    Victoria Foundation Panelists:
    Crystal Dundas
    Vice President
    Program and Communications Officer
    Wells Fargo Regional FoundationKathy Durante
    Executive Director
    

    Margarethe Laurenzi
    Director of Leadership Grantmaking & Engagement
    Community Foundation of New Jersey

    Edward Laporte
    Executive Director
    Office of Faith-Based Initiatives

• New Strategies in Grantmaking: The Power of Partnering 12/8/2015
  • Moderator:
    Jeffrey M. Vega
    President and CEO
    Princeton Area Community Foundation
  • 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 JerseyPanelists:
    Joan Hollendonner
    Senior Program Officer
    Horizon Foundation for New JerseySarah Keh
    Director, Corporate Giving Programs and Program Officer
    Prudential FoundationMargarethe Laurenzi
    Director of Leadership Grantmaking and Engagement
    Community Foundation of New JerseyMarion O’Neill
    Manager, Corporate Contributions
    PSEG
• New Strategies in Grantmaking: Enriching Communities through the Arts 4/24/2015
  • Moderator:
    David Andersson
    Director of Special Projects
    NYC Department of Cultural AffairsPanelists:
    Lucas Held
    Director of Communications
    The Wallace Foundation
  • Zeyba Rahman
    Senior Program Officer, Building Bridges Program
    The Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic ArtSara Reisman
    Artistic Director
    Shelley & Donald Rubin FoundationScott Winship
    Director of Grantmaking Programs
    New Music USA
• New Strategies in Grantmaking: Movement Building & Social Change 3/11/2015
  • Moderator:
    Casey Castaneda
    Program Officer
    Moore Charitable FoundationPanelists:
    Jennifer Arieta
    Program Coordinator
    North Star Fund
  • Geri Mannion
    Program Director
    U.S. Democracy and Special Opportunities Fund
    Carnegie Corporation of New YorkTynesha McHarris
    Director of Community Leadership
    Brooklyn Community FoundationKevin Ryan
    Program Director
    New York Foundation
• New Strategies in Grantmaking: Funding Sustainable Environments and Just Communities 12/04/2014
  • Moderator:
    Melissa Beck
    Executive Director
    The Educational Foundation of AmericaPanelists:
    Sol Marie Alfonso-Jones
    Senior Program Officer
    Long Island Community FoundationSharon Alpert
    Senior Director of Programs and Strategy
    Surdna FoundationErnest Tollerson
    Interim CEO
    The Nathan Cummings FoundationRise Wilson
    Director of Philanthropy
    The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation
• New Strategies in Grantmaking Series: Meet the Corporate Grantmakers 10/08/2014
  • Moderator:
    Carol Kurzig
    President
    Avon FoundationPanelists:
    Hilary S. Ayala, Director
    Grassroots Management & Strategic Programs
    Con EdisonMaria Collins
    Vice President
    New York Life FoundationStephanie Hochman
    Director, U.S. Grant Program
    Citi FoundationGayle Jennings-O’Byrne
    Vice President, Global Philanthropy
    JPMorgan Chase
• Meet The New Jersey Grantmakers 6/28/2014
  • Moderator:
    Michelle Cash
    VP, Grants & Programs
    Princeton Area Community FoundationPanelists:
    Diana Blankman
    Senior Director, US Giving & Social Impact
    Novo Nordisk, Inc.Jennifer Coyne
    Program Officer
    PSE&GBernie Moriarty
    Executive Vice Presiden
    The Hyde and Watson FoundationKim Ostrowski
    Director – Community Resources
    Prudential Foundation
• New Strategies in Youth & Education Grantmaking 4/4/2014
  • Moderator:
    Melissa Beck
    Executive Director
    The Educational Foundation of AmericaPanelists:
    Aaron Jacobs
    Senior Associate
    External Relations
    Edna McConnell Clark FoundationJulie Peterson
    Senior Program Officer
    Pinkerton FoundationAnne Lawrence
    Program Officer
    Robert Bowne FoundationDiane Sierpina
    Program Director, Justice Programs
    Tow Foundation
• 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 FoundationDavid Andersson
    Director of Special Projects
    NYC Department of Cultural AffairsMark Rossier
    Deputy Director NEW
    New York Foundation for the ArtsLisa Robb
    Executive Director NEW
    New York State Council on the Arts
• Meet The New Jersey Grantmakers 1/30/2014
  • Moderator:
    Nancy Kieling
    Princeton Area Community FoundationPanelists:
    Erik Estrada
    Project Officer
    New Jersey Health Initiatives of RWJFJoan K. Hollendonner
    Senior Program Officer
    The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
    Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New JerseyJoe Visaggio
    Executive Director
    Alliance Development & Philanthropy
    Novartis Pharmaceuticals CorporationPaige Carlson-Heim
    Community Development Group Manager
    Mid-Atlantic Region
    TD Bank
• 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 PhilanthropyPanelists:
    Bridget Hartnett, CPA
    Sobel and Co., LLCRon Matan, CPA
    Sobel and Co., LLCCarlos Rodriguez
    CEO
    Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean CountiesJill Johnson
    Co-Founder/Chief Executive Officer
    Institute for Entrepreneurial LeadershipDr. Tendai Ndoro
    Regional Director
    New Jersey Small Business Development Center – Rutgers
• Poverty, the Social Safety Net, and Philanthropy’s Role 10/25/2013
  • Master of Ceremonies:
    Michael Stoller
    Executive Director
    Human Services CouncilModerator:
    Doug Bauer
    Executive Director
    Clark FoundationPanelists:
    Mark Bodden
    Vice President/Program Director
    Rudin FoundationsCatherine Marsh
    Executive Director
    Westchester Community FoundationEric Weingartner
    Managing Director, Survival
    Robin Hood FoundationAlison N. Yu
    Program Officer
    William Randolph Hearst Foundations
• 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, PSEGPanelists:
    Jenny-Ann Kershner, The Fund for New Jersey
    Rhonda Nesmith Crichlow, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
    Renee Rattigan, TD Bank
    Craig Drinkard, Victoria Foundation
• Youth & Education: 5/20/11
  • Moderator:
    Angela Henry, Grace Angela Henry, Inc.Panelists:
    Jenny Lai, ESA Foundation
    Alexie Torres-Fleming, Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing
    Heather Nesle, HSBC
    Kara D’Angelo, The Patrina Foundation
    Christopher Bell, The Pinkerton Foundation
• Arts & Culture Programs: 4/15/11
  • Moderator:
    Helene Blieberg, Helene Blieberg and AssociatesPanelists: Alton Murray, Con Edison
    Maurine Knighton, Nathan Cummings Foundation
    Katherine Denny, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
    Kerry McCarthy, New York Community Trust
    Edwin Torres, The Rockefeller Foundation
• Philanthropy & Funding for Women & Girls: 3/30/12
  • Moderator:
    Carol Kurzig, Avon Foundation for WomenPanelists:
    Todd Kahn, Coach
    Patricia White, New York Community Trust
    Pamela Shifman, NoVo Foundation
• 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 YorkPanelists:
    Alton Murray, Con Edison
    Laura Hansen, J.M. Kaplan Fund
    Janet Levoff, Lily Auchincloss Foundation
• Women’s Programs: 10/15/10
  • Moderator:
    Joanne Heyman, Urban Zen FoundationPanelists:
    Katherine Acey, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice
    Nancy Schwartz Sternoff, Dobkin Family Foundation
    Reisa Brafman, Eileen Fisher
    Sheila M. Renovitch, Liz Claiborne Foundation
• Corporate: 9/21/10
  • Moderator:
    Marie Smith, Con EdisonPanelists:
    Cheryle Rosario, American Express
    Amy Stursberg, The Blackstone Group
    Heather Nesle, HSBC
    Barbara Dillon, Met Life
  • 
• 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