Steering Committee
The Steering Committee of the Appalachia Funders Network is the main governing body and is responsible for the growth, development and well-being of the Network. It consists of a set group of influential local, state, regional, international, federal, public, and private grantmakers who are working collectively to guide the overarching roles, activities, and impacts of the Network. They attend monthly conference calls and serve on at least one working group or ad-hoc committee.
Co-Chairs of the Appalachia Funders Network Steering Committee
Michelle Foster, President and CEO, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
Lora Smith, Executive Director, Appalachian Impact Fund
2022 Steering Committee Members
Garrett Blaize, Grants Manager, Appalachian Community Fund
Cynthia Brown, Chairman of the Board, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation
Bonnie Blankenship, Regional Outreach Manager, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Jeff Mansour, Program Director, Thompson Charitable Foundation
Laura Nixon, Senior Program Officer, Educational Foundation of America
Kerry Pigman, Executive Director, Athens County Foundation
Heather Pontonio, Senior Program Director at Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation
Stephanie Randolph, Program Officer, Cassiopeia Foundation and Representative of Invest Appalachia
Gerry Roll, Executive Director, Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky
Jennifer Simon, Program Manager, Appalachian Regional Commission
Hannah Vargason, Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives, Partner Community Capital
Staff
Kit Matthew, PhD., MBA, Executive Director (read Kit's bio)
Hailey Rudd, Membership and Grants Administrator