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 at the The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation
Lora Smith
Fund Manager at Appalachian Impact Fund
2020 Steering Committee Members
Bonnie Blankenship
Regional Outreach Manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Mary Hunt
Program Director at the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
Terri Donlin Huesman
President at Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
Jeff Mansour
Program Officer at Thompson Charitable Foundation
Heather Pontonio
Senior Program Director at Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation
Laura Nixon
Senior Program Officer at the Educational Foundation of America
Gerry Roll
Executive Director at Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky
Hannah Vargason
Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Natural Capital Investment Fund
Cynthia Brown
Chairman of the Board at the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation
Stephanie Randolph
Program Officer at Cassiopeia, Representative of Invest Appalachia
Trudy Hughes
Vice President for Regional Advancement at East Tennessee Foundation