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, Executive Director at Appalachian Impact Fund

2021 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

Jeff Mansour, Program Director 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 Partner Community Capital

Cynthia Brown, Chairman of the Board at the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation

Stephanie Randolph, Program Officer at Cassiopeia, Representative of Invest Appalachia

Jennifer Simon, Program Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission