CONTACT(S): Jennifer Amuzie— jamuzie@ncrp.org
Russell Roybal — rroybal@ncrp.org
NCRP Announces Election of Three New Members to Board; Thanks Outgoing Members for Combined 33 Years of Service
WASHINGTON, DC — The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) announced today that three new members have been elected to its board. The organization, with more than 50 years of philanthropic accountability and organizing, welcomes Amaha Kassa, Jennifer Ng’andu, and Alfonso Wenker. They were elected at a meeting on September 17 and their three-year terms begin on October 1. Additionally, Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean was elected to serve as vice-chair of the board.
Having served the maximum of three terms, Sharon Alpert, Jocelyn Sargent, Pamela Shifman, and Joe Scantlebury will be stepping down from their positions on the Board. Daaiyah Bilal-Threats will also step down following two terms on the NCRP Board. “These five members gave us a combined 33 years of service and leadership,” NCRP President and CEO, Aaron Dorfman said. “I’m thankful for their partnership in a crucial time for NCRP, and for the philanthropic sector more broadly.”
THREE LEADERS IN THE SECTOR AND IN MOVEMENTS
“NCRP is fortunate to have Amaha, Jennifer, and Alfonso on our board,” said Dr. Dwayne Proctor, NCRP Board Chair. “All three of them bring expertise in listening to communities, pushing the philanthropic sector to be better, and also bring their deep relationships with movements. I’m looking forward to working with them.”
Amaha Kassa is the founder and Executive Director of African Communities Together. Kassa has 25 years of professional experience as a labor and community organizer, nonprofit director, and social entrepreneur. For nine years, he directed East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, a workers’ rights nonprofit in Oakland, California, growing it from a startup to one of the leading organizations in its field. Prior to launching ACT, Kassa earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. He is an immigrant from Ethiopia.
Jennifer Ng’andu is the Managing Director–Program at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and board member of the National Partnership for Women & Families. Ng’andu has helped lead grantmaking activities to advance social and environmental changes that help ensure that all children and their families have the full range of opportunities to lead healthy lives, while providing a strong and stable start for every child in the nation. Prior to RWJF, Ng’andu was at the National Council of La Raza where she oversaw efforts to advance the organization’s health and civil rights policy projects.
Alfonso Wenker is a seasoned social sector strategist, people leader, change management practitioner, and organizational development expert. Wenker’s career has spanned philanthropy, community organizing, communications, fundraising, and social sector consulting. He has a track record of designing, building, and implementing community & organizational change strategies; developing effective teams; and building community-based relationships & garnering resources to achieve organizational goals. Wenker is currently Senior Vice President of Community Impact at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
Dr. Jeanine Abrams McLean is the President of Fair Count, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded by Stacey Abrams. McLean is a highly skilled researcher with over 15 years of experience designing, managing, and implementing population-based studies and projects. While at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she applied her expertise in computational biology and population research to advance public health initiatives. In addition to her work in public health, McLean is passionate about finding creative ways to tackle community-based issues using community organizing, strategic planning and innovative ideas.
About the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)
NCRP has been philanthropy’s critical friend and independent watchdog for 50 years. We use our research and our relationships with grantmakers and nonprofits to ensure that the philanthropic sector remains accountable to the communities it serves. Learn more at https://www.ncrp.org.
