Council on Foundations Welcomes Three Strategic Leaders to 2022 Board of Directors
WASHINGTON, DC - The Council on Foundations (the Council) today announced that its membership has approved the appointment of three philanthropic executives to its board of directors: Srikanth Gopal, Managing Partner of Humanity United; Galen Maness, Chief Operating Officer of the San Francisco Foundation; and Jay Williams, President and CEO of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. In addition, two members of the 2021 Council board have been approved for a second term.
Galen Maness served as the San Francisco Foundation’s Senior Director of Human Resources and Administration for six years before assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2021. His extensive background in operations strategy and human resources management will help to further the Council’s commitment to operational equity and excellence.
Srikanth (“Srik”) Gopal brings to his board service more than a decade of experience in trust-building and strategic learning, with previous roles at the Democracy Fund and social change consulting firm FSG. As an expert in social impact and nonprofit management, he’ll contribute to the Council’s efforts to seek common ground and build bridges in the sector.
Before his role at the Hartford Foundation, Jay Williams served in several public sector roles including Mayor of Youngstown, Ohio; U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development; and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Williams’ relationship-building skills and experience working across sectors align with the Council’s mission to expand philanthropy’s opportunities to thrive.
“I’m energized by the depth of experience and knowledge represented by this year’s class of board members,” said Kathleen Enright, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations. “Galen, Srik, and Jay will enrich the Council board and our collective work in ways that I cannot currently even predict. That’s the magic of a high-performing board of directors. The new perspectives that Srik, Jay and Galen bring will add dimensionality to the existing board conversations in a way that propels the Council forward.”
Mason Rummel, President of the James Graham Brown Foundation; and Juan Martinez, Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer of the John M. and James L. Knight Foundation, were both approved to begin their second three-year term on the Council board. In addition, Juan Martinez will serve as the Board Treasurer for a second consecutive year.
“This upcoming year as Board Chair of the Council will be marked by collaboration with some of the brightest minds in our sector,” said Tonya Allen, President of the McKnight Foundation. “The combination of talents now on the board inspires me to go still further in our efforts to ensure that philanthropy is a trusted partner and a powerful advocate for the greater good.”
Members of the Council’s Board of Directors represent a diverse range of expertise, personal demographics, lived experiences, philanthropic institutions, and geographic locations. Collectively the board guides the implementation of the Council’s 20-year strategic vision and partners with the chief executive to ensure that the Council’s work is values-driven and member-informed.
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About the Council on Foundations
The Council on Foundations exists to help philanthropy be a trusted partner in advancing the greater good. Building on our 70-year history, we are charting a course where funders earn and maintain the public's trust by advancing equity, operating with high integrity, collaborating on broadscale challenges and serving as ethical stewards. Learn more about the Council and becoming a member by visiting, www.cof.org.
