Seattle Foundation is guided by a strong board of trustees who care deeply about our community. We are excited to share some new board appointments, introduce a new board member, and celebrate trustees completing their tenure.
Honoring Ed Taylor
Dr. Ed Taylor, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at the University of Washington, has served as Seattle Foundation’s board chair since 2022.
Under his leadership, Seattle Foundation welcomed Alesha Washington as president and CEO, and the board has engaged in thoughtful conversations around the organization’s journey, which led to the approval of a new three-year strategic plan to make progress towards building a more joyful Greater Seattle region.
Dr. Taylor’s term as board chair concluded in June, and we are fortunate to have him as a board member for another year. We are grateful for his wisdom, warmth, and caring leadership approach.
New Board Chair, Donna Moodie
With Dr. Taylor’s tenure as board chair ending, we are thrilled to announce that Donna Moodie, executive director of EcoDistrict housed at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and owner of Marjorie Restaurant, has transitioned from vice chair to board chair. Born in Jamaica, raised in Chicago, and now a resident of Seattle for over 20 years, Donna is well acquainted with the interconnectedness of social justice, community building, and neighborhood activism, and we are so excited for her guidance as board chair.
Welcome New Trustee, Keri Rhodes
Keri Rhodes, community volunteer and philanthropist, brings an important perspective as a fundholder with a background in nonprofit fundraising. She has a deep commitment to actively redistributing her family’s generational wealth in the hopes of building a more just and equitable future for the most marginalized people in our community.
Governance and Audit Committee Transitions
Amy Carter, director of community engagement at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been appointed as Governance Committee chair. Amy has been an active and passionate Governance Committee member, helping Seattle Foundation to strengthen its trustee recruitment and board engagement efforts. We are grateful for her insights and are excited about her leadership.
Amy Banovich, audit partner at KPMG, transitioned off the board last month, where she served as Audit Committee chair. We thank Amy for her leadership and commitment to community.
Karla Horwitz, founder and managing director of The Horwitz Group and investment banker at EMP Capital, has been appointed as the new Audit Committee chair. Karla has been an Audit Committee and Finance Committee member, bringing a wealth of experience in financial advising and investment banking. We are excited for all that she will bring as chair of the Audit Committee.
New Impact & Engagement Committee
In alignment with our new strategic direction, the board recently voted to sunset the Community Programs Committee and the Engagement Committee and establish a new Impact & Engagement Committee.
This new committee will support Seattle Foundation’s overall strategic direction by leading connection and co-investment efforts with grantees, fundholders, and all community members who support the organization in various ways to increase grantmaking and community impact.
The Impact & Engagement committee will be co-chaired by Colleen Echohawk and Robin Lien.
Colleen Echohawk has served as the Community Programs Committee Chair for the last two years and has deep roots in local community. Her experiences as an Indigenous woman, small business owner, community organizer, and executive leader will bring incredible insights as co-chair of this new committee. She is the CEO of Native lifestyle brand Eight Generation and is passionate about building a community of justice and reconciliation.
Robin Lien is a Governance Committee member and recently served on the Organizational Strategy Working Group that provided critical feedback on the strategic planning process. Robin’s background in tech leadership at Google, along with her commitment to diversity and inclusion, will be invaluable in her role as co-chair.
Farewell to Debra Somberg and Janet Levinger
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to two board members who rolled off the board in June.
Debra Somberg has served as a trustee for nine years, was on the Governance Committee and a vital member of the Investment Committee. She has focused her 35-year career working with growth companies seeking to transform their marketplace and is the founder of NewView, a non-profit unlocking the power of tri-sector engagement to build innovative and successful business models that tackle social problems in new and sustainable ways. We are thankful for Debra’s leadership, philanthropy, service, sage advice and guidance.
Janet Levinger has served as a trustee for nine years and was appointed chair of the Engagement committee in 2019. She is a social impact leader with a vision to create opportunity through engagement, advocacy, and philanthropy. An active member of the community with a long history of leadership and board governance, she continues to be a partner and valued fundholder with Seattle Foundation. We are grateful for her service and continued commitment to our community.
Thank You
It is with our deepest gratitude that we recognize these remarkable individuals for their time and talents. We are honored to know them and look forward to working together towards a more joyful Greater Seattle region of shared prosperity, belonging, and justice.