PHILANTHROPY

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Established in 2007, I created the COMMON Foundation to incubate non-profit social and environmental enterprises. As the CEO, I provide leadership, creative advice, and mentorship to a diverse community of social entrepreneurs, artists, creatives, and conservationists who share an unwavering commitment to driving positive social and environmental change, securing $5 million+ to advance our mission to benefit people, the planet, and peace.

At the helm, I oversee the long-term strategic vision to meticulous budgeting and establishing robust operational plans and systems to ensure the realization of our foundation’s goals while remaining compliant with non-profit law.

Additionally, I spearhead the vetting of fiscally sponsored projects and donor-advised funds while forging meaningful domestic and international partnerships. Working closely with a dedicated core team and program directors, I lead and advise on strategic initiatives.

Since our inception, we have launched impactful projects across the United States, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These initiatives encompass a range of themes, including sustainable development, agricultural and conservation efforts, Water, Access to Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), educational scholarships focused on minority and underserved students and teachers, immigrant legal advocacy, and other noble causes.

Select projects:

  • Go Good Travel: A guide to sustainable travel. The Go Good app helps thoughtful travelers discover, explore, and sustain the world’s treasured places.
  • Ukraine Under Fire: A documentary film about war, resilience, and the future of Ukraine.
  • Dragons Global Education Fund: Empowering underserved students with scholarships for global travel and educational opportunities.
  • Mariposa Legal: advocates for immigrants through interprofessional collaborations that provide comprehensive and holistic legal representation, community education initiatives, and proactive data-driven responses to challenge immigration enforcement efforts.
  • Parsonage Gallery: The Parsonage explores the relationship between ecology, spirituality, and creativity through contemporary art.
  • Artist in Residence Program: Providing creative advice and mentoring for emerging artists. 
  • COVID-19 Community Relief Fund: Extending support and relief to indigenous communities affected by the pandemic.
  • Nueva School and Garcia-Meza Scholarship: Fostering educational access and equity for minority and underserved students by providing scholarships.
  • 17 Accelerator: Empowering emerging leaders driving sustainable change aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
  • SPK Foundation: Developing the lives of young people around the world through humanitarian projects. 
  • Power of Hope Kibera: Empowering women in the Kibera slum in Kenya to establish sustainable soap-selling businesses to promote critical health behaviors like handwashing.
  • Nepal Earthquake Relief: Extending support to communities affected by natural disasters.
  • Mountain Flower Goat Dairy: Helping people of all ages learn about sustainable agriculture and goat husbandry through educational programming and outreach events. 
  • National Park Experience: A film series focused on amazing people doing extraordinary things in America’s National Park System.
  • Boulder Mudslingers – Community Organized Flood Relief: Mobilizing community efforts to support flood-affected areas in Boulder, Colorado.
  • Wild Horse Project: Protecting and preserving wild horse populations and their natural habitats.
  • Little Guy Certified: Supporting and promoting the farm-to-table movement through research and education. 

If you’re intrigued and eager to learn more, contact me.