Has been program director of Vibrant Neighborhoods for past two years
Alesha Washington
Alesha Washington, program director for Vibrant Neighborhoods and Inclusive Economy since 2020, is leaving The George Gund Foundation next month. She has been selected to become the next president and CEO of the Seattle Foundation.
During her time at the Gund Foundation, Washington has been responsible for reshaping the Foundation’s community revitalization, economic development, and democracy grantmaking strategies. She has played a lead role in initiatives aimed to deepen local philanthropy’s commitment to racial equity and justice as well as statewide democracy building efforts. Washington also stewarded efforts to increase the Foundation’s giving to Black and Latinx-led organizations, resulting in $6 million alone in 2020 to support the operating and capacity needs of community organizations like the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the United Black Fund.
Before joining Gund, Washington was previously the Vice President of Government Advocacy at the Greater Cleveland Partnership, where she led efforts to secure more than $30 million from the State of Ohio for capital projects in Greater Cleveland and directed advocacy and political strategies to increase support for businesses owned by people of color. She also served as the director of the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, leading chambers of commerce in advancing federal policy priorities for the benefit of the Great Lakes region.
Washington received her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and her Masters of Nonprofit Management from Case Western Reserve University.
In a statement shared on her new employer's website, Washington recently said that “Advancing racial equity and strengthening community have been at the core of everything I’ve done in my career because it’s personal for me. … I look forward to learning from and collaborating with partners across the Puget Sound and deepening Seattle Foundation’s efforts to create a more equitable region and joyful future fueled by cross-sector collaboration.”
“While our time together has been limited, it has been an absolute privilege to have worked alongside Alesha,” said Anthony Richardson, president of The George Gund Foundation. “The work she has done and the leadership she has brought to the Foundation has been incredibly valuable. It sets the stage for the deeper impact we aim to have in our community and beyond.”
Washington will assume her new role as President and CEO on May 11.
Until Washington's role at Gund has been filled, inquiries related to the Vibrant Neighborhoods and Inclusive Economy and Democracy Building portfolios should be directed to John Mitterholzer, program director for Climate and Environmental Justice (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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