Wednesday, August 21, 2024
San Francisco Foundation, NDN Collective, American Brain Foundation
August 21, 2024 11am Pacific
PDF of Grantmaker Profiles
Khanh Russo, Vice President of Policy and Innovation, San Francisco Foundation, San Francisco, CA
Founded in 1948, the San Francisco Foundation is one of the nation’s largest community foundations. It’s mission is to mobilize resources and act as a catalyst for change to build strong communities, foster civic leadership, and promote philanthropy in the San Francisco Bay Area. Together with community leaders, nonprofits, and donors, SFF is committed to advancing racial equity and economic inclusion to ensure that everyone in the Bay Area has a chance to get a good job, live in a safe and affordable home, and have a strong political voice.
Since 2022, Khanh Russo has served as the Vice President of Policy and Innovation at the San Francisco Foundation. In this role, he leads a policy & innovation agenda focused on accelerating racial equity, economic inclusion and systemic change towards a more just society. Khanh’s expertise focuses on advocacy, power building, grantmaking and public policy.
Previously, Khanh led San Jose Mayor Liccardo’s strategic initiatives focused on education, workforce development, innovation, performance management and budget. He also worked in the private sector leading social responsibility initiatives for Cisco Systems and Kaiser Permanente. Khanh received his MS in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University and BS from Santa Clara University.
Tina Kuckkahn, J.D., Managing Director, NDN Collective, Rapid City, SD
NDN Collective: defends people, communities, and nations against negative resource extraction that poisons people, pollutes water, destroys land, contributes to climate change, and violates human rights; develops Indigenous communities in a regenerative and sustainable manner based on values and connection to land, culture and identity; and decolonizes minds, communities, and sovereign nations by increasing the ability to prosper through revitalizing Indigenous ceremonies, culture, languages and life ways to strengthen identity, and break free from oppressive systems.
Tina Kuckkahn, J.D., is a citizen of the Lac du Flambeau Tribe of Lake Superior Chippewa and a descendant of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. As the Managing Director for NDN Collective’s Foundation, Tina helps lead a holistic, multilingual grantmaking strategy for the international funding streams across Turtle Island and related Island Nations. Tina was the Founding Director of the s’gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ “House of Welcome” Longhouse Education and Cultural Center at The Evergreen State College, from 1996 until 2018, when she became Evergreen’s first Vice President of Indigenous Arts, Education and Tribal Relations. Tina serves on the Boards of Directors for Grantmakers in the Arts, the Waaswaaganing Living Arts and Cultures Center, and the Advisory Circle of the NARF-Morning Star Sacred Places Protection Project.
Michelle Heritage, Executive Director, American Brain Foundation, Minneapolis, MN
The American Brain Foundation, founded in 1992 by the American Academy of Neurology, champions collaboration among researchers, the public, and other brain-related charities to bring the number of people impacted by brain disease to zero. The Foundation funds research across the whole spectrum of brain diseases and disorders, propelled by the belief that curing one of these diseases, will cure many.
Leading the American Brain Foundation as Executive Director since January 2024, Michelle Heritage brings a 25+ year track record of guiding non-profit organizations to significant growth and societal impact. Previously at the Community Shelter Board for 13 years, she spearheaded initiatives that more than quadrupled the annual budget from $12 million to $58.6 million and led a pivotal campaign raising $30 million for innovative housing solutions. Adept in fundraising, Heritage has mobilized over $100 million in funds.
Michelle's drive to advocate for systemic social change and commitment to DEI initiatives is evidenced by her board leadership in Equality Ohio, contributions to a mayor-led task force on Black infant mortality, and as a long-time leader of initiatives to diversify non-profit boards. She has earned accolades such as the YMCA Columbus Woman of Achievement, Most Admired Executives, The Power 100 Most Influential People, Niagara Foundation Woman of the Year, and Non-Profit CEO of the Year.
Heritage holds a Master of Education in Clinical Counseling from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Social Justice from The Ohio State University.
Angela Richardson, Senior Trainer, The Grantsmanship Center
Angela brings more than 20 years' experience as a nonprofit program and fund developer, strategic planner, and organizational coach. As senior trainer, Angela has coached other trainers for The Grantsmanship Center and trained staff for nonprofit organizations, school districts, governments, faith-based organizations, and colleges and universities. She brings additional expertise in education and the arts, recently delivering a virtual workshop for Broward County Cultural Division, FL as part of the Business Skills for Creatives series. Angela has facilitated many in-person Meet-the-Grantmaker panels in Los Angeles for PROJECT GRANTSMANSHIP and for the City of Los Angles, city council members. Recently, Angela trained faculty and community-based nonprofit leaders as part of a Research Proposal Workshop sponsored by UCLA Health Sciences.
