Building a Movement of Rest, Repair, and Recharge

As a Senior Director at Hirsch Philanthropy Partners, Emily partners with philanthropists at all phases of their giving journey—whether they’re just beginning to give strategically or exploring bold ways to address complex issues. In her role at Hirsch, Emily also serves as the Executive Director of O2 Initiatives, a sabbatical program in the San Francisco Bay Area that provides nonprofit leaders with an essential break for rest and renewal. Emily has more than twenty-five years of experience in the nonprofit, philanthropy, and arts sectors at organizations including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Museum Management Consultants, and Jamestown Community Center.

Emily’s experience with nonprofit sabbaticals began when she was the Development Director for Jamestown Community Center. The executive director took a sabbatical and the remaining staff piloted a new leadership structure that became transformative for the organization. Staff confidence soared as their understanding of different departments grew. The results were so impressive that the organization kept the new leadership structure after the executive director returned. Ever since, Emily has been an advocate for the power of sabbaticals. Emily holds an M.B.A. from San Francisco State University and a B.A. from Pomona College.

Maria Kolby-Wolfe is President and CEO of Washington Women’s Foundation (WaWF) and an instructor at the University of Washington in Nonprofit Management. Before guiding WaWF Maria performed a variety of development and communication roles at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Seattle Symphony, Path with Art, ACT Theatre, Museum of Pop Culture, and Swedish Medical Center Foundation. She has served as a board member for TeamChild, Rainier Valley Food Bank, Allied Arts Foundation, and Global Leadership Forum. Maria grew up in Bellingham, WA, graduated with a BA in English from the University of Puget Sound, and achieved doctoral candidacy in African American History at Northwestern University. Her passions and beliefs align directly with her work: Food, Art, and Justice for All.

Victoria is guided by her commitment to restoring balance. This driving force has led her to work as a facilitator, trainer, community organizer, leadership coach, and nonprofit leader. Drawing on her lived experience, education, and training, she works to advance racial healing and social justice in communities, organizations, institutions, and schools in the United States and internationally.

Victoria’s work emphasizes intersectional awareness, individual and collective healing, and compassionate action. I Victoria is part of a cultural change movement that prioritizes BIPOC health and wellness. She also advocates for more resources to flow towards BIPOC-led nonprofits and calls in philanthropic partners and other allies to reimagine their roles and commit to working with BIPOC-led organizations in more powerful ways.

Victoria is a Spanish-fluent Afro-Latina immigrant born in the Dominican Republic.