Time to Act: Applying Universal Values and Rigor in Equity-Centered Philanthropic Practice

Armando Castellano is an arts advocate and philanthropist who resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a professional musician and bilingual teaching artist who plays the French horn, performing and teaching internationally. He sits on 3 boards including as a founding board member of the Donors of Color Network. Additionally, he is a second generation family member and trustee of the Castellano Family Foundation, a community embedded foundation funding Latino serving and led nonprofits throughout the region, as well as championing DEI, cultural competency and race equity within the philanthropic field at large.

For over 20 years Allison Magee has worked to transform public systems to reflect the strengths and meet the needs of the community. Allison is Executive Director of the Zellerbach Family Foundation, one of San Francisco’s oldest and most respected family foundations. ZFF promotes belonging, connection, and a shared sense of safety among people and communities across the Bay Area and California, with a focus on Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties.

Allison previously worked for the City and County of San Francisco, where she served as a leader in strengthening services for system involved youth and their families. Her work as Deputy Director of the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department includes the development of a national model for juvenile justice system reform. Allison also established a collaborative model for the city’s funding of community-based services that resulted in over $14 million in dedicated funding for violence prevention programs for San Francisco youth. Allison was awarded SPUR’s Good Governance Award for her work at JPD.

Allison also worked for Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Budget and Policy, and the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General where she won the Inspector General’s Excellence Award. Allison holds a master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration and a master’s degree in Social Work, both from Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. Allison sits on the board of San Francisco’s GLIDE and previously with Northern California Grantmakers where she served as Board Chair. Allison lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons.

Dwayne S. Marsh assumed the position of President and CEO of Northern California Grantmakers on September 9, 2020. He brings 27 years of experience in the public, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors with a career commitment to advancing racial and economic equity.

Dwayne recently completed a four-year turn as co-Director of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and Vice President of Institutional and Sectoral Change at Race Forward Race Forward. During his tenure, the membership network of local, regional, and state entities committed to advancing racial equity through the policies, practices, and public investments grew from just over 20 to nearly 200 participating jurisdictions.

Prior to GARE, Marsh spent six years as a senior advisor in the Office of Economic Resilience (OER) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. There, he helped advance sustainable planning and development through interagency partnerships, departmental transformation, and funding initiatives managed through OER. He was OER’s principal coordinator for a $250 million grant program and led the development of capacity building resources that reinforced the work of pioneering grantees in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Under his leadership, OER prioritized equity as a foundational principal for its planning and investment initiatives.

Marsh brings to the movement his expertise and considerable experience in coalition building for regional equity and leadership development for policy change. He provides technical assistance and capacity building knowledge to equitable development initiatives that address continuing disparities in affordable housing, transportation investment, and environmental justice. Before HUD, Marsh spent a decade at PolicyLink, the national organization committed to economic and social equity. Before PolicyLink, he directed the FAITHS Initiative for eight years at The San Francisco Foundation, building a nationally renowned community development and capacity building program that continues to this day. His career has been defined by supporting communities traditionally marginalized from full participation in our economy and society to build power and leverage lasting systems transformation.