Rising Leaders Cohort

My career has spanned the higher education, for-profit, non-profit, and philanthropic sectors. This have given me a unique and diverse perspective on the experience of work and workplace culture. 

I have held roles in student services, employee development, human resources, talent and organization development, and more. As a practitioner and consultant, my work is inspired by the research and frameworks of positive organization psychology, the visual arts, movement, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, appreciative inquiry, and applied improvisation.

I am constantly learning and evolving my practice. I appreciate multi-disciplinary approaches and the unique solutions that are created as a result. I love creative problem solving, using my wisdom, intuition and varied art forms to support self-awareness, growth and well-being. 

Claudia is a coach, mentor, creator and facilitator who has worked to amplify people's leadership for over a decade. Her impact has benefited folks in multiple sectors and across the nation. A formerly undocumented immigrant from Peru, Claudia was educated in East Bay public schools, holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University. Claudia is a perpetual student of leadership development and believes in the power of individual and collective growth as a means to equity and liberation.  

Claudia is currently the Senior Director of Training at Coro Northern California. In this capacity, she leads the Coro programs that focus on creating brave and powerful spaces for women-identifying individuals. Claudia has previously worked with the San Francisco Foundation, Coro New York, and the Greenlining Institute.  

As a Learning and Evaluation Analyst at The California Endowment, Patty supports team’s grantmaking strategies, manages grants and contracts, and relationships with grantee partners. She also supports the design of learning opportunities across the organization for decision making. Prior to the Endowment, Patty was in the nonprofit sector working with migrant health centers across the country and prior to that, she was a policy advocate for safe drinking water access for all Californians. The common thread has always been working toward a more just an equitable society for all.  Patty is excited to be a part of the 2023 Rising Leaders Cohort and is looking forward to building relationships with an amazing group of folks. In addition to her passion for equity, Patty loves spending time with her two rescue dogs and discovering new places to eat and hike.

Francis has served as the Grants Manager at Shinnyo-en Foundation for four years. She is responsible for the overall management of Shinnyo-en Foundation’s portfolio of grants in five metropolitan regions across the US. She identifies and recommends future grantees while also monitoring, evaluating and overseeing current grantees’ progress which she reports to the Vice President and the Board of Directors.

Prior to joining Shinnyo-en Foundation, Francis had experience in the non-profit sector including managing direct services, social enterprise, and humanitarian response programs and projects. She has mainly worked with displaced children and families, immigrants, refugees, foster youth and natural disaster survivors. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Action from Palo Alto University and a Master’s degree in Human Rights from the European Inter-University Center for Human Rights.

Deeptansh “Deep” Chadha is the Associate, Grants and Learning at the Walter and Elise Haas Fund. Born and raised in India, Deep has called the Bay Area his home for close to a decade. He attended the University of California, Davis where he majored in Sociology. In his current role at the Haas fund, Deep works on creating a culture of constant learning and reflection while also thinking of ways to tackle the social problems that Bay Area residents face. He cares deeply about social issues such as immigration, gender and racial equity, and housing security. During his time at university, Deep was part of the UC Davis Cross Cultural Center and the UC Davis AB540 & Undocumented Student Center. He was also heavily involved with research at the UC Davis Sociology Department. Outside of work, Deep loves to cook and runs a recreational food social media page. He is also interested in sports and will be found playing/watching soccer on most weekends.

Ryan DoyLoo joined Archstone Foundation in 2022 as a program associate after interning with the Foundation in 2021. At the Foundation, Ryan works collaboratively with other program staff to support the Program Team. Additionally, he conducts various research projects for the President and CEO. Within the Program Team, Ryan oversees and develops a portfolio of technology-related grants with the primary purpose of improving the lives of older adults and their caregivers.

Prior to joining Archstone, Ryan worked in various research labs, including the Tucker-Seeley Research Lab. In the Tucker-Seeley Research Lab, Ryan conducted and published research on financial hardship among older adults and the effects of COVID-19 on policies enacted in the United States affecting various vulnerable populations.

Ryan received his Master of Science in Gerontology (MSG), Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging, and minor in Accounting from the University of Southern California in 2021. Ryan enjoys rock climbing, crafting ceramics, and spending time with his dog in his free time. 

Nate Harding is a Senior Manager at Social Impact Exchange (SIE). His life is guided by the following question: How will we evolve our norms, laws, and institutions such that all people access resources and opportunities to define and achieve their own flourishing while living in balance with each other and the planet? 

Nate’s interest in this inquiry emerged during his time as a Belk Scholar at Davidson College, where his curiosity about human experiences and aspirations - and the ways in which they are influenced by oppressive ideologies embedded in the public and private systems that shape our lives - led him to design an interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree in Education & Community Studies. 

After completing the degree, Nate traveled the globe as a program leader for high school study abroad programs, where he designed, facilitated, and evaluated community-based learning programs that brought together students, academics, NGO leaders, community organizers, and local residents in the U.S., Argentina, Chile, Thailand, Burma, and South Africa to teach and learn about approaches to social change while developing their critical consciousness and intercultural communication skills. 

These experiences led Nate to serve as a social impact strategy consultant and leadership coach with The Bridgespan Group, where he advised leaders of innovative nonprofits and foundations to refine their strategies, improve their operating and economic models, strengthen their executive teams, and lead organizational change. Nate is a co-author of "Field Building for Population-Level Change: How Funders and Practitioners Can Increase the Odds of Success" and "How Philanthropy Can Support Systems-Change Leaders," published by The Bridgespan Group in 2020 and 2021 respectively. 

Jenny Herrera (she/her) is the Knowledge & Grants Manager at the Libra Foundation. She oversees Libra’s grant cycles and engineers grantmaking processes rooted in trust, while centering grantees in each stage of the process. To this role, Jenny brings both work and lived experiences in Libra’s program areas and their intersections. Jenny has previously worked in co-designing research studies and program evaluations. She is a first-generation college student that majored in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of California, Davis.

Equipped with a decade of nonprofit management and philanthropic experience, Anna Jen is on a mission to help transform philanthropy into a catalyst for racial equity and social change. In her current role as Impact Program Officer at Central Valley Community Foundation, she oversees the Field of Interest Funds, manages grants administration for discretionary grants, and directly supports four economic development initiatives. Previously, she was on the Program team at the Boston Foundation for three years, where she was first introduced to the grantmaking world and hasn't looked back. Prior to that, Anna managed various programs at nonprofit organizations that were focused on education, youth development through sports, financial inclusion, and small business development. She holds an MBA and MA in Sustainable Development from the Heller School of Social Policy & Management at Brandeis University. In her down time she loves to run, hike, read, catch baseball games, and travel.

Diana Amparo Jiménez coordinates the grantmaking activities of the program department at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, provides programmatic and administrative support to the Homelessness Initiative, and acts as a liaison between program staff, grantees, and external consultants.  Prior to joining the Foundation, Diana served as Community Land Trust Project Manager for T.R.U.S.T. South LA, where she established partnerships with community development financial institutions, commercial banks, and philanthropy for viable loan products and grants to secure creative financing for purchase and rehabilitation of multifamily buildings. She also researched and developed co-op conversion strategies to build tenant capacity for homeownership. Diana is an experienced grant writer having worked with Brilliant Corners, a supportive housing nonprofit, and is a former public sector planner. Diana holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Policy, Planning, and Development – Sustainable Planning Emphasis from the University of Southern California, Sol Price School of Public Policy.

Karen is an Associate at Hirsch Philanthropy Partners, a philanthropic advising firm in San Francisco, where she provides research, grants stewardship, and operational support to individuals and families looking to maximize the impact of their philanthropic dollars. Karen’s favorite part of her job is being in close contact with the Bay Area organizations who are on the frontlines advancing social justice and equity in a variety of fields. Karen cares deeply about directing investment towards local communities, gender equity, and exceptional changemakers. At the center of her work is the belief that philanthropy’s role is to shift resources quickly and effectively into the hands of community leaders who will create powerful tools for change.

Karen is an ardent advocate for women’s empowerment, and began her career at Rosie’s Place, the nation’s first women’s shelter, before serving as Operations Manager at Women’s Funding Network, the global community of women’s foundations.

Karen holds an M.A. in Comparative Humanities and a dual B.A. in International and Global Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies from Brandeis University.​ In her free time, Karen enjoys being active, spending time with her husband and her cats, and video-chatting with her family in her native Brazil.

Daniela Miramontes is a Grants Officer at Climate Imperative working with the grants team to ensure operational effectiveness, compliance, and ongoing improvement of CI’s grantmaking process. She brings nonprofit and philanthropic sector experience to this role with a combination of community building, direct service, and grants management. Daniela is passionate about implementing systems and processes for social justice organizations that guarantee values alignment and efficacious action to distribute funds where they are needed most.

Daniela holds a BA in American Studies from the University of California-Berkeley and resides in the Bay Area.

Albertina Oliva (Tina) is the daughter of immigrant parents from Escuintla, Guatemala, and Puebla, Mexico. Tina works as a program associate for the Community and Opportunity program at the Heising-Simons Foundation (HSF). At HSF, Tina supports local grantmaking in San Jose, organizational capacity building, and more recently the CEO Fund under the new Foundation CEO, Sushma Raman.

Prior to joining the Foundation in 2022, Tina provided program support for Mission Asset Fund’s grant and credit-building programs for low-income and immigrant communities. She also is actively involved in the Racial Equity and Community Safety committee at Sacred Heart and at the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley which provides professional growth and development opportunities for young Latina professionals. She has previously worked and volunteered at the International Rescue Committee, Jewish Family Services, and Border Angels working toward immigrant justice and relief. Tina received her bachelor’s degree in International Economics from the University of California, San Diego. Tina lives in San Jose where she was raised and enjoys exploring new eateries of all cuisines, listening to new podcasts, and reading several books at once.

Sahar Petri is a Grants Manager at Pacific Foundation Services. In this role, she works as a consultant advising her foundation clients on grantmaking procedures throughout the grants lifecycle. She also supports managing grantee engagement, compliance and process improvements with the grants management system.

Prior to PFS, Sahar was a Grants Project Manager for HTA Consulting, where she supported non-profits manage proposals for complex state and federal grants. She has also held previous roles focused on corporate social responsibility, volunteer engagement and event strategy.

Sahar is originally from Oregon and graduated from University of Oregon with a BA in Business Administration. Sahar lives in Oakland and in her free time enjoys exploring all the food and nature the East Bay has to offer.

Kate Ray joined the Heising-Simons Foundation in 2024 as a program associate supporting the Education team. Prior to joining the Foundation, Kate worked for the Rogers Family Foundation in the final years leading up to the spenddown of its Oakland Education Strategy. There she gained experience supporting grantmaking and administrative operations, serving as a program officer for select grantee partners, co-designing and launching a communications strategy, and providing tailored technical assistance to grantees. Kate is passionate about trust-based philanthropy, supporting grantees beyond the grant, and ensuring young people have educational experiences that empower them to thrive.

Kate has a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of North Texas, and a master’s degree in higher education leadership from Texas Christian University.

Morgan Reams is the Social Impact Manager at Title Nine in Emeryville, CA. She came to Title Nine to develop, launch, and oversee the organization’s inaugural grantmaking program, the T9 Fund. Launched in February 2023, the T9 Fund serves organizations that are run by change-making women moving the needle on the women’s movement. Previously, she served as Program Associate at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, where she provided project management support for the Effective Philanthropy Group, Serving Bay Area Communities, Economy & Society Programs, along with the Racial Justice Initiative. Prior to her time at Hewlett, Morgan worked at Outdoor Afro, managing their inaugural swim scholarship program, curating content for social media, event coordination, and managing donor relations. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and Marketing from California State University, Chico. In 2023 Morgan, along with her two co-founders, launched BlackWomen&, an organization that empowers Black women by fostering a community that promotes collaboration, networking, and investment in each other’s success through educational programs and events to elevate the community. In her free time you can find Morgan teaching Lagree style Pilates at Bold Studios or out in nature with her pitbull, Brownie.

Megan De Trane is the Communications Associate for the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. She works collaboratively with program teams and other departments to support the Rainin Foundation’s communications efforts. She also manages the Foundation’s marketing functions and various projects. She is currently leading a website redesign to improve its accessibility and user experience.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Megan completed marketing and editorial internships at HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. She also provided digital marketing and communications support to a Stanford Professor and stroke survivor who published a book to help other survivors in their emotional recovery, with all of the author’s proceeds going to the nonprofit initiative, Stroke Onward. Megan has worked with various nonprofit organizations, including the San Francisco chapter of the American Marketing Association, The Marine Mammal Center and Dogs4Diabetics.

Megan holds a BS in Animal Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She completed the Summer Institute for General Management at Stanford University and holds a Digital Marketing Certificate from General Assembly San Francisco. Megan has a passion for creating accessible communications. She completed an online course on accessibility and inclusive design through the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is also participating in the 2023 Rising Leaders Cohort through Northern California Grantmakers.

Charity Whyte grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia surrounded by vibrant, diverse artists and teachers who encouraged her to use the arts for political power building and healing. She studied visual arts, guitar, and theatre at Dekalb School of the Arts (DSA) and then went to college at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY where she found a love for artistic directing, rugby, social justice funding for Alana Multi-cultural organizations, youth organizing, and studying aborad in Egypt and South Africa. Charity graduated with 9 community awards and Bachelor of Arts degree in Women's Studies and Global Justice. Charity's early career began with human rights and community engagement work at the United Nations, Africa Unite NGO, United States Congress, Democratic electoral campaigns, and the National Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. 

In 2018, Charity moved to Huichin Ohlone land / Oakland, California to work at the San Francisco Foundation and is currently a Program Associate on the People Team. The San Francisco Foundation is a community foundation focused on racial equity and economic inclusion. In her free time, you can catch Charity creating art as a spiritually grounding practice, giving doula offerings to BIPOC families and birthing people in need, volunteering at Sogorea Te Land Trust, or playing in parks with her dog, Chance the Pupper! 

Dalia Rubiano Yedidia (she/they) is a movement builder, facilitator, and urban planner who has dedicated her life to social movements. She was a domestic worker organizer for over a decade, and then managed the country's largest network of organizations working at the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality in the reproductive justice movement. Dalia received her Master's in City Planning with a focus in housing and community development from UC Berkeley. Joining the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative in 2021, Dalia directs capacity building programs for grantees in the affordable housing portfolio, as well as leads grantmaking for the movement and capacity building team. Born and raised in San Francisco, Dalia is a lifelong Giants fan now living in the wondrous city of Los Angeles.