Who We Are

The Diverse City Fund is a collective of three main groups (our Board of Instigators, Grantmaking Teams and Staff) that together help drive our mission, accomplish our goals and practice community-based philanthropy.

Meet our people…

Board of Instigators

The Board of Instigators (BOI) is a group of volunteer activists, organizers, and DC area residents who commit to multi-year terms. Collectively, they are responsible for steering our strategic planning, participating in the broader philanthropic community, fundraising, and the designing our grant programs. Click photo for bio.

Rubie Coles
Instigator since 2017
Sujata Bhat
Instigator since 2017
Sheri Brady
Instigator since 2015
Jordan Curry Carter
Instigator since 2020
Rebecca Ennen
Instigator since 2017
Richael Faithful
Instigator since 2020
Nkechi Feaster
Instigator since 2020
Julian Forth
Instigator since 2021
Farah Fosse
Instigator since 2017
Cathy Meals
Instigator since 2011
Brigette Rouson
Instigator since 2011
Beth Sadler
Instigator since 2021
Jane Thompson
Instigator since 2017
Diana E. Alonzo Watkins
Instigator since 2020

staff

DC Fund Staff members primarily facilitate our daily operations, grants management and provide capacity building and professional development support to our grantees. Click photo for bio.

Tamira Benitez
Executive Director
Elizabeth Tibebu
Programs Manager

Grantmaking Teams

The Grantmaking Teams are made up of local activists and organizers, all of whom identify as people of color. These individuals receive stipends to cooperatively review and choose our grant recipients.

  • Aura Angelica
  • Brenda Perez
  • Chioma Iwuoha
  • Dawnn Leary
  • I-Ra Abubaker
  • Keri Nash
  • Kristi Matthews-Jones
  • Kush Kharod
  • Maite Rubio
  • Nia Nyamweya
  • Nkechi Feaster*
  • Perry Reed
  • Richael Faithfull*
  • Sherri Davis
  • Thomas Blanton
  • Tineshea Woodson
  • Winnie R. Huston
  • Facilitators: Ericka Taylor & K.C. Atha
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