Coordinating Committee

IRSG's Coordinating Committee of funders supports strategy-setting, governance, and recruitment and organizing amongst their peers in philanthropy. They represent trusted and aligned voices of philanthropic leaders committed to resourcing rural organizing work. The Coordinating Committee brings forth a diversity of strategies/issue areas of focus to guide IRSG.

Hester Dillon

she/her

Director, Indigenous Communties Program
The Schmidt Family Foundation/ 11th Hour Project

Olivia Trabysh

she/her

Philanthropic Consultant

Sade Dumas

she/her

Director, Spark Justice Fund
Borealis Philanthropy

Vickie Walsh

she/her

Program Officer
Mertz Gilmore Foundation 

Movement Advisors

NFG's Integrated Rural Strategies Group (IRSG) launched its inaugural committee of Movement Advisors in August 2021. These Advisors deepen IRSG's work to increase philanthropy's accountability to rural movement leaders. These seven rural leaders reflect the powerful and broad diversity of rural communities, representing a range of geographies, issues, races, cultures, and more. What these leaders and their organizations all have in common is that they are organizing and building power in rural areas. Their work is core to building and preserving a true multiracial democracy and protecting the health, safety, economic opportunity, and ability for rural communities to thrive.

While IRSG and our partners hold existing relationships with each of these seven leaders, we are honored to formalize this year-long engagement by supporting these leaders with honoraria and providing a platform to lift up their work before philanthropy. IRSG will follow the Advisors' lead and center their priorities and strategies as we design our program offerings and resources.

Angel Garcia

he/his

Co-Director
Californians for Pesticide Reform & CAPS (Coalition Advocating for Pesticide Safety)

Brandi Mack

she/her/we

National Director
The Butterfly Movement

Eowyn Corral

they/she

Grassroots Co-Director
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Fabiola Ortiz Valdez

she/her/ella

Lead Organizer
Food Chain Workers Alliance (FCWA)

Jaime Arredondo

he/his

Executive Director
Capaces Leadership Institute

Juli Ray C. Joy

she/they

Founder
Black Joy Oregon