Dear NFG Members, Partners, and Allies,

We are writing today with excitement to announce a pivotal moment in the Neighborhood Funders Group’s (NFG) journey: the appointment of Stephanie Chan and Amanda Andere as NFG’s new Co-Presidents.  The pair have collaborated for seven years as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Executive Officer respectively at Funders Together for Housing Justice (formerly known as Funders Together to End Homelessness), a national network of grantmakers that mobilizes its members to use philanthropy’s voice, influence, and financial capital to end homelessness by creating and advancing lasting solutions that are grounded in racial and housing justice, driven by love and disruption, and centering people with lived expertise. Click here to read the Funders Together leadership transition announcement.

Image announcement for Amanda Andere and Stephanie Chan's appointment as NFG's new Co-Presidents.

“In Stephanie and Amanda, we found exactly what NFG needs for this next chapter,” says NFG Board Co-Chair Kaberi Banerjee Murthy, who also serves as Board Vice-Chair of Ms. Foundation for Women and Principal of Kaberi, LLC. “They are respected, grounded, relational, clear, and connected leaders with complementary experience and gravitas. They can organize funders and strengthen NFG as a political home for our dynamic membership in a rapidly changing philanthropic landscape. They’ve also proven that building a culture of care both inside and outside an organization doesn’t compromise mission impact — it fuels it."

“This is a wild and urgent time to be stepping into leadership. Joining NFG means building bold community, rooted in justice, and honoring the courage of those who came before us — especially when it’s hard to do so.” 

Incoming Co-President Amanda Andere

Appointments + New Leadership Model Reflect Process of Accountability In Action

Their appointment is the culmination of a two-year process of accountability in action grounded in a commitment to organizational health and NFG’s core principles of racial, gender, economic, disability and climate justice. Led by a committee of board members, staff, and member leaders, NFG launched the transition work in mid-2023 in partnership with an organizational development consulting team from Imagine Us. The process had four elements:

  • a deep look at NFG’s leadership history through a lens of race and gender equity;

  • research into alternative leadership models across movement and philanthropic ecosystems;

  • an exploration of NFG’s identity and role with members, staff and partners; and,

  • an examination of NFG’s organizational health, challenges, opportunities and priorities.

As a result, NFG is moving from a solo leader to Co-Presidents.  “Our new model both leans into the rigor that our work and this complex time requires, and aims to guard against burning out the brilliance of leaders and staff,” says NFG Board Co-Chair Chi-Ante Jones of the Cypress Fund.

“This is not just a leadership transition,” notes outgoing Interim President Amy Morris, who spearheaded the organizational development and transition work. “It's a milestone in NFG’s organizational evolution. And, the work is not done. Now it’s about applying the hard-earned lessons that surfaced and the new ones that will come in order to support our fantastic new leaders and staff as they take NFG higher.”

“The transparency throughout the search process demonstrated a level of readiness and clarity for a liberated leadership structure that I haven’t seen before from an organization. That kind of reflection and accountability is something Amanda and I are committed to modeling and deepening moving forward.”

Incoming Co-President Stephanie Chan

The shared leadership model divides executive responsibilities between two leaders with distinct and equally vital internal and external roles. Further, shared leadership will extend beyond the pair to include NFG’s new staff union, represented by Communication Workers of America (CWA) Local 9415, and staff leaders outside of the bargaining unit.

“As a unionized staff member and part of the collective bargaining team, this process meant a lot. It wasn’t about checking a box; it was about building trust across roles and power dynamics,” shares NFG Senior Program Coordinator Stephan Oak. “Across leadership shifts from President to Interim President to now Co-Presidents, my colleagues and I were at the table defining the kind of leadership values and infrastructure this moment demands. What has emerged is not just a new model, it is an example of what is possible when we center transparency, accountability, and sustainability in service of collective power. I am excited for what comes next — and committed to making sure we keep pushing together.”

From Process to Practice: How We Searched with Intention

The search for NFG’s new Co-Presidents, led by executive recruiter Melissa Madzel, Founder and Principal of Do Good Connections, was grounded in the values and lessons from NFG’s organizational development journey. “The process was designed with intention, transparency, and equity at its core,” says Madzel. “Staff were meaningfully engaged throughout, and both candidates and internal stakeholders experienced a level of openness rarely seen in executive searches—particularly to address how women of color often navigate opaque hiring processes.”

The search called for pairs of leaders with a proven history of collaboration and deep, relevant expertise. The resulting pool was one of the most competitive and inspiring the search team had seen. Says Melissa Madzel, “This search raised the bar for what’s possible when equity isn’t an afterthought but a foundation. NFG didn’t just look for leaders—they created the conditions for those leaders to succeed. The transparency, rigor, and relational care embedded in this process made it a model for the field.”

“We step into this role with deep respect for NFG’s legacy and the courage it has taken to get to this moment. The future of philanthropy demands more than new strategies — it calls for new ways of being in relationship. As Co-Presidents, we’re committed to fostering shared power, nurturing organizational health, and helping our network lead with clarity, care, and collective purpose. We’re honored to carry this work forward together.”

Incoming Co-Presidents Amanda Andere & Stephanie Chan

While their official start date is September 2, 2025, Amanda and Stephanie plan on engaging in-person with the NFG community at the upcoming NFG’s 2025 National Convening: Seeding (and Ceding) Transformational Power, July 15-17, in Nashville, Tennessee. Please register to join us!

In solidarity,
Chi-Ante Jones & Kaberi Banerjee Murthy, NFG Board Co-Chairs

Posted 06/04/2025 in

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