Join us to learn how two foundations are putting equity ideals into concrete practices. Whether you’ve been a part of an allyship training or have been having conversations with your board and/or staff about equitable practices in your work, listen in as two foundation pairs — a staff & board member each from Holloway Family Foundation and Corina Higginson Trust — talk about what equity practices mean for their work.
Grantmakers must be intentional about equity and inclusion within their boards, governance, and funding efforts to make an outsized and lasting impact in their communities and issue areas. The journey toward equitable grantmaking is not merely about ticking boxes; it’s a transformative process that demands introspection, learning, and action. While adopting equitable practices serves as a crucial starting point, it represents just the tip of the iceberg in dismantling systemic racism within philanthropic endeavors.
Speakers
Jennifer LaForest
Executive Director
Holloway Family Foundation
Jenny joined the Holloway Family Foundation in 2018, bringing her clinical perspective and passion for helping others to the philanthropic sector. In addition to fulfilling the administrative needs of the organization, Jenny leads the research and strategy for advancing the foundation’s priorities in equity and advocacy. Jenny graduated from Vanderbilt University and then earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Montana.
Valerie Holloway Skinner
Chair of the Board
Holloway Family Foundation
Valerie Skinner joyfully served as the foundation’s administrator for over 30 years, before transitioning in 2023 to her current role as the chair of the board. At different times in her life, she has taught elementary school, run a retail tennis shop, and worked in sales and marketing. She has a B.S. in education from Baylor University, and an M.S. in counseling from Texas Christian University.
Brittany Barnes
Senior Program Officer
Corina Higginson Trust
Brittany has been active in the nonprofit and philanthropy space for over 12 years. She currently does an array of consulting work with corporate and family foundations to help them become more equitable grantmakers. While she works with organizations all around the U.S., she currently resides in Cleveland, OH.
Laura Ford
Executive Trustee
Corina Higginson Trust
Laura Ford began working with the Corina Higginson Trust in 2004 and has served as its executive trustee since 2015. For more than 60 years, the trust has provided general operating support to nonprofits in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Laura has a special interest in the intersection of justice, equity, environmental, and food systems work and represents the Trust as a member of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network.