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Leadership Transition Announcement

Dear friends, 
 
On behalf of the Nathan Cummings Foundation, I am writing to share that Sharon Alpert is stepping down this month as our President and CEO.

It has been an honor and privilege to work with Sharon over the past four years. We have grown together and learned from each other — and the foundation has benefited greatly from the strength of her commitment to social justice and Jewish values. Sharon has worked diligently to advance our mission, while being both passionate and compassionate. She has left an indelible mark on the foundation, and we have much to thank her for.
 
I offer just a few of the numerous ways Sharon’s leadership at the foundation has left its mark on the field:

• Sharon led the Board to the unanimous decision to move 100% of NCF’s assets to align with our mission, and we have made significant progress in moving our assets.
• We increased our payout so that more resources go to:
  • Movement building organizations defending democracy
  • Frontline organizations fighting to halt the climate crisis and bring about the Green New Deal
  • Moral faith-based voices, artists, and journalists calling out injustice and safeguarding the truth
  • Inside/outside strategies to hold corporations to account
• We expanded our voice in the field by speaking out against antisemitism and white nationalism. 
• We created a strong strategic framework for tackling the climate crises and growing inequality, breaking down internal silos to coordinate across programs and increase our impact.
• We launched a revised, integrated strategy for our work in Israel that is timely and relevant — defending democracy, shifting narratives, and building bridges.
• Sharon championed NCF's commitment to intergenerational philanthropy, developing its fourth-generation leadership.

Above all else, Sharon aligned us all around a vision to be in the business of changemaking, not just grantmaking. We wish her the best in her future endeavors and hope you will join us in expressing gratitude for her leadership.
 
Following Sharon’s departure, the Board will partner with the Senior Leadership Team to provide oversight of the foundation’s grantmaking and operations during the transition. We have confidence in the strength and ability of our staff, who will continue to resource organizations and individuals that pursue justice for people and the planet. We will be sharing more information in the coming weeks about a national search.
 
Thank you for your partnership, your patience, and your support.

Always,  

Jaimie Mayer
Board Chair 

Dear colleagues,
 
As we start a new year, I am transitioning to a new path to pursue social justice for people and the planet, which is so important to me. I am honored to have served as NCF's first female president and grateful to the Board for the incredible opportunity to lead an organization whose values I hold so dear and whose mission of building a more just, vibrant, sustainable, and democratic society is needed more than ever.
 
It is impossible to say how deeply I cherish the relationships I built and all that I learned during my tenure at NCF. I came to the foundation with a vision of philanthropy that marshals all its resources — grants, investments, and people — to achieve social change. That vision galvanized the Board and staff, and it transformed how we work. We demonstrated that NCF is a foundation that is willing to change the status quo in philanthropy. As Jaimie has shared, we now say we are in the business of changemaking, not just grantmaking.
 
I could not be prouder of what the Board, staff, and our partners have accomplished during the last four years. A commitment to and significant progress made toward aligning 100% of NCF’s assets with its mission. The dedication of new resources to movements demanding racial, economic, and climate justice. Strengthened shareholder engagement work to hold corporations to account. Raising our voice to stop the rise of antisemitism and white nationalism and call for radical solidarity with communities under attack. And a commitment to safeguard democracy in the US and Israel at a time when it is under threat.
 
Just after I joined NCF I said the following in a speech: 

“The next 25 years will require more courageous leadership from the Nathan Cummings Foundation. That means standing up for our values and our vision of a just society, standing by those who are out there doing the hard work every day, and stepping out in ways that positively reflect the change we want to see in the world. It will require that we continue to pay attention to changing systems, as well as hearts and minds, and that we approach repairing the world with nothing less than audacious optimism.”
 
I leave knowing that we have done exactly that, and I am grateful for the experiences I will carry forward into this next chapter. The board showed me leadership that is willing to take risks, the fellows showed me new possibilities, the grantees showed me that a better future is possible, and the staff showed me every day how a small committed team can accomplish so much.
 
I look forward to continuing to work with you in the years ahead to build a more just and sustainable world.
 

Warmly,  

Sharon Alpert

Dear Community, 

This defining moment for our society calls for bold and visionary leaders who are building a better future. 

That's why we are excited to announce that we are seeking applications for the sixth cycle of our Fellowship program. The program awards three individuals with up to $150,000 over 18 months to turn an inspired idea that advances social justice into a reality. Fellows also receive hands-on training, resources, and leadership development to scale the impact of their work. 

Our Fellowship is designed for emergent leaders in the U.S. who have limited access to institutional philanthropy and whose work is traditionally underfunded. The topic of a Fellow's project should generally align with the Foundation's focus on climate change and inequality. It should aim to transform systems and mindsets that hinder progress towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all people, particularly women and people of color. The Foundation is also interested in innovative approaches that cut across topics. 

NCF's current Fellows are engaged in groundbreaking work that empowers their respective community for the long term. Chas Moore is helping cities across the U.S. renegotiate police union contracts and reinvest dollars in communities through Better Before More and the Austin Justice Coalition. Wahleah Johns is bringing solar energy to Native communities while training the first generation of Navajo solar installers through Native Renewables'' Navajo Clean Energy Program. Jonathan Lykes is building power, providing healing, and training systems operators in trauma-informed, Black, queer, and feminist approaches to care and policy-making through the Keeping Ballroom Community Alive Network (KBCAN). 

We strongly encourage movement builders, disruptors, and system thinkers from all backgrounds and fields to apply. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2020. Learn more about the program requirements and apply at ?nathancummings.org/our-fellows.  

Please share this Fellowship application announcement with your networks and help us reach the leaders our communities need to transform our society. 

Warmly,  

The NCF Fellowship Team 

Jennifer Kaizer, Program Manager 
Rachel Fagiano, Associate Program Officer 
Leticia Peguero, Vice President of Programs 

Dear Community, 

Like many others, the Nathan Cummings Foundation temporarily closed the doors to our office five months ago and transitioned to remote working. The decision was made with a sense of optimism that we would be able to return swiftly. Yet, as the Yiddish proverb cautions: man plans, and god laughs.

Today, we are pleased to share that after 19 years in our midtown Manhattan location, the Foundation will relocate to 120 Wall Street early next year. We acknowledge Wall Street's troubled history of racial and economic injustice and also the reclamation efforts of recent grassroots movements, such as Occupy Wall Street.

"Our mission and values are integral to every decision we make," said Jaimie Mayer, NCF Board Chair. "Finding an office space that embodies our commitment to social justice and equity was of utmost importance to us."

NCF has grown and changed in many ways in the last two decades, and we are eager to better align our physical space with this transformation. As stewards of resources that are vital to communities, we chose a smaller and more efficient floor plan to maximize the funds the Foundation is able to invest in grantees and impact.

Our senior leadership team began planning for our relocation in 2018, partnering with real estate brokers Cushman & Wakefield to identify a new space. The process has included both staff and board members in decision making from the beginning. NCF's desire to demonstrate our commitment to equity and inclusivity has been a guiding force in finding a new location and the design of the interior space. Working closely with Gensler, our architecture and design partner, we designed our new space to deliver democratic access to all features and emphasize openness, flexibility, and collaboration.

"We're excited at how Gensler has transformed the space into a design that embodies our values," said Rey Ramsey, NCF Interim President and CEO. "By removing corner offices for leadership, all our staff and visitors will have equal access to the natural light and inspiring views that 120 Wall Street offers. We also are delighted to upgrade our workspace to reflect the latest trends and offer flexibility for the future."

120 Wall Street's LEED Gold certification contributes to a culture of wellness and sustainability for people and the planet. In addition, the building is fully accessible and hosts many nonprofit organizations that share our values and advance social justice.

We look forward to sharing more as this undertaking progresses, and to welcoming our community to our new space!

Dear Community, 

This defining moment for our society calls for bold and visionary leaders who are building a better future. 

That's why we are excited to announce that we are seeking applications for the sixth cycle of our Fellowship program. The program awards three individuals with up to $150,000 over 18 months to turn an inspired idea that advances social justice into a reality. Fellows also receive hands-on training, resources, and leadership development to scale the impact of their work. 

Our Fellowship is designed for emergent leaders in the U.S. who have limited access to institutional philanthropy and whose work is traditionally underfunded. The topic of a Fellow's project should generally align with the Foundation's focus on climate change and inequality. It should aim to transform systems and mindsets that hinder progress towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all people, particularly women and people of color. The Foundation is also interested in innovative approaches that cut across topics. 

NCF's current Fellows are engaged in groundbreaking work that empowers their respective community for the long term. Chas Moore is helping cities across the U.S. renegotiate police union contracts and reinvest dollars in communities through Better Before More and the Austin Justice Coalition. Wahleah Johns is bringing solar energy to Native communities while training the first generation of Navajo solar installers through Native Renewables'' Navajo Clean Energy Program. Jonathan Lykes is building power, providing healing, and training systems operators in trauma-informed, Black, queer, and feminist approaches to care and policy-making through the Keeping Ballroom Community Alive Network (KBCAN). 

We strongly encourage movement builders, disruptors, and system thinkers from all backgrounds and fields to apply. The deadline to apply is September 1, 2020. Learn more about the program requirements and apply at ?nathancummings.org/our-fellows.  

Please share this Fellowship application announcement with your networks and help us reach the leaders our communities need to transform our society. 

Warmly,  

The NCF Fellowship Team 

Jennifer Kaizer, Program Manager 
Rachel Fagiano, Associate Program Officer 
Leticia Peguero, Vice President of Programs