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About

Mission

Chicago Foundation for Women invests in women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals as catalysts, building strong communities for all.

Since 1985, Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) has been a leader in the movement to achieve basic rights and equal opportunities, investing in women and girls as catalysts building stronger communities for all. Today, nearly 40 years later, CFW continues to be the only organization in the region to take a comprehensive approach to understand and address the issues impacting Chicago-area women and girls.

CFW works with a community of socially-minded investors who share our passion for improving the lives of women and girls, ensuring that every dollar they give achieves maximum impact. Thanks to these partners, CFW invests in the future of emerging organizations through leadership development and support in building sustainable nonprofit infrastructure. As a result, two-thirds of nonprofits for which CFW was the first institutional or ‘seed’ funder are still thriving 10 years after receiving their first CFW grant.

Our Founders

In 1984, four leaders of Chicago’s philanthropic community – Marjorie Craig Benton, Sunny Fischer, Iris J. Krieg, and Lucia Woods Lindley – launched a series of planning groups that laid the financial and programmatic groundwork for what would become Chicago Foundation for Women.

chicago-foundation-for-women-founders

From left to right: Iris J. Krieg, Lucia Woods Lindley, Sunny Fischer, Marjorie Craig Benton

The four women shared a vision. They knew that lack of economic opportunity, poor access to reproductive and other health services, domestic violence, and a host of other issues daily threatened the well-being of thousands of women in Chicago, and, by extension, thousands of
families. They realized that only a tiny percentage of philanthropic dollars – just 3 percent in 1984 – were being spent to address women’s real and specific needs. And they knew that women were underrepresented in philanthropy, unaccustomed to wielding the power to decide what issues were important and direct funding to where it could do the most good.

Working their social and business networks, tapping their own experience, they reached out to women who, like them, wanted to transform society and their own place in it.

By the end of that first year, these women had incorporated the Foundation, had elected its first board of directors, and had begun fundraising. And by spring of 1986, the Foundation made its first grants, totaling $50,000.

The principles that guided the development of the Foundation still guide its operations today.

Values

We value – in ourselves and in every organization we support – the core principles of  equality, empowerment, diversity, collaboration, and integrity.

Equality: We believe that equality is a universal human right, and we uphold respect and dignity as guiding principles in all our work.

Empowerment: We believe in the right of individuals to make choices and have control over their minds, bodies and spirits.

Diversity: We value the strength and wisdom that come from all voices and embrace the complexities of communities.

Collaboration: We affirm the transformative power of collective efforts and the importance of having women and girls engaged in issues that affect their lives.

Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and level of accountability.

Our Team

Board of Directors

Jessica Sohl

Chair

Jessica Sohl

Jessica Sohl is a Principal of the eFX Division of GTS Securities.  Previously, Sohl was Partner and President of HC Technologies. She also worked as counsel for Jump Trading and the Illinois Comptroller. She holds a Juris Doctor from Loyola University School of Law, and a Bachelor’s in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from Gordon College. She currently serves on the Board for Laconic Global. (Elected 2019/20)

Bio

Ann Marie Wright

Immediate Past Chair

Ann Marie Wright

Ann Marie Wright (Immediate Past Chair) is currently the U.S. Chief Auditor for BMO Financial Group. In this role, she is responsible for leading a team of audit professionals, identifying insights into the current, emerging, and potential issues, trends, and opportunities that will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of control processes. She provides audit advice and counsel to the CEO of BMO Financial Corp and the Board of Directors, driving positive change across the U.S. organization. In this role, she liaises extensively with external regulators, ensuring the audit organization meets increasing regulatory expectations. Most recently, Ann Marie was Chief Operating Officer for the North American Commercial Bank. She began her career at BMO Financial Group over 15 years ago and has held numerousin Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Master's in Management degree specializing in Finance and Management Strategy from Northwestern University. She also holds the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) designation. Ann Marie has also received the following awards: Chicago United Business Leader of Color (November 2017), Most Influential Women in Commercial Banking (Crain’s Chicago Business, November 2017), and Top 100 Executives under 50 Award (Diversity Magazine, July 2016). Ann Marie is a Board Member of Children Home & Aid Society of Illinois and Chicago Foundation for Women. (Elected 2017/18)

Bio

Georgina E. Heard-Labonne

Incoming Board Chair

Georgina E. Heard-Labonne

Georgina Heard as a strategic planning manager for the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT), Office of Intermodal Project implementation, works closely with top rail industry executives; civic leaders; and elected government and public transportation officials to advocate for large scale transportation improvement projects that safely move people and product through and around Illinois. Born and raised on Chicago’s south side, and a product of the Chicago Public Schools, Georgina is a former school psychologist and clinical therapist, earning a master’s degree in clinical psychology from DePaul University and an undergraduate degree in psychology from Bradley University. Georgina also completed post-graduate studies at the Institute of Family Therapy in Chevy Chase, MD, under the tutelage of the renowned Jay Haley. Georgina remains quite active in Illinois’ civic community. She has served on numerous boards, including the Chicago Workforce Board, where she was appointed by Mayor Daley, Literacy Chicago, and Heartland Alliance. Presently, she is vice chair, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Committee of the board of trustees of Bradley University. She also serves on the board of The DIVA Foundation, and Youth Guidance, whose school-based “B.A.M.” counseling programs helped spearhead President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” national initiative. In 2014, she was appointed by Secretary Anthony Foxx to the US Department of Transportation’s Transit Rail Advisory Committee on Safety (TRACS). She is a proud member of the Links, Incorporated, an international service organization. (Elected 2016/17)

Bio

Naila Alexander

Naila Alexander

Naila Alexander, Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Naila Alexander is a trailblazing female leader and a vital voice within the BIPOC community, driven by a profound commitment to effecting change in underserved areas. Having conquered traditionally male-dominated industries while often being the sole woman and person of color in the room, Naila attributes her success to her supportive network. Now, as a board member of Chicago Foundation for Women, she channels her gratitude into action, providing essential support for women and women of color to thrive and fostering a legacy of achievement. (Elected 2023/24)

Bio

Joan Bacon

Joan Bacon

Joan Bacon has been a CFW supporter for more than a decade. She serves on the Program Committee and previously served on the former Grantmaking subcommittee. Joan is also a member of the North Shore Giving Circle and leads its Grantmaking subcommittee. In her former career, Joan spent 15 years in marketing communications and advertising for book and magazine publishers and a media information company. Raised in Evanston, Joan holds a B.A. in English from Lawrence University. Joan has served in volunteer/board positions for a number of non-profit organizations and has a longstanding interest in social justice issues. Currently, she volunteers for A Just Harvest and Family Promise, organizations that address food and housing insecurity. Joan and her husband Rob live in Northfield and have four children. (Elected 2018/19)

Bio

Alicia C.L. Bailey

Communications Committee Co-Chair

Alicia C.L. Bailey

Alicia C.L. Bailey joins the Board after being engaged with CFW’s Anti-Racism Transformation Team and as an inaugural member of The South Side Giving Circle (SSGC). She brings over 20 years of content, brand marketing, and communications experience through her professional roles. Beginning her career at “The Oprah Winfrey Show” (TOWS), Alicia often refers to that experience as “bootcamp for life,” with each show serving as a lesson rooted in seeing the humanity in others, the joy in giving back, and the importance of striving to live your best life. Her 11-year journey producing content for TOWS laid the foundation for the kind of leader she strives to be, advocating for others and empowering women. Since then, Alicia has gone on to become the Creative Director for two Emmy-winning shows and now serves as Head of Production at the National Association of REALTORS®, the world’s largest trade association. There she oversees both video content development and LIVE event production while using her influence to lead change in the real estate industry, advance Fair Housing, and ensure equity for Black homeowners so that they, too, can grow generational wealth. (Elected 2021/22)

Bio

Deborah B. Cole

Deborah B. Cole

 

Deborah B. Cole is a Partner at Hoogendoorn & Talbot LLP. She serves individuals, families, business owners and entrepreneurs with thoughtful counsel and attention to their evolving needs. From initial estate planning discussions, to adjusting plans to reflect life changes, to handling probate cases, Deborah is engaged for a range of matters often including real estate, business formation, and succession planning issues. Most recently, Deborah has broadened her practice to provide mediation services. She now helps resolve complex situations that arise in guardianship situations and in estate and trust administration matters and other situations, in a manner that empowers all parties to participate. Deborah is the author of “The Estate Planner’s Checklist,” first published by the Illinois State Bar Association Trust and Estates newsletter and then reprinted in other publications. She is also a contributing author of Your Life, Your Legacy: The Fundamentals of Effective Estate Planning. Active in both professional circles and community organizations, Deborah is involved with the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago, the Chicago Estate Planning Council, the Board of Directors of the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago, the Center for Conflict Resolution, the Cook County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the professional advisory board of the Lincoln Park Zoo, and the Chicago Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Chicago Magazine has recognized Deborah as one of Chicago’s top estate planning attorneys and wealth advisors for over five years. (Elected 2019/20)

Bio

Regina Cross

Regina Cross

Regina Cross leads a team within Goldman Sach’s Investment Management Division. This team constructs and manages customized portfolios for ultra-high net worth families, corporate executives, foundations and endowments. Regina has also served at Eli Lilly as a member of the Finance – Neuroscience Business Unit. She holds an MBA in Finance and a Master’s in Education, Higher Education Administration from Stanford University. Regina is currently serves on Chicago Foundation for Women’s Professional Advisory Council (PAC), and the Boards of Victory Gardens Theater and KIPP Indianapolis College. She is also a YP Ambassador for The Chicago Council for Global Affairs and a member of the Investment Committee for Cathedral High School. (Elected 2018/19)

Bio

Tanya G. Davis

Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair

Tanya G. Davis

Tanya G. Davis (Finance Chair) is the wife of Stephen Davis and the mother of 7. Grandmother of 7. Her greatest blessing has been to be home for her family. She was raised in Asheville, N.C. Tanya and Stephen have resided in Wheaton, Illinois for over 30 years. She has her BA in Counseling from DePaul University. Her Masters in writing from Lenoir Rhyne University. She has written three books- "May I Please Speak with My Father?" and "I Don't Want to Shame my Daddy's Name" and “Urban Monks & Mystics. She is also co-owner of Trendsetters Lab. An online clothing boutique. Her family started a philanthropic foundation-The William & Mary Davis Foundation. The foundation provides numerous outreach and exploration opportunities encouraging participants to find purpose and live well. The foundation gives to organizations who seek to do the same. They have given to organizations such as Daystar University in Nairobi Kenya, FVCA, Young Life Teen Moms, Women at Risk International, CFW, Magnolia Moonshots 2030, Urban League, Haymarket Center and Metropolitan Family Services. Tanya served on the board of FVCA for 6 years and served as Board Chair. She serves on the board of Metropolitan Family Services. She is a founding member of Magnolia Moonshots 2030 and serves on the Walter Kronkite Committee. Tanya serves on the board of Haymarket as Development Chair. Tanya founded an organization over ten years ago called Purpose by Design (purposebydesign.org). Purpose by Design holds mentoring retreats for teens and adults helping others to discover their purpose and gifts. She believes God created everyone with a purpose and it brings her joy to help others find their God gifted purpose. (Elected 2021/22)

Bio

Lauren Densham

Lauren Densham

Lauren Densham is responsible for leading Energize Ventures' ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) and impact initiatives, supporting the firm and its portfolio companies with ESG strategy development, execution and reporting. She is responsible for Energize’s diversity & inclusion strategy and maintaining relationships with community partners in the Chicago venture capital and philanthropic ecosystems. Her prior work experiences include:

Having 13+ years in Strategy and ESG consulting at KPMG, working across the private, public and non-profit sectors-Supported public sector agencies and non-profits with strategy development and organizational effectiveness. In addition, she worked in the Global Strategy office of KMPGInternational, supporting the Global Chairman in setting strategy for its network of professional services firms with a focus on corporate citizenship, and she developed thought leadership with the UN Global Compact and World Business Council. Her accomplishments include being on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, being an emerging Leader class of 2021; and World Business Chicago Fellow -2018. Her volunteer activities are being Partner at Social Venture Partners: SVP supports capacity building at innovative non-profits in Chicago through donation of partner time, expertise and funds-Currently serving as the Lead Partner for the Westside Justice Center; Food delivery volunteer at Lakeview pantry; past pro bono strategy work with LIFT Chicago and Taproot. Lauren received a BBA focused on Accounting and International Business from the University of Wisconsin Madison, is a licensed Certified Public Accountant since 2008, and a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) in ESG Investing since 2022. (Elected 2022/23)

Bio

Erica Duncan

Erica Duncan

Erica Duncan leads the Private Bank for Huntington National Bank.  Huntington is a national bank, with wealth management expertise servicing our clients through financial planning built on decades of trust, offering seamless client experiences with a focus on delivering locally in every market. 

Bio

Norman B. Jones

HR Committee Chair and Governance Committee Co-Chair

Norman B. Jones

Norman Jones is an experienced Human Resources professional whose expertise centers on Diversity & Inclusion, Employment Brand, and Talent Acquisition. Since 2007 he has been focused on ensuring that members of all diverse communities know that there is a place for them in Corporate America, and he works to equip them with the tools needed to be successful. Norman currently works at Danaher and serves as the Director of Global University Recruiting. He started his career at Accenture in Talent Acquisition and was employed there for almost ten years. While at Accenture, Norman oversaw the recruiting in the U.S. for the Cloud Practice and was part of the U.S. Diversity Recruiting team, which partnered with North America Talent Acquisition Leadership to help deliver diverse talent at all levels into the annual recruiting plan. After Accenture, he worked at The Hartford as the Diversity Talent Acquisition Manager, crafting and implementing a diversity strategy that would assist the organization with meeting its long-term diversity hiring goals. After leaving The Hartford, he worked at Discover for four years as a Senior Manager, Diversity Engagement & Employment Brand. In this role, he oversaw all national strategic diversity partnerships to build up the organization’s brand with diverse communities. Norman nested worked at Apple as a member of the Global I&D team overseeing diversity partnerships in the Americas, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Prior to joining Danaher, Norman worked at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) as a Director on the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team. In this role he oversaw the nine business resource groups in the Americas which has over 20,000 members. Norman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and currently resides in Chicago, Illinois. (Elected 2022/23)

Bio

Gail Arthurs Krahenbuhl

Gail Arthurs Krahenbuhl

Gail Arthurs Krahenbuhl is a tenured professor in the English Department at Triton College in River Grove, IL. Gail has chaired the Diversity Committee and has served as the chair of the President’s Advisory Council for DEI. In addition to her tireless advocacy for diversity at her institution, Gail Arthurs Krahenbuhl is a licensed minister and holds four advanced degrees in Teaching, School Administration, English Literature, and Women and Gender Studies. As a thinking woman of faith and a woman of African descent, Gail is interested in what it means to center Black women’s lived experience as a spiritual practice. (Elected 2024/25)

Bio

George Kraniotis

George Kraniotis

George Kraniotis is a Senior Director at Discover Financial Services responsible for the Credit Card core technology platform. He holds a master’s in Business Administration from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Bradley University. George is also a 2-time speaker at the IT Revolution’s Enterprise Technology Leadership Summit. He resides in the Chicagoland area with his wife and two daughters. (Elected 2024/25)

Bio

Susan M. Kurowski

Governance Committee Co-Chair

Susan M. Kurowski

Susie M. Kurowski is an experienced audit partner, having provided accounting and auditing services to multi-national clients for over twenty-three years, with a concentration in the consumer service and life science industries. She effectively addresses topics inherent to multi-national corporations, such as global coordination, tax planning and compliance risks. Susie has assisted her clients with numerous transactions, including significant mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and reorganizations. She also possesses extensive experience advising clients with respect to the financial reporting and accounting elements of SEC registration and reporting. Susie is passionate about mentoring and developing women. She has held numerous leadership roles within Deloitte, including those sponsoring the growth and development of women. Additionally, Susie is a past member of the Women’s Executive Committee of the Illinois CPA Society, and she co- founded a women’s mentoring program. Susie started her career with Arthur Andersen in September 1993. She served both public and private audit clients until she joined Deloitte in June 2002. Susie actively supports the University of Notre Dame where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1993. She serves as Deloitte’s Diversity and Inclusion leader. (Elected 2017/18)

Bio

Emily Lonigro

Emily Lonigro

Emily Lonigro, President & Founder / LimeRed. Activist, small business owner, entrepreneur, teacher, mother, partner, writer, speaker, and gardener. Emily has founded many organizations and companies over the last two decades. Currently, she runs two companies: LimeRed, a social impact- branding agency and Even Made, teaching home construction skills “for everyone else.” Founded in 2004, LimeRed is an award-winning social impact branding agency with international-scope clients. At Even Made, she develops workshops and training programs to teach home improvement skills to people traditionally left out of that learning. Even Made encourages people to try out the trades and to build confidence and generational wealth through home improvement. She is the Business Leadership Chair for We The Change, a group of international women CEOs of corporations. She is also the fundraising chair of her school’s PTA.

She previously served on the board of Free Street Theater, We Will, and previously taught in the media department at Columbia College. (Elected 2023/24)

Bio

Jill Lyons

Communications Committee Co-Chair

Jill Lyons

Jill Lyons is a strategic creative operations leader and award-winning executive producer and writer. Jill currently leads operations at Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynolds’ creative engine. Prior, she was EVP of Delivery at Hawkeye Agency, a Publicis company, where she led project management, operations and the activation practices of media, integrated production, enterprise technology, change communications and experiential. Prior to joining Hawkeye, Jill was Head of Creative Agency Operations for Allstate, where she brought order, structure and strategy to the creative process across production, creative and UX teams. Before Allstate, Jill led as VP, Business Operations & Production at Epsilon Agency, where she merged data-driven insights with compelling creative for all clients across all mediums, managed a global team of producers, editors, animators and designers, and led new business operations. For a decade, Jill was part of the legendary team at Harpo Studios, where she wrote and produced dynamic on and off-air promos, integrated marketing and branded entertainment content for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, The Dr. Oz Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Jill’s a futurist and a thought leader in the fields of organizational design, change management, creativity & productivity. Jill also routinely speaks on the strategic business advantages of diversity, the correlation between equity and organizational justice and thus success, and on how to design work and teams to leverage maximum engagement through inclusion work.

In 2017 she was named to AdWeek’s “Young Influentials” list.

Jill also writes, produces and (occasionally) performs comedy for the stage and screen, and her work has been featured on secondcitynetwork.com, The Second City, The Den Theatre, and Stage 773.

Born and raised in Chicago, she holds a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Pepperdine University. She is also a graduate from The Second City Training Center’s comedy writing program. She serves on boards for Chicago Foundation for Women, Safe Families For Children, Camp Tecumseh, and is an advisor for Oath and The Juggl. She’s a mom, a yogi, and a lover of a good pun and a growth mindset.

Bio

Anita Mital

Anita Mital

Anita Mital has been working with Northwestern Mutual since December 2009 and representing them since 2010. Her expertise is focused in life insurance planning, business succession planning, financial planning, retirement planning, special needs planning, estate planning, investment strategies, long term care planning, disability income planning, education Funding employee and executive benefits planning. Anita graduated from Baroda University with a Master of Science degree. As a member of the Indian American Medical Association, she currently chairs the Auxiliary committee, which fundraises for the Charitable Clinic on Peterson Avenue. Anita recently joined the Willowbrook and Burr Ridge Chamber of Commerce where she enjoys meeting the proud professionals who reside in that community. She looks forward to serving there in the future years. She finds interacting with children very rewarding as she teaches Ramayana at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago for the Sunday School. (Elected 2019/20)

Bio

Patricia Mota

Patricia Mota

Patricia is an innovative trailblazer, start-up entrepreneur, author, connector, public speaker, and compassionate leader with a particular strength that exemplifies the mission of the Hispanic Alliance of Career Enhancement (HACE) to positively impact the workforce by cultivating the pipeline of Latinx/a/o and underrepresented talent and providing insight, access, and support to their careers. Patricia serves as the President & CEO for HACE, leading strategy, fundraising & development, leadership programs, and expanding organizational reach on a national and international scale. Patricia’s story of transition is one that is representative of many of the stories of those positively impacted by programs and opportunities through HACE.

When she was asked to step in as the interim CEO in 2014, her mission was clear: maintain the programs, lead by example, and create a new path for the future CEO. She built the strategic plan and deployed it that same year. Less than 1 year after accepting the interim CEO opportunity, she was the likely choice as she identified with the members, learned from colleagues, was creative at turnaround and assumed the role as CEO. In her first year, she grew new partnerships by $1.5M, increased membership by 67%, expanded the Mujeres de HACE women’s leadership program from one to eight cities, broadened the spectrum of the El Futuro High School program, and kickstarted a pilot of the HACE Leadership Academy – Nonprofit Series, impacting the lives of over 25,000 students and professionals. Today, the budget has quadrupled, membership has tripled to nearly 100k, with an expanded reach across 35 states and 7 countries, and enhanced leadership programming to include senior leaders, entrepreneurs, and multicultural participation.

Patricia remains fixed on member needs, revenue turnaround and growth, all the while focusing internally on a staff that had to shift to a remote-only workplace during one of the highest growth years since the inception of HACE. The year 2020 saw her leadership take a front seat to increasing activity around a newly virtual workforce, where she acted with urgency, communicated with transparency, sought diverse opinions from her team and board and led with empathy, ultimately leading a thriving organization during such a tumultuous time.

In 2021, Patricia added Co-Founder to her list of accolades, collaborating to build SHENIX™, a FinTech startup that is leading the development of a financial tool to help close the wealth gap by providing culturally relevant financial education, career development tools, and resources to the underserved, the underbanked or unbanked, starting with Latinas.

Patricia has a strong history of serving in capacities that garner access to education, meaningful jobs, and advancement, also reflected by her service on various boards and accolades; serving on the Associated Colleges of Illinois, Indiana University’s O’Neil School of Public Affairs Distinguished Alumni Council, Chicago Theological Seminary Board of Trustee, Illinois Treasurer Charitable Trust Board and most recently awarded the SHERO award by the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW) in 2021, the Nonprofit HR Top Leaders to Watch in 2020, and Crain’s Chicago Business Top 20 Most Powerful Latinos in Chicago in 2019.

Patricia earned a double Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University-Bloomington in Spanish and Communication & Culture and a Master’s in Public Affairs (MPA) in Public Management from Indiana University’s School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA)-Indianapolis, along with executive leadership certificates from both Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Patricia is also a certified coach and Insights Discovery© licensed practitioner, and a proud 2022 World Economic Forum Delegate, 2019 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and Aspen Institute Festival of Ideas Scholar.

Patricia is a proud Mexican-American, Latina, daughter of immigrants and first-generation college student. She is a fitness enthusiast, health and lifestyle aficionado. She grew up in East Chicago, Indiana, and currently resides in Chicago. (Elected 2024/25)

Bio

Anita J. Ponder

Anita J. Ponder​

Anita J. Ponder, one of the nation’s leading attorneys and consultants, is the CEO and General Counsel of Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG), a legal consulting firm she founded and continues to manage. With over three decades of experience, Anita's work encompasses strategic legal guidance and advocacy for a diverse range of clients, including government agencies (state and local), large corporations and nonprofit organizations, with a focus on small, disadvantaged, minority and women businesses enterprises and diverse employees on government contracts. Her legal expertise includes government contracts, supplier and workplace diversity, and grant writing and administration in the industries of construction, transportation, education, and cannabis licensing.

Ms. Ponder’s notable accomplishments include: conducting DEI assessments, strategies and training; identifying DEI best practices nationwide; grant writing, administration and technical services; developing and implementing DBE/MBE/WBE, social equity and technical assistance programs; developing and implementing a small business certification initiative; preparing a 50-state memorandum on government procurement and bidding requirements; and organizing and chairing the Government Contractors Business Forum, a business group for established government contractors to assist them compete more effectively in the governmental marketplace.

Prior to leading PDG, Ms. Ponder was a partner and government contracts lead at some of Chicago’s most prestigious law firms, including Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, the nation’s largest minority and women-owned law firm, as well as Seyfarth Shaw, Drinker Biddle & Reath, and Quarles & Brady. At these firms, she represented the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, and several other government agencies outside of Illinois. She also represented a number of government contractors and consultants, including many of the top firms in the construction and transportation industries in Illinois. Prior to private practice, Ms. Ponder worked for Chicago Mayor Harold Washington in the Departments of Public Works and Procurement Services and provided legal support to his supplier diversity and workplace diversity leadership teams.

Ms. Ponder’s educational background includes a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration and Political Science from Fisk University. Her legal acumen, coupled with her effective community engagement and diversity advocacy, has earned her numerous awards throughout her career. She has also published several legal articles, been the featured speaker and has made television and radio appearances to discuss a range of government contracting and diversity topics. Ms. Ponder’s professional journey reflects her dedication to leveraging legal expertise to advocate for equitable business practices and to empower underrepresented communities in the governmental and business sectors. Her work not only contributes to the legal field but also to the broader goal of creating inclusive and diverse environments in business and government. (Elected 2024/25)

Bio

Angela L. Putnam

Audit Committee Chair

Angela L. Putnam

Angela L. Putnam is currently the Chief Accounting Officer and is responsible for overseeing more than 70 professionals in the accounting, financial reporting, tax, procurement, and facilities areas at Old National Bancorp, a $50+ billion SEC registrant that serves communities throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. Previously, Angela was a Director in the Financial Institutions Group of RSM's Great Lakes practice. Angela was responsible for providing and managing various audit and risk management services, including internal audit, FDICIA examinations, Sarbanes- Oxley implementation and attestation, SEC financial reporting, and financial statement audit services. (Elected 2021/22)

Bio

Gretchen Wolf

Secretary and Resource Development Committee Chair

Gretchen Wolf

Gretchen Wolf is a Partner, Litigation at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She represents a wide variety of clients in complex regulatory investigations, enforcement matters and civil litigation. She has extensive experience managing multijurisdictional and cross-border matters with investigation and litigation components and regularly assists clients in navigating related discovery issues. Ms. Wolf has represented corporations and individuals in many regulatory and government enforcement investigation matters, including enforcement matters before the SEC, CFTC the DOJ and state Attorneys General. She has assisted boards and audit committees in conducting internal investigations of potential accounting irregularities, improper business practices and corporate governance issues. Ms. Wolf has represented companies and their officers and directors in a variety of litigation, including case-involving issues of complex accounting, securities, consumer fraud, corporate transactions, product liability and other commercial matters. Ms. Wolf currently serves on the firm’s Electronic Discovery Committee and has assisted in developing manuals and training presentations regarding electronic discovery best practices. She also participates in the firm’s annual training program for new associates. Ms. Wolf has represented pro bono clients in a variety of immigration matters. She also serves on the board of directors for the National Immigrant Justice Center. (Elected 2017/18)

Bio

Contact

For board inquiries, contact Becca Olson (Board Administrator) at bolson@cfw.org.

CFW Team

Keenya Lambert

President and CEO

Keenya Lambert

Keenya Lambert, new President and CEO, Chicago Foundation for Women

Keenya Lambert is a Chicago native with 20 years of successful nonprofit experience in fundraising, advocacy, direct service, and executive leadership. She has dedicated her career to funding movements that drive access to justice and opportunity. Most recently, she served as the Chief Development Officer for Nourishing Hope since 2022. During her tenure, the development team raised $7.7 million, earned the inaugural Northern Trust Anchor Award of $1 million, and managed over 6,700 volunteers to provide over four million meals a year to any person experiencing hunger in the city of Chicago. The Northern Trust Anchor Award supercharges Nourishing Hope’s plans to grow partnerships with trusted organizations on the South and West Sides of Chicago in communities that have long endured racial inequities.

Prior to serving at Nourishing Hope, Keenya led the development operations for the Shriver Center on Poverty Law. She successfully completed a multi-million-dollar campaign spearheaded by the Shriver family to build a new pipeline of funding supporting both new and ongoing efforts to fight poverty. For nearly a decade at the organization, she built a robust individual giving program, funded state and federal advocacy campaigns, and engaged national public leaders and celebrities as ambassadors of economic and racial justice. At Shriver, her leadership accelerated the work of attorneys advancing laws and policies that promoted economic mobility, racial justice, equitable housing, and access to quality healthcare.

Lambert has long been a strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion in fundraising and philanthropy, mentoring and supporting professionals of color in their growth and success in these fields.

Earlier in her career, she held various positions with The Chicago Urban League, KIPP Chicago, Arts Alliance Illinois, and Street-level Youth Media. Keenya earned a master’s in arts management from Columbia College Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College. Currently, she volunteers as a member of CFW’s South Side Giving Circle and enjoys spending time with her family.

Bio

Christina Armstrong

Program Officer, Women's Leadership Development

Rebecca Hanks

Officer, Corporate and Foundation Relations

Kandice Head

Director of Marketing and Communications

Ilda Lagunas

Director of Donor and Community Engagement
CFW-Vanessa Lee

Vanessa Lee

Program Officer, Collective Giving

Yvette Nelson

Office Manager

Becca Olson

Board Administrator

Inaara Sultanali

Special Events and Marketing Associate

Wendy Vega-Huezo

Director of Human Resources

Whitney Wade

Senior Program Officer

Lora York

Director of Programs

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, contact Kandice Head (Director of Marketing and Communications) at khead@cfw.org.