October FOCUS Forum: Funders and their Priorities

Nancy Kern Eaton is president of the United Way of Central New York. She has spent her career working in non-profit organizations and believes that we do our best work when we do it together.

Nancy has served in leadership roles at ARISE, Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area, Syracuse Weed & Seed Community Partnership, Home HeadQuarters, and Housing Visions Unlimited. Nancy began her non-profit career as a client advocate at the Erie County Mental Health Association.

A graduate of the Leadership Greater Syracuse Class of 2000, Nancy has been honored to receive awards including Career Achievement from the CNY Business Journal, Community Team Spirit Award from the Salvation Army, Key4Women Community Impact Award 2020, Outstanding Fundraiser from the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Woman of Distinction from New York State Senate, Champion for Children from the Boys & Girls Clubs, and Northside Hall of Fame.

Nancy is a member of the Board of Directors of CenterState CEO, Early Childhood Alliance, and the United Way New York State Association. She also is active on the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, LeadSafe CNY Coalition and the Advisory Board of the Housing & Homeless Coalition.

While not a native of CNY, Nancy believes this is a wonderful community and a fantastic place to live. She and her husband, Doug, are blessed with a family that includes seven beautiful grandchildren ages 1 to 8.

Meg serves as Executive Director of the Allyn Family Foundation, a private family foundation focused on building a vibrant, equitable and prosperous community. Prior to joining the Allyn Family Foundation, Meg worked in nonprofit fund development and from 2012-2013 served as Interim President of Onondaga Community College.

In 2019, Meg led the creation of a 78,000 sq. ft. building in downtown Syracuse known as the Salt City Market and has recently undertaken the redevelopment of the Chimes Building at 500 South Salina Street.  Meg currently serves as Chair of the Syracuse Urban Partnership, SEED Syracuse, Early Childhood Alliance, Work Train, ABC Cayuga Play Space, and as Treasurer of Blueprint 15.  She also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of CenterState CEO and the CNY Works.  She serves on the Mayor’s Syracuse Surge Executive Committee and was recently appointed to the Micron Community Engagement Committee.  Meg is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Frank Ridzi, PhD, MPA, is Vice President for Community Investment at the Central New York Community Foundation and Associate Professor of Sociology at Le Moyne College. Frank has helped to launch and lead community initiatives in areas such as increasing community literacy, reducing lead poisoning and addressing poverty and economic inclusion. His writings have appeared in such places as the Foundation Review, Journal of Applied Social Sciences, the Journal of Organizational Change Management, and Review of Policy Research.

Sheena joined the Gifford Foundation team in 2007 and was named Executive Director in January 2019. Her prior work at the foundation was primarily focused on expanding its community impact initiatives, as well as working with the grants management team.  She has been instrumental in the design and planning of Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders a leadership development training that focuses on increasing the diversity and inclusiveness of nonprofit boards.

Sheena is a 2012 graduate of the PLACES (Professionals Learning About Community Equity and Smart Growth) program, a yearlong professional development program designed to explore critical issues that affect grantmaking decisions that are responsive to the needs and assets of low-income neighborhoods and people of color.  She now serves on the Advisory Board for the program as the Chair.  Sheena also dedicates her time by serving on local and national boards such as the Syracuse Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), the Urban Minority Economic Association (UMEA), The Near Westside Initiative, The Funders Network, Empire State Development (REDC) Council, M&T Directors Advisory Council and the Community Engagement Committee. In her role as Executive Director, she remains fully committed and engaged in racial justice, equity, and inclusion work.

Before joining the Gifford Foundation, Sheena spent several years working at local non-profit organizations where she developed an understanding and joy for working with people in the community. Sheena was essential in the creation and implementation of Gifford’s city-wide initiative, the “What If…” Mini-Grants, which provides a resource for fostering growth in neighborhoods and strengthening the capacity of residents who are focused on making positive changes in their communities.

Sheena is passionate about fostering growth in others. She understands the need to have patience and understanding in addressing the needs of the community.  She truly believes the “teaching people how to fish” concept and celebrating diversity is the best way to build and sustain strong, vibrant, and inclusive communities. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and treasuring every moment because tomorrow is promised to no one. She looks forward to continuing her journey of being a confident, competent, courageous, and calm leader.