Our Team

CJRF operates with three staff, three liaisons from Arabella Advisors, and a nine-member Governing Board that recommends CJRF funding decisions to the New Venture Fund (NVF). Grant applicants may receive emails from CJRF staff and/or Arabella Advisors staff regarding proposals.

The Climate Justice Resilience Fund is a project of the New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity registered in the United States. The New Venture Fund contracts many services from Arabella Advisors, a certified B corporation with offices in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco. CJRF staff work with an account team at Arabella Advisors that supports our grantmaking and due diligence.

CJRF Governing Board

CJRF’s new governing board consists of people with intimate knowledge of the realities that people face across the globe due to the climate crisis. Their insights will help CJRF create real impact for communities who experience the most devastating effects of a changing climate. This new governing board represents a shift from traditional philanthropy, where foundation staff and wealthy individuals make grantmaking decisions.

Angela Sanau

Diana Samarasan

Helen Biangalen-Magata

Maria Alejandra Escalante

Nilesh Prakash

Panganga Pungowiyi

Pato Kelesitse

Samuel Yagase

Zahid Amin Shashoto

Climate Justice Resilience Fund Staff

Heather McGray, Director

Hilary Nilsen, Grants and Learning Program Officer

Ayesha Dinshaw, Loss and Damage Program Officer

Kanchen Shakya, Program Assistant

Kwolanne Felix, Board Liason

Ritu Gupta, Gender Integration and Resource Coordinator – Loss and Damage Program

Arabella Advisors Staff

Arabella Advisors staff assist CJRF in the grantmaking due diligence process. In many cases, Arabella Advisors staff will work on behalf of the CJRF to coordinate grant agreements and any potential due diligence concerns with grant applicants.

Kate Mitchell

Stefan Mesarovich

Madeleine Munn