2016 National Conference

Heather D. Parish is Program Director at the Pierce Family Foundation, following many years as an independent consultant specializing in developing strategies and capacity-building initiatives for community economic development programs. Prior to establishing her work in the nonprofit sector, Ms. Parish worked as a Public Finance Associate with Prudential Securities Incorporated, as a Senior Consultant with KPMG Peat Marwick’s Government Services Practice, and as a Fiscal and Policy Analyst for the California Legislative Analyst’s Office. Ms.Parish holds a BachelorofArts degreein Applied Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where she specialized in Housing, Community Development and Urban Economic Development. 

Ellen Ray, Center for Changing Lives’ Executive Director, has a robust history of capacity building, program development and community building work. Prior to stepping into the role of Executive Director at Center for Changing Lives (CCL), Ellen served as CCL’s Program Director, as a Civic Action Organizer with Community Renewal Society, and in a number of direct service roles in social sector organizations across Chicago. Ellen holds a Master of the Arts degree from University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration, where she specialized in Community Development, Organizing and Planning. In her time leading CCL, the organization has seeded new programs, implemented and innovated upon a nationally recognized financial opportunity model, and secured two Social Innovation Fund awards for their work. As a national coaching training facilitator, Ellen brings CCL’s expertise and experience to bear in organizations all over the country.

Marianne Philbin is Executive Director of the Pierce Family Foundation, and continues to serve on occasion as a consultant to other foundations and nonprofit organizations. She has more than 25 years of experience working with foundations and nonprofit organizations on issues related to grantmaking, evaluation and strategic planning. She is co-author with Marcia Festen of the book Level Best: How Grassroots Organizations Can Tackle Evaluation and Talk Results (Wiley Publishing, 2006) and also co-author of How Effective Nonprofits Work: A Guide for Donors, Board Members and Foundation Officers (Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, 2002). In addition to her work with foundation and nonprofit clients, she is an instructor and curriculum developer for the Donors Forum of Chicago, where she developed and annually leads the Institute for New Grantmakers. Most recently for the Pierce Foundation, she spearheaded the creation of the Peer Skill Share program for grantees across the city, and the development of the Chicago Youth Storage Initiative, which provides storage space for youth experiencing homelessness so that they can more securely engage in programs, continue in school, apply for jobs, etc.

In the past she served as Development Director for the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which was part of Walter Annenberg's legacy to improve public education; Executive Director of the Chicago Foundation for Women during its critical start-up years; and Executive Director of The Peace Museum. She has served on nonprofit boards ranging from Amnesty International USA to Chicago Women in Philanthropy, the Chicago Global Donors Network, and Project Exploration. She also served for a number of years as a member of the Governance Committee for the Center for Victims of Torture, located in Minneapolis, MN