THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MIDDLE TENNESSEE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Donor Services
Amy works with current donors to support their charitable giving through their funds and introduces prospective donors to current and planned giving opportunities. In all cases, she helps individuals and families customize their giving to achieve their charitable goals in partnership with The Community Foundation.
Whether donors are looking for information about nonprofit organizations, the latest details on The Foundation's investment performance, how to involve their children in their giving, or the steps to coordinate a legacy gift as part an estate plan, she is there to share the best resource and provide guidance.
A native Ohioan, Amy made her way to Nashville for graduate school at Vanderbilt University after receiving her undergraduate degree from Ohio State University. She began her 20-year community foundation career at The Columbus Foundation.
Outside of work, she gives back to the community through her membership in Impact Nashville, a women's giving circle founded in 2015, and occasional volunteer roles at the Metro Nashville Public Schools her two children attend.
Job Titles:
- ChildcareTennessee Financial Coordinator
- Financial Coordinator
Anne is responsible for supporting ChildcareMatters' products and is the lead associate for ChildcareTennessee Financial Services. She is the financial coordinator for The Community Foundation's contract with the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
A graduate of The University of Alabama, Huntsville, Anne brings more than 20 years of accounting and financial analysis experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors to The Foundation.
Her passion for theater led her to work with various nonprofit theaters over the span of 12 years. Anne is also a member of NAEYC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Development Manager
- Development Manager, Donor Services
Audra is a Development Manager on the Donor Services team. Since joining The Community Foundation, she has connected new nonprofits and re-engaged others, as well as engaged new corporate partners. Audra has been instrumental in launching the Give Black, Give Back Initiative at The Foundation. This iniative connects Black Philanthropists with nonprofits that are led by and support the Black community.
Audra holds a Master's degree in Consumer Education and is an experienced marketer. She also has grant and fundraising experience. She loves empowering nonprofits and connecting the dots. Audra sees potential in finding "mutually beneficial" solutions between individual philanthropists and corporations who desire to invest in nonprofits within our communities; especially communities of color.
A native Tennessean, Audra was born and raised in East Tennessee on a farm and is proud of her "small town" upbringing. Her ability to negotiate and communicate with individuals on all levels from the cashier to CEO comes from being raised in a family with eight siblings.
Audra would love to connect with you and talk about how joining with other professionals committed to building stronger, more diverse, and equitable communities is important, and simply the right thing to do.
Job Titles:
- Director, Donor Engagement
Belinda is responsible for establishing and expanding The Foundation's ability to Connect Generosity with Need. She assists donors in creating lasting legacies supporting organizations and causes they are passionate about.
Belinda brings extensive nonprofit experience to The Community Foundation, particularly in fundraising and leadership.
She enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, or curling up with a good book.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Employee Care Programs
As Vice President of Employee Care Program, Benja works with partner funders from over 80 different corporations nationwide, administering programs to provide emergency support for their employees experiencing crisis. She also oversees The Foundation's compliance with the Community Foundation National Standards Board accreditation program. This program certifies U.S. community foundations that meet and exceed federal and state law requirements demonstrating a commitment to accountability and excellence to its donors and community.
A Nashville native, Benja holds a Master's degree in counseling and has years of experience working with social service agencies in Middle Tennessee. She joined The Foundation in 2004 after previously working for Centerstone Mental Health Services, Omni Vision Behavioral Health, and most recently, the YWCA Domestic Violence Center.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Advisory Member
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Cassandra leads and manages the ChildcareTennessee initiative's grant contracts with the Tennessee Department of Human Services. These grants are for increasing capacity, strengthening quality and/or promoting compliance with licensing standards that support improved child outcomes in early childhood education and enhance child care programs.
Before joining The Community Foundation's ChildcareTennessee initiative, she worked in nonprofit for nearly 16 years managing federal and state-funded programs to assist underserved communities with economic self-sufficiency through education, health, financial stability, and employment strategies.
A native of Mississippi, Cassandra built her career in West Tennessee before relocating to Nashville with her family in 2021.
Outside of The Foundation, Cassandra enjoys traveling, exploring the local food scene, and cheering on the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Associate With the Employee Care Funds
- Associate, Employee Care Funds
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Senior Accounting Manager
As Senior Accounting Manager, Cynthia is responsible for payroll as well as supporting the work of the Chief Financial Officer, including accounting functions, financial reporting, budget preparation, and duties related to investment oversight, fund establishment and maintenance.
Dalton is a finance associate who provides support for the ChildcareTennessee and Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) Support and Enhancement Grant. His responsibilities include processing and archiving applications, final reports, and receipts of grant recipients.
Born and raised in Nashville, Dalton is a graduate of Volunteer State Community College and is pursuing a finance degree at Middle Tennessee State University. Previously, he worked at HCA Healthcare as a Medicaid Application Specialist.
When he's not studying, Dalton enjoys spending time outdoors with his dog Shadow and detailing his car.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- West Tennessee Regional Coordinator
Before joining The Community Foundation's ChildcareTennessee initiative, Daphne worked for over 20 years supporting children and families across Tennessee. During her career, she provided direct care and supervision for teens in group homes, helped develop child and public welfare policy, and managed foster care child permanency plans with many successful adoptive placements. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Service Management.
Daphne is the West Tennessee Regional Coordinator and travels that region holding trainings on ChildcareTennessee.com and assisting child care agencies in applying for ChildcareTennessee's Support and Enhancement Grant.
When she's not supporting child care agencies in her region, Daphne enjoys relaxing with a classic TV show on the couch with her rescue dog.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Donor Services and Grants Associate
Debbie provides support to donor services activities for The Community Foundation. She works closely with the Donor Services team to ensure people from every corner of the community can achieve their charitable goals.
Previously, Debbie worked in marketing and advertising account service, serving nonprofit, corporate and retail clients.
Deborah is the "voice" of The Community Foundation. Hers is often the first voice you hear when contacting the organization. She manages the daily flow of information at the foundation, including answering the phone and connecting people with whom they need to reach. She is also responsible for managing the foundation's facilities, office supplies and equipment. Deborah provides administrative support to The Community Foundation's staff and Board Members.
She brings comprehensive administrative experience to the organization, having previously served as a financial assistant at both Beazer Homes in Nashville and Cahill Gordon & Reindel at their New York office.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the BOARD OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Member of the BOARD OFFICERS Team
- President
- the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee As President
Ellen has served The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee as president since it began in 1991, and has seen it grow to become a philanthropic force in a 40-county area in Middle Tennessee. With a background in sociology and business, Ellen directs The Foundation's efforts to promote and facilitate charitable giving and endowment building, thereby giving donors choices, convenience, cost-effectiveness and security, as they make their charitable dreams a reality.
Job Titles:
- Creative Services Manager
Emily is responsible for the design, creation, and management of materials promoting and supporting The Community Foundation. She works alongside of team members, event chairs, and other volunteers to assist in concept, design and production of a wide-range of creative needs. She also serves as the point of contact for all design needs and various outside vendors. Prior to joining The Community Foundation, Emily served as a senior graphic designer and the creative manager for The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Erin manages NowPlayingNashville.com, a website helping Middle Tennessee and beyond find Where to Go & What to Do. She is responsible for day-to-day management of the website, building strategic relationships with partners, implementing marketing strategies, and developing revenue streams through advertising and ticketing platforms.
Before joining NowPlayingNashville.com, Erin worked in public relations in Memphis, TN where she received one of their highest team member awards, the Bravo Zulu Award, from her client FedEx. She is a graduate of The University of Mississippi, where she majored in Broadcast Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations.
Erin grew up in West Tennessee and spends a lot of her time giving back in that region through her fund at The Foundation, the Team Mica Fund. Its goal is to prevent and eventually eliminate suicide in West Tennessee through prevention trainings, education and outreach, and providing support groups to increase resources to rural communities.
She and her husband are devoted pet owners and enjoy travelling together.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager
- Senior Manager of ChildcareTennessee
Gina is the Senior Manager of ChildcareTennessee, an initiative of The Community Foundation. She oversees ChildcareTennessee's many projects, grants and teams.
H. Franklin Brooks never really talked about himself because he always wanted to talk about what was going on in the lives of others. He was a distinguished gentleman and a gracious host who loved to bring people together. Life was a pleasant party filled with arts, love and laughter. Franklin Brooks wanted all people to feel included, no matter what their way of life.
He was a listener - genuinely interested in all people, not just those like him. He could sit down and listen to a four-year-old child as intently and with as much engagement as he would with a colleague or student. That was the thing that made him so beloved. He had a unique way with people, and his agenda was the whole human family.
For 25 years, Franklin Brooks was one of the most beloved figures on Vanderbilt University's campus. As an associate professor in the Department of French and Italian, he was repeatedly recognized in the classroom - as much for his creative teaching technique - as for his natural friendliness and personal integrity.
Franklin was instrumental in leading the dialogue that eventually helped include gays and lesbians in Vanderbilt's anti-harassment policy in the late 1980s. He was also the faculty sponsor for the first lesbian and gay students organization on campus.
After Franklin's death in 1994, a group of his friends wanted to honor him and to continue his forthright championing of human rights, and so The Brooks Fund was created at The Community Foundation. Franklin's tireless work to promote equality for gay and lesbians and diversity among the community as a whole is a legacy that lives on through The Brooks Fund.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- GivingMatters.Com Associate
As a GivingMatters.com Associate, Hayley works closely with Middle Tennessee nonprofits, funders, and the general public to ensure GivingMatters.com remains a useful tool for our community. She especially loves building relationships with nonprofits and being a dependable source of assistance and information to them.
Hayley is a native Nashvillian, and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and brings experience as the previous Grants Coordinator with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Isabella works in The Community Foundation's finance department on investments, grants, donations, and ad hoc projects.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Entrepreneurship from Belmont University, where she also completed her Master's of Education in Nonprofit Leadership. Isabella previously worked at Vanderbilt University and LEAD Public Schools.
Outside of the office, Isabella teaches yoga and loves to explore Nashville for great vegan restaurants. She also loves to spend time at The Bookshop in East Nashville, and you can find her rereading Pride & Prejudice every summer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD OFFICERS Team
- Secretary
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Jana is responsible for supporting the work of the Chief Financial Officer, including accounting functions, financial reporting, budget preparation and duties related to investment oversight and fun establishment and maintenance.
Before joining The Community Foundation, Jana served as a Partner and business manager for RuckusFilm, producing music videos, commercials, television and four feature films.
A native Minnesotan, Jana made her way south and enjoys the warmer weather.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Delek Fund for Hope, Program Manager
Job Titles:
- Women 's Fund Coordinator
Jenni supports and coordinates The Women's Fund activities, including the annual education forum, Power of the Purse Luncheon and Girls Give initiative. She also provides support to the donor services team in their effort to Connect Generosity with Need.
Prior to joining the foundation as an employee, Jenni served on The Community Foundation's Wilson County Affiliate Board and The Women's Fund Board.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Jenni has worked in pharmaceutical sales as well.
She spends her time outside of The Foundation supporting her two teenagers at musical theater events or drumline competitions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Jessye is shared between The Community Foundation Finance Department and the ChildcareTennessee initiative. She provides as administrative support, travel coordination, expense report filing, and other supports to both teams.
Before joining The Foundation, Jessye worked with TennCare, assisting with the Managed Care division, leasing with MAA, a real estate development trust, and was recently certified as an insurance producer for the State of Tennessee in Property, Casualty, Life, and Health.
She attended both the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Belmont University. Her time at these institutions helped shape her love of education, child care, and the possibilities of positive change when the right organizations are funded by people who care.
Outside of the office, Jessye enjoys spending time with her miniature dachshund, traveling around our beautiful city searching for the best food, and supporting local businesses when she shops.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- ChildcareTennessee, Regional Coordinator Northeast
Julia is the ChildcareTennessee Coordinator for Northeast Tennessee. She travels that region holding trainings on ChildcareTennessee.com and assisting child care agencies in applying for ChildcareTennessee's Support and Enhancement Grant.
Previously, she worked for over 20 years in early childhood education as a Director. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Management and Organization Development from Spring Arbor University in Michigan.
When she's not supporting child care agencies in her region, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and four grandchildren, teaching painting classes and volunteering with Shower Up in Nashville.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Communications
Kelly is responsible for strengthening the image and brand awareness for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT) and its community initiatives through her award-winning work and strategic execution. Along with the leadership of the marketing strategies, she oversees the implementation of CFMT's communication materials, including its quarterly newsletters, annual reports, monthly e-news updates, and the management for many of CFMT's websites - ensuring all efforts are engaging for their individual, unique audiences.
Kelly is a member of the Donor Services Team and manages the scholarship program. Kelly is originally from Shelbyville, TN and went to college in Memphis where she received her Bachelor's degree in Education and her Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Memphis, GO TIGERS!
Kelly has worked for a decade on both sides of the desk in college admissions. She worked at the University of Memphis and the University of Alabama at Birmingham in undergraduate admissions guiding students and their families through the college admissions process. She most recently worked as a College Counselor at LEAD Academy in Nashville, TN.
Kelly is truly passionate about higher education which is apparent in her volunteer work with two national organizations. Kelly is the current NACAC (National Association of College Admission Counseling) College Fair Chair for Nashville where she coordinates the annual college fair for Middle Tennessee students. She is also committed to her work for SACAC (Southern Association of College Admission Counseling) currently serving as the Summer Seminar Co-Chair, TN Government Relations Co-Chair, and as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Kelly loves to spend time with her family at Memphis Tiger sporting events and traveling. Most weekends she enjoys exploring local parks with her dog, Dorsey.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- the Community Foundation As Its First Employee
- Vice President of Grants
Laundrea joined The Community Foundation as its first employee in 1991. A Nashville native, she is the Vice President of Grants of The Community Foundation. Laundrea manages the operation of grant programs, including Discretionary Grants, Donor-Advised Grants and The Foundation's Scholarship program, which includes more than 140 scholarships.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD OFFICERS Team
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- ChildcareTennessee Regional Coordinator, Middle and Southeast
Mandy is the Middle and Southeast Tennessee Regional Coordinator for ChildcareTennessee. She travels those regions holding trainings on ChildcareTennessee.com and assisting child care agencies in applying for ChildcareTennessee's Support and Enhancement Grant.
Before joining The Community Foundation's ChildcareTennessee initiative, Mandy worked in the child care field for over 16 years. She has taught preschool, kindergarten and first grade, served as a Program Evaluator using ECERS, ITERS and CLASS assessment tools and worked as an Early Childhood Specialist at Save the Children, providing training and technical assistance to ECE professionals in rural Tennessee and Alabama.
She holds a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education.
When she's not supporting child care agencies in her regions, Mandy enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Finance Associate
- Associate With ChildcareTennessee
Medhat is a finance associate with ChildcareTennessee, a Community Foundation initiative. Born and raised in Egypt, he graduated from the University of Alexandria.
During his career, Medhat has worked for with the Tennessee Department of Transportation as an external auditor, among other accounting roles. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
When he's not crunching numbers, Medhat relaxes to jazz music, likes to travel and keeps up with his favorite sports.
Melisa joined The Community Foundation as its second employee. Since joining, Melisa has played an instrumental role in The Foundation's growth, rising to Chief Financial Officer.
Before joining the foundation, Melisa traveled the U.S. as an auditor for Genesco and worked at HCA in the self-insurance department with investments. She graduated from David Lipscomb University.
An Alabama native, Melisa enjoys visiting her parents on the farm she grew up on and cheering on The University of Alabama. Roll Tide!
Melissa serves as The Community Foundation's primary contact for investment managers and process the reconciliation of the many separate investment accounts under The Foundation's financial umbrella. She also assists the Chief Financial Officer in preparing the annual operating budget and forecasts.
Other miscellaneous duties include Accounts Payable, processing donations for The Foundation, GivingMatters and NowPlayingNashville and handling all incoming stock gifts from donors. Her work is vital to the operation of The Foundation's online giving system and her support has been essential to the productivity and timeliness of our financial accounting.
Outside of the office Melissa enjoys the outdoors, camping and boating.
Michael joined the staff of the Community Foundation in March 2000. Currently serving as Senior Nonprofit and Endowment Liaison, he represents The Foundation in the 43 counties of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky it serves. He assists nonprofit organizations in their philanthropic and charitable goals as well as assists in their infrastructure and endowment building. Prior to The Foundation, he served as Community Arts Development Director for the Tennessee Arts Commission, where he developed and sustained partnerships with other state agencies and nonprofit organizations. He has served as a panelist and consultant for local, regional and out of state organizations and has served as a board member of the Tennessee Festival Events Association. Michael is a graduate of Leadership Donelson Hermitage, class of 2006.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Morgan serves as The Community Foundation's staff photographer and videographer. She tells the story of The Foundation and its fund holders and donors through various forms of digital and visual media.
Morgan has a background in photojournalism and assists with The Community Foundation's social media presence, newsletters, annual reports and promotional materials.
She grew up in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania and graduated from The Art Institute of Philadelphia. Outside of The Community Foundation, she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with friends.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- GivingMatters.Com Manager
- the Tomorrow Fund Coordinator
Still interested in joining? Reach out to Nicole at nicole@cfmt.org to get started.
As the GivingMatters.com Manager, Nicole works closely with Middle Tennessee nonprofits, funders, and the general public to ensure GivingMatters.com remains a useful tool for our community. She especially loves helping organizations tell their stories and raise much-needed funds.
Nicole grew up in Vero Beach, Florida, and is a graduate of Kennesaw State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services with a concentration in Nonprofit Administration.
In her spare time she enjoys volunteering, doing science projects with her kids, and exploring Nashville with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Services Coordinator
- ChildcareNashville Program Services Coordinator
- Program Coordinator for ChildcareNashville
As program coordinator for ChildcareNashville, Paola oversees child care centers' profiles on ChildcareNashville.com, including providing training and technical assistance to new and existing users of the site. She also oversaw the complete Spanish translation of ChildcareNashville.com and also assists with translating for other initiatives of The Community Foundation.
Paola was born and grew up in Posadas, Argentina and has a Bachelor's Degree in English Education. Outside of The Community Foundation, she enjoys cooking, the outdoors or settling down with a good book.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Director, Media and Community Relations
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- Member of the Advisory Committee
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- Technology Systems Administrator
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- Member of the Advisory Committee
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- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- ChildcareTennessee Associate
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- the Sports Fund Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Manager, Employee Care Programs
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- Child Care Substitute Service Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
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- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Delek Fund for Hope, Program Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
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- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of TRUSTEES