Democratic Philanthropy in Action
SPF employs a two-tiered membership-based structure of governance that forms a system of checks and balances to allow for a space where democratic and participatory philanthropy can flourish. Members are selected for their regional expertise, sound judgment, management skills, and leadership potential. SPF’s membership is derived from leaders of currently or previously funded grassroots organizations.
Enshrined in SPF’s by-laws, at least 80% of its members are people of color grassroots leaders from the rural South. They serve on committees, including grantmaking and finance, and are actively involved in the organization.
Term-limited board members are elected from within SPF’s membership pool to ensure SPF remains led by those it’s meant to serve. SPF’s experience has indeed confirmed for us that grassroots community organizing is the strategy with the greatest potential to produce viable, progressive, and institutional change for a more economically and racially equitable South.
Our Board
Dianna Freelon-Foster
John Littles
Kattie Kendrick
Margarita Romo
Brett Bursey
Shaq Cosse
April Jarocki
Erendira Vazquez Moreno
Erin Dale-McClellan
2026 Membership
VIVIAN ANDERSON
BRETT BURSEY
ANDRE CHEEK CASTLEBERRY
NADESKA CONCHA
SHAQ COSSE
MARCOS CRISANTO
CAROLYN FORD
DIANNA FREELON-FOSTER
OMARI FOX
MARILYN HUNTER
APRIL JAROCKI
LEROY JOHNSON
ROSE JOHNSON
KATTIE VINSON-KENDRICK
JOHN LITTLES
ERIN DALE MCCLELLAN
TIRSO MORENO
BRYAN PERLMUTTER
LAVERNE ROBINSON
MARGARITA ROMO
DARLA SAUNDERS
KAMEISHA SMITH
CORRY STEVENSON
ERENDIRA VASQUEZ MORENO
KAREN WATSON
GARDENIA WHITE
KAREN WOODALL
JOHN ZIPPERT
Membership Composition by Ethnicity
Membership Composition by Gender
For additional information, please contact:
Kahlil Johnson
kahlil@southernpartnersfund.org
Office: (404) 541-9091 x127
Cell: (404) 771-3634