The Community Foundation is excited to welcome a number of new faces and exciting changes within our Community Foundation family these past few months!
The Community Foundation Board of Trustees
The Community Foundation is excited to announce that Quanda Allen will serve as Treasurer for the Board of Trustees.
Quanda Allen is the Market Managing Director of PNC’s Institutional Asset Management Group in Greater Washington, where she leads a team of experienced investment, client service and sales professionals responsible for delivering PNC’s outsourced investment solutions, retirement plan services and proprietary fixed income capabilities. Through a comprehensive, disciplined process, PNC’s IAM Group provides investment services to a wide array of corporations, charities, associations, healthcare organizations, and municipalities.
The Community Foundation would also like to thank Lia Dean, who concluded her service as a member of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees in December 2024.
Lia is the President of Banking & Premium Products at Capital One. We are grateful for her dedicated service to The Community Foundation and the broader region!
Montgomery County Advisory Board
The Community Foundation is excited to welcome Robin Meisner Cameron, Managing Director at CBIZ, as the new Chair of the Montgomery County Advisory Board. Robin has served on the Advisory Board since Spring 2020, including most recently as Vice Chair of the Advisory Board.
We also welcome Stew Edelstein, Executive Director Emeritus of The Universities at Shady Grove as the new Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Advisory Board.
We’d like to thank outgoing Chair, Catherine Leggett for her service and leadership as Chair of the Montgomery County Advisory Board. We look forward to continuing to collaborate, as she continues her service on the Advisory Board.
The Community Foundation would also like to thank Stacy Murchison who concluded her service as a member of The Community Foundation’s Montgomery County Advisory Board in March 2025.
Stacy is the Senior Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer at Chevy Chase Trust. We are grateful for her thoughtful leadership on numerous efforts including chairing the Sharing Montgomery Grants Committee.
Prince George’s County Advisory Board
Belinda Cook, Private Client Relationship Advisor
Belinda Cook is a private client relationship advisor at Brown Advisory. She is responsible for servicing multiple relationships including institutional and high net worth clients. Prior to joining the firm, Belinda was a Vice President, Trust Officer at Bank of America Private Bank (formerly U.S. Trust).
Belinda is a proud first-generation college graduate, having earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, NC.
In addition to her role on the Advisory Board, Belinda volunteers at Children’s National Hospital and is the Chair of the Community Volunteer Committee (CVC) for Girls on the Run - DC.
The Community Foundation Staff
Nathan McMullen, Strategic Initiatives Associate
Nathan is a recent graduate with a proven track record of leadership and teamwork in multiple areas. He studied at the University of Maryland, College Park, earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Resource Economics. Graduates from UMD's College of Ag & Natural Resources are prepared to take on some of our most significant challenges such as access to nutrition, clean water, and the impacts of global climate change.
Nathan also brings a unique perspective on innovation and economic mobility, thanks to the Southern Management Leadership Program (SMLP). Students at SMLP complete a minor in Entrepreneurship, which focuses on topics like social entrepreneurship, design thinking, and network building.
Since graduating in 2023, Nathan has served as a mentor for Roots Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to investing in transformative change in rural communities in Uganda and Liberia. Nathan also has experience studying the impacts of pro-active cash assistance programs for the International Food Policy Research Institute.
Nathan is grateful and humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the foundation's work of addressing inequality in the DMV. Growing up in Washington, D.C., he has witnessed the impacts of suppressed economic mobility and limited opportunities for wealth building in the District’s marginalized communities.
Nathan is committed to working alongside the community investment team and the whole foundation to face and address the most pressing challenges in our community.
Olivia Hsu, Development Officer, Planned Giving
We’re excited to share that Olivia Hsu CFP®, CAP® will be taking on a new role at The Community Foundation as our Development Officer, Planned Giving.
Olivia joined The Community Foundation in May 2022, as a Development Associate working with donors in Montgomery County. In this new role, Olivia will work closely with our Senior Philanthropic Advisor to help donors from across the region organize and reach their planned giving goals. We’re excited to see her grow into this new role at The Community Foundation!
Yorman De La Rosa, Donor Services Officer
We’re also excited to share that Yorman De La Rosa is being promoted to Donor Services Officer.
Yorman joined The Community Foundation in April 2022, as a Donor Services Associate, serving as a Customer Relations Manager (CRM) for fundholders and initiatives based in DC. He has been an invaluable member of our donor services team, providing critical support for the Learn24 OST Scholarship program and other important initiatives. Thank you for all that you do!
Silvana Straw, Senior Community Investment Officer & Philanthropic Advisor
The Community Foundation is announcing that Silvana Straw will be leaving the organization in May, after more than 35 years as an integral and invaluable member of our team.
Over the past three and a half decades, Silvana has made countless contributions in her roles as Senior Program Officer, Senior Donor Services Officer, and Philanthropic Advisor. Her major accomplishments include contributions to help build The Community Foundation’s assets, fundraising, and donor services by cultivating and establishing new funds; as well as conceptualizing, developing, and leading strategic program initiatives and cross-sector partnerships – including The Circle of Hope (our very first initiative in 1994), Greater Washington Youth Philanthropy Initiative, Neighbors in Need Fund (during the great recession), and The Partnership to End Homelessness in 2019.
She has brought innovative approaches to our work and to the field of philanthropy which have had a major impact on The Community Foundation and the community we serve. You can read more about what drives her passion for this work in this profile article published as part of our 50th anniversary celebration.
Over the next few months, Silvana will work closely with her colleagues and with The Community Foundation leadership to ensure a smooth transition of her duties and fund management. Any questions about the Foundation’s work during this transition can be directed to Darius Graham, Managing Director, Community Investment and/or Chris Howie, Managing Director of Development.
Work Anniversary - Celebrating Five Years of Leadership at The Community Foundation!
Finally, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge an exciting work anniversary for our incredible CEO Tonia Wellons - who in April will commemorate five years of leadership as President & CEO of The Community Foundation.
Under her leadership, The Community Foundation developed a bold 10-year strategic vision, lead the region’s largest coordinated COVID-19 philanthropic response fund, and launched key initiatives including the Partnership to End Homelessness and VoicesDMV.
She has been recognized across the region and the nation as one of the most powerful leaders in community philanthropy, and continues to represent our organization, our region, and our sector with purpose, grace, and intentionality.
We are so thankful for her thoughtful and inspiring leadership, as together we work to create a region where every person prospers and thrives.