Carla Javits

President

Carla Javits is the President of REDF. As President, Carla sets REDF's strategy in partnership with the Board of Directors and oversees its operations. Under her leadership, REDF helps to create and grow new businesses to employ very poor people who otherwise are not likely to find or keep a job. She also oversees REDF's efforts to build the field by broadly sharing the results of its extensive, multi-year effort to measure outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of social enterprise in helping people with multiple barriers move into the workforce.

Prior to joining REDF, Carla was with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) for fifteen years, leading it for the last six. By the end of her tenure, CSH had committed nearly $124 million in loans and grants to support the creation of more than 16,000 units of supportive housing that were operational, with 10,500 more units in the pipeline. She has also worked as a policy and budget analyst for the State of California and as Director of Policy and Planning for the San Francisco Department of Social Services. Carla has served on the Board of Directors for The Philanthropic Initiative since 2006. She was appointed to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors in June 2007, and was elected to the board of the Bay Area's regional grant makers association, Northern California Grantmakers, in March 2008. She is on the advisory panel for the American Human Development Project. Carla holds both a Masters of Public Policy and BA from the University of California, Berkeley.

Vanessa Collins

Director, Operations and Communications

Vanessa Collins oversees the administration of REDF’s office operations, including accounting. She manages REDF’s communications and publishing efforts and leads REDF’s training program. In addition, she monitors REDF’s social outcomes measurement activities and coordinates the organization’s Advisory Council.

Prior to joining REDF’s staff, Vanessa was the Manager of International Marketing Services for an international publisher’s representative firm. Her previous experience also includes work with Fisher Development, Inc. and involvement in the execution of many events and programs aiding San Francisco’s underserved populations, particularly children and teenagers. She received a BS in Communications with a second major in Political Science from Eastern Connecticut State University. In addition to her role at REDF, Vanessa mentors several youth, studies German and is active in her church community.

David Derryck

Business Partnerships Manager

David Derryck is REDF’s Business Partnerships Manager. He is leading the For Profit Jobs Program, developing a set of tools and linkages for REDF Portfolio organizations’ social enterprise “graduates” to successfully move into private sector employment. He is also providing hands-on business assistance to select REDF Portfolio organizations.

Prior to joining REDF, David spent three years as the Enterprise Director of Juma Ventures. At Juma, he led the development and subsequent national expansion of its social enterprise where he more than doubled revenue and tripled the number of jobs for youth from 80 to over 250. David has also worked in international trade co-founding a website to automate export trade documentation and spent three years as an analyst in private equity. He received his MBA from Columbia Business School and BA from Wesleyan University.

Cynthia Gair

Managing Director of Programs

Cynthia Gair oversees REDF’s Portfolio business support and its Field Advancement. Through its comprehensive business support, REDF provides portfolio nonprofits with business assistance from REDF staff as well as from consultants in specialty areas. With its field advancement, via publishing and public speaking, REDF shares best practices and lessons learned through its unique engaged philanthropic work. In addition to her work at REDF, Cynthia has provided training in business management to hundreds of urban entrepreneurs, and has served on a variety of for-profit and nonprofit boards, including the Board and Loan Committee of the Northern California Community Loan Fund.

Prior to joining REDF, Cynthia managed businesses in book distribution, retail clothing, health products and light manufacturing. Her previous activities include serving as Operating General Partner of Terranomics Ventures, a San Francisco venture capital firm. She holds a BS in Finance and an MBA from George Washington University. She studies music, Zen Buddhism, and Italian in her spare time.

Katie Gavigan

Office and Events Manager

Katie Gavigan manages REDF’s day-to-day operations and provides support in Human Resources. In addition, she coordinates events and helps to plan and execute activities for the Farber Interns Program.

Prior to joining REDF, Katie spent ten years as a professional in the health insurance industry. She spends her free time building community among a diverse group of San Franciscans at Glad Tidings Church along with her husband, a pastor. Katie and her husband, Tim, are thrilled to call San Francisco ‘home’.

Samra Haider

Enterprise Development Manager

Samra Haider is REDF’s Enterprise Development Manager. She manages business assistance projects with specific portfolio organizations and the pipeline by providing hands-on assistance, such as market research and financial analysis, as well as business mentoring. Additionally, she supports REDF’s portfolio pipeline development, Farber Program, and field advancement.

Prior to joining REDF, Samra was a Consultant with Oliver Wyman (formerly Mercer Management Consulting). She also worked as an Investment Banking Analyst for JPMorgan Chase and was a Farber Intern in 2007. Samra holds a BA in Economics from Columbia University, an MSc in Human Rights from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from the Wharton School. In her free time, Samra enjoys sewing, watching basketball, cooking, and listening to live music.

Lauren Kickham

Portfolio Associate

Lauren is REDF’s Portfolio Associate. She supports REDF’s portfolio of social enterprises through due diligence efforts and strategic business assistance projects. Lauren also assists with portfolio operations and field advancement projects.

Prior to joining REDF, Lauren spent 3 years with Trinsum (formerly Marakon Associates) as a strategic management consultant. She graduated from Duke University with a BSE in Civil Engineering, where she was also a member of the Women’s Lacrosse Team. In her free time, Lauren enjoys diving and snowboarding.

Esther Kim

Portfolio Director

Esther Kim is REDF’s Portfolio Director. She oversees the formal relationship between REDF and its portfolio of social enterprises, including policies, communications, and performance monitoring. In addition, she provides strategic business assistance and mentoring across the portfolio.

Prior to joining REDF, Esther spent 4 years with McKinsey & Company, an international management consulting firm. She has also worked in economic consulting with PHB Hagler Bailly, government program evaluation with Abt Associates, renewable energy development in Nepal, and was a Farber Intern in 2000. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the East Bay Small Business Development Center. Esther holds a BS and MS in Environmental Engineering and an MS in Technology Policy, all from MIT. In her free time, Esther enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and travel.

Lorelle Malboeuf

Administrative Assistant

Lorelle Malboeuf supports the REDF team by helping to ensure smooth day-to-day office operations. Her work encompasses general administrative activities, document creation and special projects. Additionally, Lorelle provides assistance with event coordination.

Prior to joining REDF’s staff, Lorelle spent three years with the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz as a part-time Office Assistant while attending school. She received a BA in American Studies from UC Santa Cruz where she developed an interest in issues related to economic parity and social mobility. Raised in San Francisco, Lorelle enjoys exploring the Bay Area, choral singing, and spending time with her family.

Caroline Mullen

Development Associate

Caroline is REDF’s Development Associate. She supports the solicitation of charitable contributions and external communication efforts in order to advance REDF’s mission, strategy, and brand among individual and institutional donors and other supporters.

Prior to joining REDF, Caroline worked in the nonprofit sector. Most recently, she participated in the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs. As a Coro Fellow, Caroline completed projects related to development and philanthropy for the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund and environmental sustainability for office supply company Give Something Back. Caroline graduated with a BA in History from Colorado College and is actively involved with her alumni community. In her free time, Caroline enjoys travel and exploring the city for culinary treasures.

Jill Niehuser

Online Communications Coordinator

Jill Niehuser provides operational support and coordinates REDF’s online communications and website content. In addition to her online and website duties, Jill also maintains REDF’s knowledge management system and provides administrative support to the REDF team.

Prior to joining REDF, Jill spent three years working as a legal assistant at a small law firm in San Francisco. She graduated with a BA in Liberal Studies from San Francisco State University. In her free time, Jill enjoys swing dancing.

Jason Trimiew

Director, Fund and Business Development

Jason Trimiew is REDF’s director of fund and business development. In this capacity, Jason oversees REDF’s fundraising efforts and is also responsible for REDF’s new strategy to assist social enterprises with strategic business development.

Prior to joining REDF, Jason spent five years as a fund development professional for various human services agencies with operations in the US and internationally. Most recently, Jason was responsible for corporate and foundation fundraising for one of the Bay Area’s largest social service and youth development organizations, Catholic Charities CYO. He also spent two years living and working in East Africa on microfinance-related projects. Jason has a master’s degree in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco and a BA in Business Administration. He serves on the Bayview Hunters Point Project Area Committee and assists local nonprofits with their fundraising strategies. Jason and his wife, Danielle, live in San Francisco.

Past REDF Directors: Where Are They Now?

Since 1990, REDF has benefited from having outstanding leaders who advanced solutions to poverty with passion and dedication.

Kristen Ace Burns
Kristen Burns joined REDF in 2001, and served as its President from 2003 to 2006. Under her leadership REDF successfully spun off from The Roberts Foundation to become an independent 501(c)(3) organization, while maintaining its dedication to measurement, innovation, and helping individuals find stability and hope through employment.

Prior to joining REDF, Kristen was an Associate with Mercer Management Consulting in San Francisco. She also served as Program Manager for a private family foundation in Washington, DC. She holds an AB in History with a Certificate in American Studies from Princeton University, and an MBA and Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Kristen now lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter, where she serves as Program Officer for The Grable Foundation. Grable is devoted to improving the lives of children; Kristen leads Grable’s work on early childhood issues.

 

Melinda Tuan
Melinda Tuan co-founded REDF along with George Roberts and Jed Emerson, serving first as Associate Director from 1997 to 1999 then Managing Director from 2000 to 2003. During her tenure, REDF became known for its rigorous measurement practices proving the effectiveness of social purpose enterprise in creating lasting positive change in the lives of formerly homeless and low income individuals.

Prior to REDF, Melinda was a manager at a national healthcare nonprofit and a management consultant specializing in growth strategies for Fortune 500 companies. Her numerous volunteer activities include co-founding Boston Cares, a nonprofit volunteer service organization and starting up a social-mission driven company called Dayspring Technologies in San Francisco. Melinda is currently on the Board of Managers for Evergreen Lodge. She currently resides with her husband and three children in Philadelphia, PA where she is a Senior Fellow with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and exploring new opportunities for creating positive social change.

 

Jed Emerson
Jed serves as Senior Fellow for Research and Evaluation for the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation; Strategic Advisor to Sun Ranch (Montana); and Senior Fellow with the Generation Foundation (London). He also serves as a Visiting Fellow with the Skoll Center on Social Entrepreneurship at the Said Business School (Oxford University). He was Founding Director of the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund and the Larkin Street Youth Center (San Francisco). His work focuses upon how capital and organizations may maximize their full value potential, including economic performance and environmental/social impacts. His papers/articles are posted at www.blendedvalue.org.

During his tenure as Executive Director of REDF (1989-1999) and President (2000), Jed’s contributions had an immeasurable impact upon many nonprofit organizations and the populations they serve, as well as the broader field of venture philanthropy. The Nonprofit Times has twice selected Jed as one of the “Top 50 Most Influential People in the Nonprofit Sector,” individuals whose thoughts and work are felt to have significant impact on how the sector evolves in the coming century.