REDF Staff
To see REDF’s staff structure, please view our organizational chart.
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 ‘double bottom line’ enterprises that earn income while employing people with high barriers. 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 histories of incarceration, homelessness, and/or limited education to successfully retain employment.
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 and development of more than 26,000 units of permanent supportive housing. 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. Carla 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, and is a member of the Alliance for Effective Social Investing, and Enterprise Community’s Northern California Leadership Council. Carla was appointed to the Youth Council of the San Francisco Workforce Investment Board in March 2009, and leads its’ Quality Standards Working Group. Carla holds both a Masters of Public Policy and BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and an AA in Hotel and Restaurant Management from San Francisco City College.
Calvin Chin
Portfolio Associate
Calvin is REDF’s Portfolio Associate. He supports REDF’s portfolio of social enterprises through due diligence efforts and strategic business assistance projects. Calvin also assists with portfolio operations and field advancement projects.
Prior to joining REDF, Calvin spent 3 years with Bain & Company as a management consultant. He graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Economics, where he advised education and environmental nonprofits with New Sector Alliance, a nonprofit consultancy. In his free time, Calvin enjoys cooking and traveling.
Vanessa Collins
Director, Operations and Communications
Vanessa Collins oversees REDF’s business operations, including responsibility over financial management and functions. She also leads REDF’s communications and knowledge management efforts.
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.
David Derryck
Business Partnerships Manager
David Derryck is REDF’s Business Partnerships Manager. He is leading the Step Up: Jobs Partnership 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 employment programs as well as initiatives focused on leadership, innovation and impact. 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.
Office and Events Manager
Katie Gavigan manages REDF’s day-to-day operations, including Human Resources. In addition, she provides support on event coordination.
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.
Esther Kim
Portfolio Director
Esther Kim is REDF’s Portfolio Director. Esther oversees REDF’s portfolio strategy and execution, including due diligence, grantmaking, business assistance, and business development. She leads planning efforts for new portfolio initiatives, and contributes to field-building through speaking and writing.
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. 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 and helps to plan and execute activities for the Farber Interns Program.
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 and spending time with her family.
Anna Martin
Manager of Research and Evaluation
Anna C. Martin is REDF’s Manager of Research and Evaluation. Anna oversees measurement strategies and impact evaluation for REDF’s portfolio of social enterprises, as well as impact measurement for REDF’s policy-driven work. She ensures that the impact of employment in REDF social enterprises is well-documented and that REDF impact evaluation contributes to social entrepreneurship and workforce development while simultaneously creating systems that increase practitioners’ access to and use of information.
Anna has held research and evaluation roles at such organizations as the University of California (Berkeley), The Public Health Institute, BTW Consultants in California, and the Harvard School of Public Health and the National Center on Family Homelessness (formerly the Better Homes Fund), in Massachusetts. She has co-authored several publications and presentations. Anna received her Ph.D. in the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, M.A. from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and B.A. from Carleton College. Anna lives in Alameda with her husband, two children, a dog and a tortoise.
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 coordinates REDF’s online communications and website content. In addition, Jill maintains REDF’s knowledge management system, manages technology needs, 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 and walking her dog through the beautiful parks of San Francisco.
Anastasia Stathopoulos
Office Assistant
Under the supervision of the Office and Events Manager, Anastasia works to support the REDF team by ensuring smooth office operations. She oversees front desk reception and office maintenance as well as providing support on special projects and scheduling.
Prior to joining REDF, Anastasia interned as the Program Coordinator for the Chancellor’s Undergraduate Internship Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she helped advertise and expand the program while working with the school’s top administration. She graduated from UCSC with a BA in the History of Art & Visual Culture and a minor in Sociology. In her free time Anastasia enjoys swimming, dancing, and exploring her new home of Berkeley.
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 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, is a Full Circle Fund Community Fellow and recently joined the Board of Directors of Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy. 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 Emerson is presently a partner with Uhuru Capital Management, an investment firm pursuing full financial returns for investors together with social/economic development impacts. Uhuru is an integrated firm which contributes one quarter of its firm profits to support the expansion of social entrepreneurship in emerging markets, both domestic U.S. and internationally. As Director of Integrated Performance, Jed is charged with overseeing and executing Uhuru’s approach to augmenting financial analysis with sustainability and economic development insights. He is also a member of the firm’s investment committee and works with investors to explore how they may attain maximum value through coordinating their market rate investing with their philanthropic and life strategies. He is currently leading Uhuru’s effort to explore how best to apply these concepts to commercial rate, hedge fund investing.
Previously, Mr. Emerson was a Senior Fellow at the Generation Foundation of Generation Investment Management. During his time at the Generation Foundation, Mr. Emerson held senior staff positions at the Sun Ranch Group, the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation and New York University’s Wagner School of Public Policy. Mr. Emerson has held additional fellowships at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Harvard University as the Bloomberg Senior Research Fellow in Philanthropy. From 1996 to 2000, Mr. Emerson was the Founding Director of the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund (REDF). Prior to his work with REDF, Mr. Emerson spent six years as the Founding Executive Director of the Homeless Economic Development Fund, also at The Roberts Foundation. Mr. Emerson is the pioneer of the Blended Value Proposition, which is widely considered a significant innovation in the field of sustainable investing.
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.
