Buffalo, NY (June 21, 2019) – A new working group comprised of five foundations, all NY Funders Alliance members, and two consultants dedicated to supporting area nonprofits has hired Katie Pieri as its first Director. The collaborative group is focused on Western New York and Monroe County and aims to strengthen communities by increasing the capacities of the nonprofit organizations that serve those communities. Pieri will have new office space at the Thomas R. Beecher Innovation Center on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. NY Funders Alliance is the fiscal sponsor for the Director and the working group’s related activities.
The working group is committed to better understanding the current assets and landscape of the nonprofit community, building on ongoing efforts, and filling gaps in existing supports. A recently completed process of asset mapping and nonprofit engagement will inform the group’s thinking on how it can best support nonprofits in achieving their missions. The group includes the following:
- Beth Gosch, The Western New York Foundation
- Ginny Oehler, Independent Consultant
- Glenda Cadwallader, Cadwallader and Associates Consulting Services
- Jim Boyle, The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
- Kimberly Faison, The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation
- Karen Lee Spaulding, The John R. Oishei Foundation
- Nora OBrien-Suric, The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York
- Tracy Sawicki, The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
Pieri will be responsible for the design and oversight of the strategy for the group and in partnership with group members, she will set a strategic vision, build networks in the community, and connect nonprofits to existing resources.
“We are delighted to bring Katie on board so we can take the next step forward together”, said Karen Lee Spaulding, Vice President of Philanthropic Support at the John R. Oishei Foundation. “As Director, she will play a critical role in helping us define the path forward, deepen our relationships with nonprofits, and support connections between nonprofits and others in the sector.”
Most recently, Pieri served as the Director of Community Impact, with NY Funders Alliance member, the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, where she worked with a broad network of stakeholders to advance community initiatives such as the Community Lead Action Plan and the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. She brings more than a decade of experience in nonprofits and local government. Her work bringing together public, private, and social sector actors on topics ranging from lead abatement to eviction processes will inform her new role in connecting local nonprofits with each other and with existing resources.