Mike Berkowitz is Co-Founder and Principal at Third Plateau, where he co-leads the firm’s Democracy practice and works across its Philanthropic Management and Jewish Community Impact portfolios. Mike is an experienced facilitator, strategist, philanthropic advisor, and grantmaker. He specializes in weaving networks, curating philanthropic learning, and developing strategies for addressing complex challenges.

A leader in the movement to revitalize U.S. democracy, Mike serves as Executive Director of the Democracy Funders Network, a cross-ideological learning and action community for donors concerned about the health of American democracy. He is also co-founder of the Patriots & Pragmatists network. 

Mike is a 21/64-certified philanthropy consultant and has counseled numerous individual donors, family foundations, institutional foundations, and funder networks on their philanthropic strategies. He is a Senior Advisor to the Pritzker Innovation Fund, which supports the development and advancement of paradigm-shifting ideas to address the world’s most wicked problems, with a primary focus on climate and energy and on U.S. democracy. Mike is also a Senior Advisor to the John Pritzker Family Fund. In that role, he advises the foundation on its strategy, governance, grantmaking, and communications, and helps to oversee its investments in Democracy & Civic Health and Jewish Life.

Mike is a board member of Persuasion, a publication and community for people committed to the values of a free society, and is a strategic advisor to A More Perfect Union: The Jewish Partnership for Democracy, which is organizing and mobilizing the American Jewish community to protect and strengthen American democracy.

Prior to Third Plateau, Mike served as Senior Vice President for Operations and Strategy at the Bonner Group, Inc., a nonprofit and political fundraising firm in Washington, DC. He also worked at Mammen, Pritchard & Associates and served as a Public Policy Fellow at the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. Mike has a B.A. in History, magna cum laude, from Brown University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Daniel Kaufman (he/him) is Co-Founder and Principal at Third Plateau. He is a creator, connector, and collaborator focused on building purpose-driven communities and helping ambitious leaders and philanthropists find their path forward. Daniel leads Third Plateau’s long-term strategy and has helped build a team that has advised and managed more than $2B in family philanthropy and guided hundreds of nonprofit organizations.

An entrepreneur at heart, Daniel serves as a mentor, advisor, and strategist for nonprofit executives, philanthropists, and civic leaders. He has designed participatory grantmaking programs, helped foundations rethink how they operate, and served as a trusted thought partner for leaders navigating complex decisions. He brings genuine enthusiasm to helping organizations evolve, learn, and grow.

Prior to founding Third Plateau, Daniel launched the Giving Circles Fund, an online platform designed to make philanthropy more accessible, engaging, and meaningful for the next generation of givers. He has also served as in-house counsel for an educational services company and as an attorney at a large international law firm. Daniel holds degrees from Stanford University and UCLA School of Law.

Daniel lives in Sacramento with his wife Talia, kids Mia and Eli, and their dog Mochi. He is still searching for the world’s best taco.

In 1999, Susan (she/her) founded the renowned philanthropic advising firm, Hirsch Philanthropy Partners–one of the first firms of its kind in the United States. Among its many esteemed clients was legendary San Francisco philanthropist, Warren Hellman, and his wife Chris; the Hellman Foundation continues to be a client today. Susan is a pioneer in Bay Area philanthropy and was named to the San Francisco Business Times’ 2024 Power 100 list of the region’s most influential business leaders.

In November 2023, Hirsch merged with Third Plateau to more deeply collaborate on solutions to the urgent challenges of our time.

Before starting Hirsch Philanthropy Partners, Susan was the founding Executive Director of the Mimi and Peter Haas Fund, where she set up a new philanthropic model to expand early childhood education. She was previously Bay Area Executive Director of Strive for Five, a national campaign to promote community volunteerism and charitable giving, and a public affairs strategist for McKesson where she advised senior management for the nation’s oldest health care company on business, community, and political issues.

While earning a B.A. in International Economics and Russian from The George Washington University, she served as an aide to the U.S. Senator Henry Jackson (D-Washington) and later worked for the Council on Foreign Relations. She’s proud to serve on the Board of Directors for the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Advisory Committee of the UCSF Memory & Aging Center, and as a board member and officer of several foundations. She’s also active in numerous national philanthropic networks.

Susan is a longtime San Franciscan and in her free time, she and her wife Susan (yes, they’re the Susans!) enjoy Bay Area arts and live music, hiking in the beautiful open spaces, shopping at farmers’ markets, and cooking and eating at local restaurants. She loves to spend time connecting with her family, friends, and traveling across the world. Susan listens to a constant stream of podcasts that illuminate world affairs from different angles and inform fascinating discussions about social and political issues of the day.

Jaré (she/her) is the Chief Impact Officer at Third Plateau, where she maximizes the strategic impact of the firm’s partnerships and leads teams to drive meaningful change. She ensures all efforts are thoughtfully designed to create lasting and measurable outcomes.

Jaré has been a grantmaker, a nonprofit executive, a development professional, and a direct service provider. In these roles, she built systems for organizational capacity, supported research projects, developed and implemented programming, and generally rocked. Jaré holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from the University of Maryland and a master’s in Public Administration from San Francisco State University.

Jaré is a Louisiana native (Geaux Tigers!) who recently moved to Nashville, Tennessee. In her spare time, she can be found on a hiking trail, traveling to visit friends around the world, or fine-tuning her baking skills.

Adrienne (she/her) partners with philanthropists to clarify their aspirations and create strategic portfolios that address social and political issues for large-scale and lasting impact. She also leads our communications team to promote our innovative approach to social impact and philanthropy.

Adrienne has passionately devoted her career to social change at the intersection of philanthropy, policy, and communications. Before joining Third Plateau, she was Vice President of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Northern California, one of the largest Planned Parenthoods in the U.S., and the Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund. She previously served as Deputy State Director for U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, leading Northern California field and press operations, and statewide judicial nominations and women’s issues. Adrienne began her career doing environmental grassroots organizing in San Diego, expanding women’s rights in L.A., and navigating immigration casework in New York City.

Adrienne is a proud double UC graduate with an M.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego. She serves on the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Northern California, is a member of the Democracy Funders Network, and is a 21/64 Certified Philanthropic Advisor. Outside of work, Adrienne is raising her daughter in Berkeley with her husband, obsessing over Bay Area food, staying up on health and wellness, taking urban walks or hikes in nature, and reading several non-fiction books at a time.

Whitney (she/her) is a Vice President at Third Plateau, where she supports nonprofits, funders, and leaders across sectors and oversees the firm’s overall practice: ensuring our services are integrated; the firm is diverse, equitable, and inclusive; and that our work drives better outcomes for people and the planet. Over her tenure at Third Plateau, she has run numerous business and strategic planning processes for national organizations such as NDN Collective and PopChange Institute; built out evaluation systems and processes for funder collaboratives such as NewsMatch; and led the grantmaking strategy and execution for foundations including the Penney Family Fund, Arkay Foundation, and Golden 1 Credit Union. Whitney is a 21/64-certified philanthropic advisor.

Prior to joining Third Plateau Whitney received her master’s of International Affairs at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy. Whitney also spent two years in Nicaragua, where she worked at a microfinance organization, taught Spanish, and supported an international internship program focused on asset-based community development.

Whitney is committed to centering racial equity in her work, continuously exploring what it means for her to be a white woman in the social impact space and leveraging her privilege to support organizations that are led by and serving Black, Indigenous, and people of color. A native of northern California, she lives in the East Bay (unceded Lisjan territory) with her husband Eduardo, where she enjoys walks around the neighborhood, eating good food, playing tennis, and running (or sitting) around Lake Chabot.

Emily (she/her) partners with philanthropists and community organizations on strategy and programs to create a more equitable and uplifting world.

Emily brings more than twenty-five years of experience in the nonprofit, philanthropy, and arts sectors to Third Plateau. Previously, she spent more than ten years at Museum Management Consultants, where she delivered strategic planning, evaluation, and executive search services to more than fifty museums, theaters, parks, and foundations in the United States. She also spent two years at the Jamestown Community Center, an award-winning youth development agency in San Francisco’s Mission District, where she built the organization’s fundraising infrastructure and raised $1 million annually. She began her career at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, managing the daily activities of the Director and Board of Trustees.

Emily holds an M.B.A. from San Francisco State University and a B.A. from Pomona College. She is an advocate for nonprofit sabbaticals and also serves as the Executive Director of the O2 Sabbatical Award; her passion for sabbaticals began while serving on the interim leadership team at Jamestown during the Executive Director’s sabbatical. On weekends, she spends as much time as possible with family and friends, enjoying the Bay Area’s beautiful parks and trails, engaging with the arts, and exploring new restaurants.

Erin Hellthaler (she/her) is a Vice President and Executive Coach at Third Plateau, where she partners with clients to develop bold and data-backed strategies and implementation roadmaps to accelerate their impact. Erin has led numerous strategic planning, business planning, development strategy, and philanthropic strategy engagements with organizations such as Teach Access, &Mother, New Pluralists Collective, Give Us the Floor, and Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation.

With 15 years of experience in the social sector, she cares deeply about systems-level change. Prior to joining Third Plateau, Erin served in multiple leadership roles with Teach For America – Connecticut, where she developed expertise in building and leading high performing teams, nonprofit fundraising, managing organizational performance, strategic planning, board management, business operations, and staff and organizational learning.

Erin holds a B.A. in Political Science, Italian Cultural and Literary Studies from the University of Connecticut and an M.B.A. from the University of Edinburgh Business School, with a special concentration in entrepreneurship and innovation. She completed executive coach training through the Co-Active Training Institute in San Rafael, CA. Erin lives in mid-coast Maine with her husband and daughter. She spends weekends on the trail, in the garden, or on the water and is always up for a lively game night with friends.

Zafreen (she/her) is Vice President of Research and Evaluation at Third Plateau. In this role, she oversees client engagement for research and evaluation projects to enhance our partners’ initiatives and strengthen Third Plateau’s overall impact. She specializes in building client capacity to make sense of their data and translating research to nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and funders. Drawing upon collaborative approaches to research and evaluation, Zafreen engages in client work with organizations such as the NDN Collective and Jim Joseph Foundation. She oversees a team of talented researchers to ensure we have evidence to inform program and policy decisions and tell the story of organizational and system-level change.

Zafreen is driven by a love of learning, evident in her two master’s degrees and a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Her dissertation research focused on educating children from low-income backgrounds. She has managed research supporting programs for mental health and substance use treatment and prevention, racial and gender equity, social-emotional learning for children, and early care and education systems for children from birth to five. Her teaching and research career spans the P-20 spectrum in Florida, the Pacific Northwest, and Pakistan. She has taught at Portland State University, Florida International University, Beaconhouse School System, and Lahore College for Women University. Originally from Pakistan, Zafreen is fluent in five languages.

Zafreen can be found volunteering at a shelter for women and children experiencing homelessness in historic Overtown in Miami. She and her husband, Iqbal, have two nephews and five nieces who are the love and joy of their lives. When she is not working and spending time with her family, she tries to keep up with Iqbal’s travels.

Laura (she/her) is the Vice President of Jewish Community Impact at Third Plateau. She supports organizations and leaders to be adaptive and strategic by facilitating effective planning processes. In her time at Third Plateau, she has led strategic and business planning for a wide variety of organizations across the Jewish communal sector, including Reconstructing Judaism, Moving Traditions, the Hadassah Foundation, and Resetting the Table.

Laura started her career in the media industry, managing syndication and licensing for The New York Times in Europe and the Middle East, and has since had a diverse set of experiences both inside and outside of the Jewish community. She has lived and worked in several different countries, including France and Israel, and holds a B.A. in History and French from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Laura is currently based in Asheville, North Carolina. She enjoys exploring the great outdoors, hitting up the local farmer’s market, and cozying up with a good book.

Jon (he/him) brings two decades of experience from the non-profit, political, and philanthropic sectors. As a Vice President at Third Plateau, Jon builds and guides philanthropic collaborations where funders align and pool resources in service of achieving more together than they could individually.

Jon has staffed three different foundations, supporting a wide range of causes from leadership development to educational equity, to faith-based education and content development. He also served as CEO of a youth development organization which trained 2,000 young people annually to lead community-wide efforts to change more than 100 laws across California. Jon developed organizing skills as part of the team that fought to legalize marriage equality in Massachusetts in the early 2000s, and worked on political campaigns from hyper local school board races up through serving as one of the original 50 staff members on then Senator Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. He also used knowledge of the political world to make history come alive as an 8th grade US History teacher.

Jon lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his partner of 15 years, two kids, and energetic pup. Jon loves to garden, camp, paddleboard/kayak, bike, and build sets for community-based children’s theatre performances. Jon’s family has visited half of the national parks across their five cross-country road trips and is always up for a good adventure. He earned degrees from Boston University and American University.

Philippe has over 25 years of global experience leading teams and organizations, and advising social change leaders in the philanthropic, nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors. As a Vice President, Philippe partners with philanthropists and changemakers to address some of the most challenging issues of our time.

Before joining Third Plateau, Philippe served as an independent philanthropic advisor for individuals, families, and foundations on their giving journeys. He previously served as Managing Director at Humanity United (part of The Omidyar Group), where he led all of the foundation’s work to fight forced labor and human trafficking.

Philippe has many years of social impact consulting experience—leading teams at FSG, The Bridgespan Group, and McKinsey’s social sector and public sector practices. In an earlier chapter of his career, he was an Associate Director at the World Economic Forum, where he was responsible for curating the economic development sessions at the annual meeting in Davos and leading global summit meetings in North and South America, Africa, and Asia.

Philippe is the son of two refugees. His Egyptian mother and Turkish father were both forced to leave their home countries and wound up living in Switzerland, where he was born and raised. He has lived and worked all over the world, but is lucky enough to now call the Bay Area home. Outside of work, Philippe spends time with family and friends near and far, cooks the North African and Middle Eastern foods of his childhood, plays any sport involving a racket or paddle, and listens to all forms of music, especially jazz.

At Third Plateau, Annie (she/her) closely partners with philanthropists and community organizations to expand their impact; she also serves as Executive Director of the Hellman Foundation, a Third Plateau client. Annie provides leadership on building effective philanthropic portfolios, high-impact giving strategies, and strong relationships with foundation directors and community partners. She especially enjoys collaborating with her colleagues to enable philanthropists and organizations to drive impact on the issues they care about most.

Prior to joining Third Plateau, Annie served as Chief Operating Officer of Tipping Point Community, a Bay Area institution aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty through community partnerships with many of the region’s most promising nonprofits working across education, early childhood, housing, and employment. After completing law school, she specialized in criminal defense in private practice before transitioning to the New York City Department of Education, where she served in several leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer for the Senior Deputy Chancellor. She began her career working for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

Annie received a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and holds a B.A. in History from Columbia University. She serves on the board of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC). Annie is an avid reader, baker, and aspiring painter. Running and hiking through urban parks and green spaces brings her comfort, and she is always excited to try a new restaurant.

JC (he/him) works collaboratively with philanthropists and community organizations to develop impactful solutions to the broad and deep issues impacting our society, from basic needs to democracy. He leverages his background in philanthropy, public policy, and strategy development to connect generous philanthropic resources with effective organizations, leaders, and campaigns to address real needs and uplift communities.

Before joining Third Plateau, he served as Nurturing Equity Movements Fellow at the San Francisco Foundation, where he led the Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building and managed a grant portfolio investing in civic engagement, grassroots organizing, and leadership development. He began his career in the nonprofit sector managing communications for The Greenlining Institute – a racial and economic justice policy organization – before working to advance local government policies in Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. JC is an alum of the Justice Funders Harmony Initiative, New Leaders Council San Francisco, and Front Line Leaders Academy leadership programs.

JC is a proud Double Bruin, holding a Master of Public Policy and a dual B.A. magna cum laude in Sociology and Asian American Studies from UCLA. He earned his Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation from the American College of Financial Services. He is honored to serve on the boards of The Greenlining Institute and Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy. On the weekends, you’ll likely find him enjoying hikes through nature, at a live-music event, playing and watching sports, or traveling and eating his way through new and familiar cities.

Allison (she/her) works with philanthropists and community organizations to develop high-impact strategies and programs in a broad range of areas, including democracy, journalism, aging, and leadership development. She is particularly interested in philanthropy that centers racial and social justice and advances big-picture policy and structural change.

Prior to her career in philanthropy, she worked in nonprofit fundraising, programs, and policy for a variety of tech and international nonprofits including Akili Dada, a Kenya-based women’s leadership incubator, and Creative Commons, a global nonprofit working to build an open and accessible commons of knowledge and culture.

Allison holds a dual undergraduate degree in International Studies and French from University of San Francisco, and a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School. She completed executive coach training through the Co-Active Training Institute in San Rafael, CA. Allison previously served as co-chair of the Bay Area Chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy (EPIP) and is currently on the board of the Community Living Campaign, a small but mighty organization in San Francisco that advocates for older adults and people with disabilities. She is committed to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and is a graduate of the Justice Funder’s Harmony Initiative. Her real job is parenting two curious and strong-willed young children. In her precious spare time, she enjoys taking in the magic of live theater or savoring good food with her husband, Sam.

Ashley Drake (she/her) is a Senior Director on the Research & Evaluation team at Third Plateau. With deep expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research, Ashley uses her interdisciplinary skillset to support projects like the Rippel Foundation ReThink Health Initiative and Covered California. Her strengths span the full range of functions that are essential for this work.

Ashley is a trained anthropologist with a specialization in the areas of human development and organizational culture. She holds a Ph.D. and master’s in Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago and a B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology from Bucknell University. Over the past 10+ years, she has worked with diverse populations around the world, directing research and evaluation projects on science education, environmental policy, mental health and wellbeing, and military and veteran concerns.

Ashley currently resides in Northern Michigan and enjoys supporting her local community through her work as a board member for the Grand Traverse Conservation District. In her spare time, she can be found hiking, kayaking, and exploring the natural beauty of the region with her family.

Jackie (she/her) partners with philanthropists and nonprofits to refine strategies, strengthen organizations, and help our communities thrive. With a background in the arts and nonprofit development, she loves supporting creative organizations as they build capacity to reach the next level. In her current role, she is proud to work with philanthropists across a variety of impact areas that span arts and culture, asset building, environment, social services, and more.

Jackie has nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropy ecosystem. Prior to joining Third Plateau, she worked as a nonprofit consultant, leader, and staff member building vision and capacity, developing organizational plans and budgets, and fundraising for a variety of Bay Area organizations.

She graduated with the highest honors in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and studied Spanish while living in Mexico City. She is an alum of the Rockwood Leadership Institute’s Art of Leadership program, and has served as a grants panelist with the San Francisco Arts Commission and the California Arts Council. In her free time, you can find Jackie biking around San Francisco with her family, conducting vegetarian cooking experiments, and checking out the latest gallery shows and playground upgrades around the Bay Area.

Maya (she/her) is a Senior Director on the Strategy Team at Third Plateau. She specializes in strategic planning, facilitation, coaching, and philanthropic advising. She facilitates thoughtful and collaborative processes to support leaders, teams, and organizations to align their values, purpose, and strategies, to deepen their impact and bring their visions to life.

Prior to Third Plateau, Maya served as the Training & Development Manager at a national health advocacy organization, where she provided capacity building assistance for community-based organizations, health departments, and national coalitions around the country to deliver HIV prevention services and culturally-tailored community health programs. Maya holds a B.A. from Hampshire College, a master’s in Public Health from the University of San Francisco, and coaching certifications from the Neuroleadership Institute and Leadership That Works.

Maya lives in Sacramento, where in her free time, she can be found curled up with a good book, practicing a new skill, or hiking with friends and family.

Ellen (she/her) is a Senior Director on the Strategy Team and an Executive Coach at Third Plateau. She leads project teams to deeply understand each client’s current needs, designs and executes a practical and thoughtful approach to strategic planning, and facilitates interactive client sessions that uncover strengths, pinpoints obstacles, and surface opportunities while driving toward solutions. Ellen has facilitated strategic and culture planning processes with organizations such as Vibrant Pittsburgh and Improve Your Tomorrow, coordinated key actors in the Sacramento region in a competitive and successful bid for the K-16 Regional Collaborative grant, and designed and facilitated convenings such as that of public health experts for the California Council on Science and Technology.

Ellen began her career teaching in Germany on a Fulbright fellowship. She then spent five years at Year Up, a national workforce development nonprofit, where she held a variety of roles in operations, admissions, and program management. Ellen also worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and NewSchools Venture Fund, where she focused on public school innovation.

Ellen holds a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, where she focused on social impact strategy and co-chaired the Race Inclusion Initiative, a student consulting group. She completed executive coach training through the Co-Active Training Institute in San Rafael, CA. Ellen lives in western Sonoma County and enjoys traveling, hiking with her dog, kayaking the Russian River, and playing board games.

Jeanne LeMieur (she/her) is a Senior Director at Third Plateau. She provides accounting services, including budgeting, financial reporting, investment reporting and insurance to foundation management clients.

Jeanne has extensive experience in the social sector, having served as finance director for a non-profit behavioral health center and a religious community. During this time, she focused on developing new revenue sources and implementing organizational changes to ensure financial viability while achieving mission effectiveness.

Jeanne earned her B.A. in Accounting from the College of St. Benedict. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Minnesota and holds a Not-For-Profit certificate. Jeanne lives in Minnesota, where in her free time, she enjoys reading, puzzles, nature walks with her dog, and sunset cruises on the lake.

Madeline (she/her) is a Senior Director on the Research & Evaluation team at Third Plateau, where she leads learning efforts across planning and evaluation projects. She conducts mixed methods research, deepening an understanding of client needs, opportunities, and impact to inform expansive thinking and strategic decision-making.

Madeline is passionate about research driving social impact. Prior to Third Plateau, she analyzed and clearly communicated complex data in the public sector with more than seven years of experience in analytical and program management roles at the U.S. Department of Justice.

She earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Trinity University where she also studied Spanish and Economics. With roots in New York and Kansas City, Madeline arrived in Florida 30 years ahead of schedule. She is a somewhat serious shuffleboard player, aspiring gardener, and casual hiker.

Luna (she/her) strategizes with philanthropists and community organizations to implement impactful grantmaking portfolios. Using an equity lens, she provides keen insight and deep thought-partnership while uplifting important trends in the fields of family strengthening, education, and youth development. Recognizing that community engagement is critical to impactful philanthropy, she partners with trusted community stakeholders to elevate opportunities in diverse communities.

Luna’s career journey has focused on closing the achievement gap and addressing deep racial and economic inequalities in the public education system. Prior to joining Third Plateau, she served as Program Associate at the S.H. Cowell Foundation, advancing best practices to empower children and enable their families to thrive. In this role she worked across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to amplify the impact of the national Family Resource Centers network.

Luna holds a B.A. in Chicano/a Studies from the University of California, Davis. She earned her Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) designation from the American College of Financial Services. In her free time, Luna loves to visit museums and art galleries, and attend community events with family and friends. She is an avid reader and is always planning her next trip.

Lauren (she/her) ensures the highest quality of grants and system administration on behalf of philanthropists and foundations. She leads our grants team to develop efficient and effective procedures for clients that build trust, in alignment with regulatory requirements and community needs.

Lauren brings over a decade of grants management experience to Third Plateau. Prior to her role at Third Plateau, she served as Grants Manager for the Draper Richards Kaplan (DRK) Foundation providing overall management for grants and investments to early-stage organizations. Prior to DRK, she managed a portfolio of $268 million in grants to research organizations at the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). Her formative grants and foundation experience was at the Tides and Simons Foundations, where she spent a collective ten years working with donor-advised funds and delving into the broader field of philanthropy.

Lauren earned a B.A. in Psychology and French at Rutgers University. An East Coast transplant to California since 2010, Lauren holds strong opinions about pizza and bagels and is pleasantly surprised by the current selections the Bay Area has on offer. When not seeking carbs, you can find her making up silly songs and/or on long stroller walks with her daughter, getting to know all the neighborhood cats, dogs, and chickens.

Laurel (she/her) partners with philanthropists, nonprofits, and community leaders to connect philanthropic vision and goals with real community needs. She drives social change by developing impactful program strategies and managing comprehensive grant portfolios across a range of complex issues, including education and climate. A 21/64 Certified Philanthropic Advisor, she also loves working with the passionate next generation of philanthropists to realize bold goals.

Laurel previously served as Program Coordinator for International Specialized Programs at the University of Washington, where she designed and managed study abroad programs for international students. She holds a B.A. cum laude in International Studies and Economics from the University of Washington.

In her free time, Laurel enjoys staying active and exploring all the Bay Area has to offer, usually with her dog Disco by her side. She loves to try new restaurants, get out of the city for a hike, or walk through San Francisco’s many different neighborhoods and parks.

Michaela (she/her) oversees and provides versatile operations and administrative support for Third Plateau. She anticipates the needs of our growing team and develops procedures, processes, and solutions that elevate the quality of our work. In partnership with firm leadership, Michaela keeps her finger on the pulse of what’s happening and ensures that our firm runs smoothly, joyfully, and efficiently.

Michaela previously served as Human Resources and Office Manager at Partners Capital Investment Group, an international Outsourced Investment Office, where she managed the Boston office and the administrative and human resource needs of the U.S. team. This experience sharpened her focus on excellent customer service and strengthened her ability to adapt to entrepreneurial teams.

She holds a B.A. in Marine Affairs from the University of Miami. She is the President of the Friends of the Mill Valley Library Board, where she’s proud to serve her community and share her love of reading. Otherwise, you’ll often find her at home with her husband and their two cats catching up on the latest movies and TV shows.

Elena (she/her) is a Director on the Research & Evaluation team at Third Plateau. She leads mixed-methods research and evaluation projects, supporting organizational learning and data-informed decision making. She is passionate about utilizing creative, participatory processes to inform change and is committed to taking a community-centered approach to research and evaluation.

Elena joins the firm with over a decade of experience supporting organizations that center arts education, community building, civic engagement, and social justice. She has served as a teaching artist, program director, and evaluation consultant for educational nonprofits and government agencies across four different countries. Elena holds a B.A. in Visual and Media Arts from Emerson College and an M.F.A. in Arts Leadership from Seattle University.

Outside of work, Elena is a consumer of interdisciplinary information with a thirst for intellectual debate. She enjoys participating in Jewish communal life, frolicking the Pacific Northwest with her partner and pup, working on various art projects, and night-time snacking.

Tracy (she/her) works with philanthropists to develop giving strategies and build relationships with nonprofit and community leaders and the public sector to find community-driven solutions. She leans on her experience in the nonprofit sector to zero in on community needs and leads with a trust-based approach to transformational philanthropy.

Tracy brings nearly a decade of nonprofit leadership, management, and fundraising experience to Third Plateau. Prior to joining Third Plateau, she was Development Director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Tracy holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Davis (and a Unitrans alumna). She’s a former board member of the San Francisco Women’s Building and has been involved in a democracy-focused giving circle created with friends after the 2016 election.

In her free time, Tracy is usually doing something revolving around food: gathering friends for big dinners, perusing the farmer’s market, trying not to spill wine on her book, or planning which restaurant/brewery to visit after a long hike.

Carly (she/her) is a Director on the Strategy & Programs Team at Third Plateau. She supports leaders, teams, and organizations to advance their goals and elevate their impact. Driven by a lifelong commitment to equity and social change, Carly draws from her wealth of experience in facilitation and organizational leadership.

Carly comes to Third Plateau after spending more than a decade advancing criminal justice reform and public health care initiatives. Most recently, she served as a strategy specialist and facilitator with the Chicago-based nonprofit SUM, where she led experiential outdoor retreats focused on team dynamics and organizational effectiveness. Having worked with various nonprofits, schools, legal system entities, and city government, Carly’s cross-sector experience brings a unique perspective to mission-driven organizations.

Carly holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Michigan and a master’s in Nonprofit Leadership with a focus in group dynamics and organizational politics from the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, Carly enjoys scoping out new hiking trails (third coast recommendations invited!), attempting the latest Smitten Kitchen recipe, and hosting family and friends in her Irving Park home.

Nora (she/her) is a Director on the Jewish Community Impact team at Third Plateau. Leading with a learner’s mindset and relationship-building approach, Nora is passionate about working with leaders and organizations to advance their goals and deepen their impact.

Nora comes to Third Plateau with a background in both the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, most recently serving as a Program Officer at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Through this role, she supported a range of grantees working to build and sustain vibrant Jewish communities, with a focus on inclusion and belonging, mental health and wellness, and the talent pipeline within the sector. Prior to Schusterman, Nora worked at the William Davidson Foundation and the University of Southern California Hillel, using these roles to deepen her understanding of local community engagement and the interplay of the local, regional and national Jewish organizational ecosystem, while supporting the development of engagement and leadership initiatives.

Nora received both her Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Nora lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband Eli, and their Labrador Annie. You can find her exploring new neighborhoods, museums and restaurants across the city, perfecting her homemade ice cream recipes, playing Mahjong or discussing the television shows she is currently watching.

Mary (she/her) has held a variety of roles over the past two decades, including research and analysis, foundation creation, management and dissolution, program development and management, grants management, and business development.

Prior to joining Third Plateau, Mary was Marketing Manager for a large university with multiple campuses in New Zealand, where she led a rebrand to increase external reach. She also worked in advertising and sales for renowned firm Hal Riney & Partners, and enjoys applying that creative and strategic problem-solving in her work with philanthropists.

She studied design and creative writing—earning a dual B.A. in English and B.S. in Graphic Design from the University of Minnesota—before launching her career in marketing, advertising, and sales. She takes delight in navigating the joys and challenges of homeschooling her younger son—she considers being his teacher one of her most important and challenging roles. She is also an avid gardener but not an avid weeder.

Samara (she/her) is a Director on the Jewish Community Impact Team and an Executive Coach at Third Plateau, where she utilizes a community and relationship-centered approach to support organizations and changemakers to elevate their impact.

Samara Leader has spent over a decade in the Jewish non-profit sector, working and learning in a variety of organizations including camps, youth movements, synagogues, and federations. Her past responsibilities have included spearheading listening campaigns to greater understand the needs of constituents, evaluating systems to better align with organizational strategy, navigating staff through institutional change, and using metrics-based goal-setting to quantify impact.

Samara holds a B.A. in Political Science from UCLA and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and Innovation from the Zelikow School of Nonprofit Management. She completed executive coach training through the Co-Active Training Institute in San Rafael, CA. Samara currently resides in the Bay Area, where she hikes whenever she can, attends as many sporting events, shows, and concerts as possible, and dances her stress away.

Fernande (she/her) works with philanthropists and community organizations to translate their big picture objectives into well-designed programs and tangible actions, and she facilitates strategic partnerships with community organizations to amplify their leadership and expertise. As a native of Haiti, she strongly believes that those who are closest to the problems have the solutions.

Prior to joining Third Plateau, Fernande served as a Program Officer at Full Circle Fund where she designed engagement and learning opportunities for emerging philanthropists and community-based partners, co-led the strategic growth of the organization, and oversaw four giving circles of 150+ members. She began her career managing the Hart Leadership Program at Duke University to connect students with impactful organizations nationally and abroad. She was a New Sector Alliance Resident in Social Enterprise (2014) where she honed her skills in effective nonprofit management. She has a deep love for the arts and spent several years as Program Manager at Youth Speaks, a nonprofit that supports young people in taking control of their lives through language, and encourages them to express themselves using their own vernacular.

Fernande holds a B.A. in International Comparative Studies, a Certificate in Markets and Management from Duke University, and is an alum of the Justice Funders’ Harmony Initiative. She enjoys cooking, salsa dancing, attending concerts at SF Jazz and other local venues, hiking, yoga, and discovering new places.