We are a diverse, motivated team of professionals with a passion for improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children. Our staff is composed of grantmaking, communications, development, books, and finance and operations teams, working together to carry out our mission.
Kristin Lindsey, CEO
Kristin Lindsey is the CEO of The Global Fund for Children. Kristin was previously the executive vice president and COO of the Council on Foundations, a Washington, DC–based nonprofit membership association of nearly 2,000 grantmaking foundations and corporations. In this role, she led the senior executive staff and directed the organization’s work, planning, growth, and operations. She guided the council through developing its business and strategic plan; negotiated alliances with networks and global partners; created new product and member service strategies; and was a frequent speaker on philanthropy, leadership, and global issues.
Prior to joining the Council on Foundations, Kristin was founder and principal of Intersector Consulting, a practice serving foundations and philanthropic support organizations in the US and globally. Clients included The Atlantic Philanthropies, Donors Forum, Ford Foundation, Girl’s Best Friend Foundation, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, Project Streamline/Grants Managers Network, Southeastern Council of Foundations, Neighborhood Funders Group, Social Venture Partners International, Lilly Endowment, New Ventures in Philanthropy, and several other private foundations. Kristin’s publications include “Six Ways to Give” in Community Philanthropy: Strategies for Impacting Vulnerable Populations (University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, 2010) and Racial, Ethnic and Tribal Philanthropy: A Scan of the Landscape (Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, 2006).
Before establishing her consulting firm, Kristin was senior vice president at the Donors Forum of Chicago, a membership organization serving 1,200 nonprofits and foundations in the greater Chicago area. From 1985 to 1998, her career included positions in government and the nonprofit sector, where she specialized in public affairs, communications, policy, and research. Kristin has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, with graduate work at DePaul University.
Maya Ajmera, Founder
Maya Ajmera is the founder of The Global Fund for Children and the co-author of many Global Fund for Children books, including the award-winning Children from Australia to Zimbabwe and Faith. She is currently a visiting scholar at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.
Maya has received numerous leadership awards, including the 2011 Henry Crown Fellowship at the Aspen Institute. She is sought out nationally and internationally to address audiences on local and global philanthropy, global children’s rights, early childhood development, and social entrepreneurship. Her work and life story have been profiled by such media outlets as CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Financial Times, and NPR. Maya serves on the board of visitors of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and is vice chairman of the board of Echoing Green, a trustee of the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, and a board member of New Global Citizens. She also serves on numerous advisory boards, including those of the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University, Washington Area Women’s Foundation, and the American India Foundation.
Maya holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bryn Mawr College.
Grantmaking
Victoria Dunning, Vice President for Programs
Victoria Dunning joined The Global Fund for Children in 2005, having worked in international development programs for over a decade. She brings with her significant experience in program planning, management, and evaluation, and over five years’ experience in developing countries.
Prior to joining GFC, Victoria served as the senior program officer for women and population at the United Nations Foundation. She oversaw a program portfolio on strengthening youth health and development and maximizing access and quality of reproductive health services with the United Nations and international NGO partners. Before that, Victoria was at the Pacific Institute for Women’s Health, where she oversaw research and evaluation activities on youth development and women’s health in East and West Africa. Her previous positions include NGO sector advisor at USAID Tanzania, clinic manager for the Young Men’s Clinic in New York City, project design and development trainer with developing-country professionals, and Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa.
Victoria has a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in politics and international affairs from Mount Holyoke College. She enjoys working with her national and international colleagues at the United Nations, USAID, government ministries, foundations, nongovernmental organizations, and community-based organizations at all levels in a multicultural environment. Victoria is fluent in French and proficient in Wolof, Swahili, and Spanish.
Farah Anwar, Program Associate for South Asia
Farah Anwar is the program associate for South Asia at The Global Fund for Children. She first came to GFC in 2009 as the South Asia grantmaking intern. Prior to coming to GFC, she interned at Sandy Spring Bank. She also interned at Arc Aspicio, a consulting firm dealing with border management and homeland security issues. While pursing her undergraduate degree, Farah lived and studied for a year at University of Sussex in Brighton, England. Farah earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations with a minor in geography and development from Mount Holyoke College. She is conversant in Bengali and has a working knowledge of French.
Joseph Bednarek, Program Officer for Europe and Eurasia
Joseph Bednarek is the program officer for Europe and Eurasia. Prior to joining GFC, he worked as the director/education programs manager for the Ukraine field office of IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board), implementing education programs funded by the US Department of State and the Carnegie Foundation. During his time with IREX, he also worked closely with exchange program alumni on professional development trainings, conferences, and seminars. Joe’s interest in East Central Europe and Eurasia stems from his Polish roots and his experience working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine. He has also worked as the administrative coordinator for the Chicago-based nonprofit Health for Humanity. Joe received a master’s degree in Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian studies from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Georgetown University. He is proficient in Ukrainian and Russian.
Stephanie de Wolfe, Program Associate for Africa
Stephanie de Wolfe is the program associate for Africa. Stephanie spent the majority of her youth in Dakar, Senegal, and moved frequently within Africa, which inspired a passion for health and human rights issues in Africa. While studying at the University of Virginia, Stephanie spent three months in the rural Extreme North region of Cameroon, where she conducted water sanitation research as part of a team of scholars funded by the university’s Center for Global Health. On campus, she led the African Studies Initiative and the university’s KIVA chapter and founded the Human Rights Film Festival. She also interned at the Quality Community Council, a grassroots organization that addresses barriers to a quality life for the residents of Charlottesville, VA. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, where she double majored in political and social thought and African American and African studies, with a minor in global public health. She is fluent in French and has a basic comprehension of Spanish.
Michael Gale, Program Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean
Michael Gale is the program officer for Latin America and the Caribbean. Before coming to GFC, Michael worked as a program coordinator at Foundation Communities in Austin, Texas, where he managed an immigration loan program for low-income families. He has studied in Spain and Chile, working for the Ministry of Education and Science in Madrid and the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Santiago. Michael received a fellowship from the Ford Foundation to work as a consultant for a nonprofit organization in Ecuador, and he has conducted research on migration and indigenous language use in Peru. While in college, he interned at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, DC, and taught fourth graders in a summer and after-school program through AmeriCorps. Michael earned his bachelor’s degrees in international studies and Spanish studies from American University and his master’s degree in Latin American studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He is fluent in Spanish and proficient in French and Quechua.
Vineeta Gupta, Program Officer for South Asia
Vineeta Gupta is the program officer for South Asia at The Global Fund for Children. Prior to working at GFC, she directed the Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative, based in Washington, DC. She practiced medicine in India, predominantly maternal-child healthcare, both in rural and urban settings, for 16 years. Vineeta has over 20 years of experience in organizational and community management in India and internationally, and she has traveled widely in Europe and the US, addressing the impact of international policies on Global South countries. She has consulted for UNAIDS, the International Commission of Jurists, and the Global Campaign for Microbicides, among others. She received the Rotary Service to Humanity Award in 2001 in recognition of her efforts to uphold ethical standards in society. Vineeta holds a master’s degree in international human rights law from the University of Notre Dame; a bachelor’s of law degree (equivalent to a JD) from Nehru Memorial Law College, Ajmer University, India; and a dual bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery from Medical College Patiala, India, with a residency in gynecology and obstetrics. She is fluent in Hindi, English, Punjabi, and Urdu. Vineeta serves on the board of Asia Pacific Alumni of Notre Dame.
Amanda Hsiung, Associate Program Officer for East and Southeast Asia
Amanda Hsiung is the associate program officer for East and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining GFC, Amanda worked as a program associate for CDC Development Solutions, an international development nonprofit, where she supported the design and implementation of the organization’s economic development program. Amanda has regional expertise fostered through study abroad experiences in China, both as an undergraduate at Peking University and as a graduate student at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies. While at the center, she volunteered at a school for the children of migrant workers. Her additional professional experience includes serving as a program assistant at the US-China Policy Foundation and performing research on China as an intern at Population Action International. Amanda received a master’s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in Chinese and cognitive science from Vassar College. She is proficient in Chinese and French.
Solome Lemma, Grantmaking Program Advisor
Solome Lemma is the grantmaking program advisor. Her experience is in the field of human rights, with a focus on children and youth, gender, and forced migration. Prior to joining GFC, Solome worked with the UN Development Programme in Ethiopia and Human Rights Watch in New York City. She recently interned with the International Rescue Committee in Liberia, where she worked on trainings to combat gender-based violence. Solome received a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University. She is fluent in Amharic.
Sandra Macías del Villar, Associate Program Officer for Brazil and the Caribbean
Sandra Macías del Villar is the associate program officer for Brazil and the Caribbean. Prior to coming to GFC, Sandra worked for the International Rescue Committee’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program in Miami, Florida, where she was responsible for handling cases of human trafficking survivors in the South Florida region. Sandra also worked as a consultant in Haiti for the Haitian Education and Leadership Program and for the Institute for Philanthropy, based in the United Kingdom. During her time in Haiti in 2008, she assisted in the creation of Konbit Pou Edikasyon, a nonprofit organization that sponsors primary and secondary education for children and youth living in disadvantaged communities throughout Haiti, and she currently serves on its board. Sandra has taken graduate courses at the School of International Training, and she received a master’s degree in planning, public policy, and administration from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree in international business and management from Oregon State University. Sandra is a native Spanish speaker and is fluent in French and Portuguese and proficient in Haitian Creole.
Sarah Modica, Knowledge Management and Grantmaking Operations Officer
Sarah Modica is the knowledge management and grantmaking operations officer at The Global Fund for Children. She first came to GFC in 2007 as a William Ascher summer fellow after receiving her master’s degree in international education policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education. As an Ascher fellow, Sarah documented GFC’s past experiences in awarding post-crisis Recovery and Renewal Grants, researched the strategies and processes of various disaster response organizations doing similar work, and developed a comprehensive disaster response strategy paper for GFC. Sarah has a strong background in education, having previously worked as a high school history teacher in the US and as an English language teacher in Japan through the JET Program. Most recently, Sarah volunteered with an NGO and a school for orphans in Uganda through the Foundation for Sustainable Development.
Josephine Ndao, Program Officer for West Africa
Josephine Ndao is the program officer for West Africa. Previously, Josephine was with Tostan’s national and international office in Senegal, where she worked closely with communities and field staff and traveled across West Africa to monitor Tostan’s community-based program and community-initiated development projects. Her time working at Tostan to empower women and girls, and as a volunteer at the Fondation Stamm in Burundi, where she engaged directly with orphans, strengthened her commitment to children and to youth issues. Josephine’s regional interest stems from her childhood in Senegal and her internships in Burkina Faso with the International Monetary Fund and the Ministry of Finance and Budget. Josephine earned her master’s degree in poverty and development from the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex in England, and she received her bachelor’s degree, with honors, in economics, with a minor in global studies, from the University of Ottawa in Canada. Josephine is fluent in French and Wolof and proficient in Spanish.
Emmanuel Otoo, Program Officer for Africa
Emmanuel Otoo is the program officer for Africa. Emmanuel has extensive experience in human rights interventions and has worked with major national and international development agencies for over 13 years. Prior to joining GFC, he was the West Africa regional director for Free the Slaves, where he focused on combating and eradicating human trafficking and modern-day slavery through strategic partnerships. He previously worked for Geneva Global, Mercy Project, and Touch a Life Foundation on similar issues. Emmanuel has managed a number of integrated corporate social development programs for international development organizations such as Plan International, African Development Fund/Government of Ghana, UNDP, and ILO/IPEC. He has also provided technical assistance to grassroots NGOs in West Africa to build their capacity. His work with Free the Slaves was featured on CNN’s Freedom Project.
Emmanuel holds an MSW, an executive MBA in project management, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is proficient in Ga, Twi, and Fanti and has a working knowledge of French and Portuguese.
Hoa Duong Piyaka, Program Officer for East and Southeast Asia
Hoa Tu Duong is the program officer for East and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining GFC, Hoa worked for UNHCR, serving unaccompanied minors in three Kenyan refugee camps, and managed state-level refugee assistance and public health programs for the US Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Her regional focus stems from her time spent as a student in Vietnam and as a professional educator in one of the poorest areas of Thailand, and from her work on development and research projects in northern Vietnam and Japan for the Social Science Research Council. Hoa also coordinated production for New Year Baby, a documentary film depicting one Cambodian family’s journey to the United States.
While in policy school, Hoa consulted with the International Organization for Migration in Iraq and ORR’s Anti-trafficking in Persons Program. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her master’s in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Hoa is fluent in Chinese and Thai and has a working knowledge of Vietnamese and Spanish.
Cynthia Pon, Director of Global Fund for Children Books
Cynthia Pon is the director of Global Fund for Children Books. She brings to her position a love of words, arts, and world cultures, as well as experience as an educator, working in higher education and educational publishing. Before joining GFC, she was on the editorial staff of Teaching Tolerance, a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. She is an award-winning writer and has experience working with writers and educators across the country and internationally. Cynthia grew up in Hong Kong and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hong Kong. She later earned a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in comparative literature from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Cynthia is fluent in Chinese, proficient in French, and has reading knowledge of German.
Communications
Jerry Irvine, Vice President for Communications
Jerry Irvine joins The Global Fund for Children having worked in the communications field in both the public and private sector for over 15 years. Most recently, Jerry served as the Communications Director for the New America Foundation, a non-partisan think tank, where he was responsible for managing the organization’s communications strategy, including a comprehensive public relations effort focused on media outreach, policy events, and a robust online presence. With an extensive background in both traditional and new media marketing, Jerry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to The Global Fund for Children.
Prior to joining the New America Foundation, Jerry held the position of Senior Marketing Manager at Deloitte & Touche, Director of Communications for the Internet Security Alliance, and Director of Corporate Communications for iDEFENSE, Inc. In addition, he held the position of Press Secretary for both Congressman Steny H. Hoyer and the Democratic Leadership Council/Progressive Policy Institute.
Jerry earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.
Melanie Durian, Public Relations Manager
Melanie Durian is the public relations manager. Before joining GFC, Melanie was a senior associate at Aman & Associates, a public relations firm on Capitol Hill. She has extensive experience in promoting issues and organizations and a keen interest in international issues, strengthened while studying abroad in China and Spain. Since moving to Washington, DC, Melanie has worked with congressional officials and staffers, local and national media, public policy centers, and nongovernmental organizations. She also served as the World Bank relations intern at the United Nations World Food Programme.
Melanie holds a master’s degree in international commerce and policy from George Mason University’s School of Public Policy and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of San Diego.
Monica Grover, Manager of Digital Media Projects
Monica Grover joined The Global Fund for Children after working as the content editor for DigitalSports DC, a community based web portal dedicated to highlighting the accomplishments of DC public high school student-athletes. Prior to joining DigitalSports DC, Grover served as the project manager for the Kimsey Foundation, a family foundation committed to supporting education and community development initiatives in Washington, DC. In addition, Grover’s previous experience involved work in communications for the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, where she successfully launched a support network for patients in India seeking improved treatment and healthcare options for bone marrow disease. Grover earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Italian from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco.
Development
Stacey Sickels Locke, Vice President for Development
Stacey Sickels Locke is the vice president for development. She has over 20 years of fundraising and nonprofit management experience in higher education, independent schools, faith-based organizations, social services, and the arts. Prior to joining GFC, Stacey served as executive director for the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation. Her previous positions include regional campaign director at Sweet Briar College and national campaign director for Washington National Cathedral. Stacey has additional development experience with independent schools and Crossway Community, a residential facility for at-risk mothers and children. Prior to her focus on development, Stacey specialized in special-event and convention planning. She is a member of the International Special Events Society, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Council for Resource Development.
Stacey graduated from Sweet Briar College and holds the Certified Fund Raising Executive designation from CFRE International.
Anne Sorensen, Director of Development
Anne Sorensen is the director of development for The Global Fund for Children. She has ten years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors. Prior to joining GFC, she worked in fund development for nonprofit organizations that support charter schools and provide academic services to Asian immigrant students in Washington, DC. Anne was posted to Romania and India with the U.S. Department of State. As a Foreign Service Officer, she worked on a number of human rights issues, including trafficking in persons, negotiated the text of UN human rights resolutions, and helped coordinate relief efforts following the 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, India. Anne received a Bachelor’s degree in history and international relations from Brigham Young University and a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University-Bloomington. She is conversant in Hindi, Japanese, and Romanian.
Ana Maria Argudo, Individual Giving Officer
Ana Maria Argudo is the individual giving officer for The Global Fund for Children. Her introduction to the nonprofit sector came at the age of 8, when her parents founded a small nonprofit in their homeland of Ecuador to refurbish schools in the Andean region. Ana Maria most recently worked in Lima, Peru, for Joining Hands Against Poverty, where she created a strategic fund development plan to support advocacy work on environmental and human rights issues in La Oroya, Peru. Prior to that, she worked for the international development organization Bridges to Community as a program coordinator in Nicaragua, where she designed and implemented projects in housing, education, public health, and microcredit, and then as the director of donor relations and communications.
Ana Maria graduated from Hunter College in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and theater. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in development management at American University’s School of International Service. She is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Quechua.
Heidi Bichler Harris, Database and Research Manager
Heidi Bichler Harris is the database and research manager for The Global Fund for Children. She has more than seven years of database and development experience in the nonprofit world and has worked for nonprofits for over 12 years. Prior to joining GFC, Heidi was the database manager and annual-fund assistant at St. Paul’s School in Brooklandville, Maryland, and ran the development office at Sacred Heart Parish and School in Glyndon, Maryland. Before moving to Maryland, she served as the faith formation coordinator at St. Joseph Parish in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Heidi grew up in Canada and graduated from Ontario’s Brock University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Lauren Keller, Development Associate
Lauren Keller is the development associate at The Global Fund for Children. Prior to coming to GFC, she interned at the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Smith College and served as the development intern at Infante Sano, an organization focusing on maternal and infant healthcare in the Dominican Republic. She has also worked with Nicaraguan and American engineering and business students as part of a collaborative program focusing on business development and innovation in Esteli, Nicaragua. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Lauren lived and studied for five months in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Lauren received a bachelor’s degree in government with a minor in economics from Smith College. She is conversant in Spanish.
Teresa Weathington, Senior Grant Writer
Teresa Weathington is the senior grant writer for The Global Fund for Children. She has over six years of experience in nonprofit fundraising. Prior to joining GFC, Teresa was the development and grants associate for Refugees International, where she helped to increase support from private foundations and served as the primary liaison with foundation staff. She also managed the organization’s grant proposal and reporting, charitable state registrations, and written donor appeals. Teresa gained valuable humanitarian experience on a one-month mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Kenya with Refugees International’s Peacekeeping Program. She previously worked with Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind on grant management, database maintenance, and direct mail campaigns.
Teresa holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Yale University and a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University, with extensive coursework in conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance. She is conversant in French and Spanish.
Finance and Operations
Brian Lam, Chief Operating Officer
Brian Lam is the chief operating officer for The Global Fund for Children. Brian has over 20 years of business and legal experience in the financial, aerospace, sports and entertainment, and technology sectors. In business, he has extensive hands-on experience in operations, planning, budgeting, finance, administration, information technology, human resources, regulatory compliance, business development, and corporate branding. In law, he has served as in-house and outside counsel for both publicly held and privately owned companies, as counsel to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and as an attorney at Latham & Watkins and Arnold & Porter. Brian has taught business law and ethics to MBA students at two universities, including one established for international students studying in the US. He has an undergraduate degree in international relations from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a JD from Duke University School of Law.
Andrew Barnes, Senior Grants Manager
Andrew Barnes joined the finance and operations team in 2007 as grants manager. Previously, he administered a tax amnesty program for businesses at the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC). His expertise is in systems design, database management, and client relations. Prior to his work for the MTC, he was a remedial writing instructor at Camden County Community College in New Jersey, and he has lived and studied in Oxford, England. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Taylor University and a master’s degree in English from Rutgers University.
Michael Bush, Controller
Michael Bush is the controller for The Global Fund for Children. He joined GFC after working 30 plus years in a variety of accounting venues including public accounting, internal audit, government contracting and non-profits. He has been responsible for accounting, finance, budgeting and human resources activities for membership, quasi-government, foundations, and non-profit organizations. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University.
Belinda Forrest, Executive Assistant
Belinda Forrest is the executive assistant for CEO Kristin Lindsey at The Global Fund for Children. She joins GFC after nearly 20 years at the Council on Foundations, where she held positions in the membership department, in the conference and meeting planning departments, and in the executive office, where she provided high-level administrative, scheduling, travel, and meeting support for senior-level executives. Previously, she held similar positions at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Belinda is a candidate for a bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Mason University and holds an associate’s degree in psychology from Northern Virginia Community College. She volunteers at the Washington Regional Transplant Community.
Jim Klein, Director of Finance
Jim Klein is the director of finance for The Global Fund for Children. He is a certified public accountant with more than 20 years of experience in finance, management, and budgeting. Before coming to GFC, Jim founded and ran a financial and management consulting firm; served as vice president for finance, chief operating officer, and controller for several diverse companies; and worked as an accountant for a national accounting firm. Beyond finance, he has extensive experience in strategic planning, sales and marketing, business development, raising capital, human resources, and training. Jim graduated from the Villanova School of Business, where he majored in economics, finance, and accounting.
Nardos Worku, Administrative Assistant
Nardos Worku is a former diplomat who worked with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nardos was posted to Geneva, Switzerland, for five years to represent Ethiopia at key United Nations conferences as the officer in charge of human rights and humanitarian affairs. After immigrating to the US, Nardos worked for several lenders and mortgage companies as an underwriter and a loan officer. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia. She speaks fluent Amharic and has a working knowledge of French.
The Global Fund for Children UK Trust
Debra Burke, Head of Business Development for Europe
Debra Burke is the head of business development for Europe. Debra has over 12 years of experience with nonprofit organizations in fundraising and development, gift solicitation, account management, and managing strategic relationships with high-net-worth individuals. She has previously served as director of fund development for UNLTD South Africa, a start-up organization for early-stage social entrepreneurs in South African townships; development director for The Legal Assistance Trust in London, which supports the rights of the poor in South Africa; executive director of Ubuntu Education Fund, which provides education and healthcare for at-risk children in South Africa; and national director for individual giving and major gifts at City Year, Inc., an international youth service organization. Debra is an American citizen currently based in London, and she holds a bachelor’s degree in world history from Saint Anselm College.
Barbara Davidson, Development Operations Manager
Barbara Davidson is the development operations manager for The Global Fund for Children UK Trust. Barbara has been involved in the UK’s charity sector for over 14 years and has considerable experience in the development of administrative systems and procedures as well as publicity and fundraising. Prior to joining the UK Trust, she served as the communications manager at Chapel & York Limited, a leading provider of cross-border fundraising services that assists NGOs with raising funds for projects all over the world. She previously worked at the Legal Assistance Trust, a UK charity that seeks to maintain and protect the fundamental rights of the most disadvantaged sections of the South African population. Barbara lives outside of London and is a British citizen.