Our organization is privileged to have a board of directors that consists of a strong housing and racial justice commitment. The evolution of Funders Together’s bold voice and vision has only been possible because of the passionate and inspirational leadership of individuals who dedicate their time and energy to helping us guide our work.

Funders Together Board Members: Our Gratitude and Welcome! 

Funders Together staff would like to thank Kelli King-Jackson and Darnell Cadette for their incredible service and leadership to our mission and for bringing unique expertise to ensure our work moves forward in the spirit of love and disruption.  

During their tenures, both Kelli and Darnell were an integral part of the movement to center our work around youth, BIPOC, and LGBTQ voices and continually raised the importance of collective and individual well-being for both staff, members, and those we aim to serve as we engage in the work for racial and housing justice.   

Of Darnell’s service, FTEH CEO Amanda Andere noted: “Darnell’s leadership propelled a deeper presence in the Bay Area, helping to establish the Bay Area Homelessness Funders Network which we lead in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers. I am so grateful for his thought-partnership and expertise that also led to the board’s housing justice strategic framework.”  

“Kelli is the quiet and firm voice behind much of our movement’s work to end youth homelessness by centering racial equity and collaborating authentically with people with lived experience,” says Amanda.  “She has been a mentor to me in helping to find my voice and power to lead authentically as a Black woman. On a very personal note, during one of the hardest times of my life, she was one of my rocks. This is what makes Funders Together’s board so special; modeling that community care is essential to a just and liberated organization.”  

Welcome to the Funders Together Board! 

As Funders Together moves forward into 2024 and beyond, we anchor our work in our strategic framework values of centering housing justice, being intentional in this work, and practicing organizational wellness. Those that serve on our board of directors play a crucial role in ensuring our work stays true to our north star and we are honored to have new dynamic and passionate leaders joining us to guide the organization’s direction and our collective work for housing justice: 

• Kristin Aldana-Taday, Program Officer, Homelessness, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation 
• Maria Hernandez, Chief Program Officer, United Way of Broward County 
• Lucky Michael, Program Officer, Arlene and Michael Rosen Foundation 
• Tracey Stewart, Senior Program Officer, The Colorado Health Foundation 

Of our new board members, Funders Together CEO Amanda Andere said: “I am honored to work alongside the leadership of our new board members who have demonstrated strong commitments to racial equity and housing justice. They represent the rich and growing diversity of the housing justice movement and Funders Together staff is grateful for their willingness to share their expertise and passion to guide our work.”  

Meet our new board members: 

Kristin Aldana-Taday
Program Officer, Homelessness
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation 

Kristin Aldana-Taday coordinates grantmaking activities for the Program Department of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. She monitors current grants and supports the development, review, and presentation of grant proposals, with a focus on the Foundation’s Homelessness initiative, for consideration by the Foundation board of directors. Prior to joining the Hilton Foundation, Aldana-Taday worked for the Liberty Hill Foundation, where she directed donor services with a focus on donor engagement activities and donor advised funds. Aldana-Taday also previously worked for Pacoima Beautiful, an environmental justice organization in Los Angeles. She holds a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and urban studies from the University of California, San Diego. 

Maria Hernandez
Chief Program Officer
United Way of Broward County 

Maria Hernandez is a senior level non-profit executive who has successfully designed and administered human service programs, clinical interventions, and research in the areas of health, behavioral health, education, financial stability, homelessness, and emergency services within organizations in New York and Florida. Recognized as an industry thought leader for background of expertise within the field, Maria has consistently executed community initiatives, built community partnerships, and formulated comprehensive programs that demonstrate positive change, facilitating prevention and treatment through evidence-based interventions.  

Maria joined United Way of Broward County in June of 2013 as the Vice President of Program Operations. In 2017, she took on the role of Chief Program Officer with primary accountability for the operations of the Community Impact Department, Commission on Substance Abuse, and Mission United. Ms. Hernandez is involved in the development of strategies to educate, engage and cultivate individuals in order to retain and grow the agency donor base and has cultivated several new funding relationships generating over $10MM in new funding. Maria oversees United Way Community Impact emergency response efforts for natural disasters, as well as the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lucky Michael
Program Officer
Arlene and Michael Rosen Foundation 

I am a survivor of poverty and displacement and have been called to the path of service to advocate for members of my community who are currently surviving the indignity of poverty and racism. For over a decade I have worked in our homeless response system in various capacities; including street outreach, case management, and launching/managing supportive housing programs. My background in direct service has given me the experience of working in grant-funded programs. This experience has made me uniquely empathetic to the challenges that non-profits experience. 

In joining AMRF, I hope to inspire long-term systems change by bridging the power differential between funder and grantee. I strive to boost communities through transformative relationship building; rooted in trust and power-sharing. I firmly believe communities have the answers to address social issues; what is needed are resources and the freedom/flexibility to implement solutions.  

I am a daughter of the East African diaspora born in a conflict zone. I traversed four countries before immigrating to the United States at age 5. In my early years, I struggled with feeling a sense of belonging. Often wondering where home is. As I surrendered to my nomadic truth of being a borderless global citizen, confidence, belonging and home came to me organically. I am indebted to my beloved mother for gifting me fluency in 3 languages and a deep love of travel. Twenty countries later, I’ve learned and witnessed what everyone ultimately yearns for: Love. 

Tracey Stewart
Senior Program Officer
The Colorado Health Foundation 

Tracey, who joined The Colorado Health Foundation in November 2020 as a senior program officer, has amassed a breadth of experience in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors, including public policy development and community investment projects. Backed by almost twenty years of expertise in family economic mobility, she searches for sustainable investments that create lasting solutions, and ultimately change the way philanthropy thinks about community-driven initiatives to emphasize self-sufficiency and self-determination. 

Previously, Tracey served as the director of family economic security at Gary Community Investments, where she led the expansion of community-based investments in workforce, affordable housing and financial inclusion. Other highpoints of her nonprofit career include working on policy at Colorado Center on Law and Policy and community data management at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Prior to her roles in the nonprofit sector, Tracey was a technologist specializing in data systems and organizational change management. 

Tracey remains committed to strengthening her community and serves as a board member for Hope Communities, Uncharted and Colorado Consumer Health Initiative. She is also a part of advisory committees for Warren Village, Grounded Solutions and NPX Advisors Group.