In the work for housing justice and a liberated world, it is important to hold the “both/and” — recognizing that two truths or feelings can exist side by side. And so, it is with a mix of sadness, deep gratitude, and respect the Funders Together Board of Directors announces that on Friday, August 15, 2025, Amanda Andere and Stephanie Chan are transitioning from the organization as CEO and Chief Strategy Officer, respectively, to pursue a new and exciting co-leadership opportunity.
Effective September 2, 2025, Amanda and Stephanie are joining Neighborhood Funders Group (NFG) as Co-Presidents, leading NFG as a powerful political home for a growing funder membership, and to organize philanthropy to support grassroots power building so that Black, Indigenous, and people of color and low-income communities thrive.
“Words cannot express the deep gratitude Funders Together has for the dedication and courageous leadership Amanda and Stephanie have contributed to both our organization and the broader housing justice movement,” said Tony Richardson, Funders Together Board Chair and President of The George Gund Foundation.
“Over the past seven years, I have enjoyed the humble privilege of working alongside them—as well as with current and former staff and board members—to elevate Funders Together to the impactful, visible, people-centered, and value’s driven organization we are today. While we will greatly miss Amanda and Stephanie, we look forward to supporting them in their new roles as Co-Presidents of Neighborhood Funders Group and continuing our partnership for housing justice through love, strategic disruption, and innovative solutions.”
Amanda Andere, CEO
In 2016, Amanda Andere joined Funders Together as the CEO and first Black woman leader of the organization. During her tenure, she grew the organization from four to seven full-time staff members and expanded our membership to more than 270 foundations, United Ways, corporate giving programs, and individual philanthropists. Amanda led the organization through two racial equity-focused strategic plans as well as the organization’s first public commitment to lead with racial equity in all its work. She has been, and continues to be, a vital voice on racial and housing justice, funder collaboration and philanthropy’s role in movement building, and public policy and advocacy for systems change.
In addition to the internal work at Funders Together, Amanda played a pivotal role in strengthening the housing justice movement by co-founding two integral movement coalitions: The National Racial Equity Working Group on Homelessness and Housing and the National Coalition for Housing Justice.
“Leading Funders Together has been the most meaningful nine years of my career. It is the first time I have been able to show up authentically and be supported as a Black woman leader. Our thoughtful and dedicated board and staff have helped to create an organization that is unapologetically committed to equity and justice,” said Amanda, reflecting on her tenure at Funders Together.
“Over the last almost ten years, the journey has been one of learning and unlearning to be a more liberated organization. That work would not have been possible without Stephanie by my side, so it is one of the greatest honors of my life that I get to continue working with her as we step into this new role as Co-Presidents. While it is bittersweet to leave during this critical time for the housing justice movement, we will take the lessons and commitment to ending housing insecurity with us as we mobilize philanthropy to resource movements committed to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color liberation.”
Stephanie Chan, Chief Strategy Officer
Stephanie joined Funders Together in 2018 as the Director of Membership and Programs where she led Funders Together’s impactful programming on housing justice, including social housing, reparations, criminal legal system reform and abolition, power building, direct cash transfers, and policy advocacy, as well as signature events like the annual Funders Forum and Funders Institute. She launched the Foundations for Racial Equity community of practice to help philanthropy intentionally apply a racial justice lens to grantmaking, and she also served as a racial equity advisor to the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Intergovernment Personnel Act (IPA) Placement.
After being promoted to Chief Strategy Officer in 2022, Stephanie co-led the implementation of the new strategic framework in part by building the organization’s reputation as a leader in housing and racial justice as well as an effective organizer of philanthropy.
“It has been a privilege to be a part of Funders Together’s work for housing justice. Over the past seven years, I’ve seen what is possible when philanthropy is mobilized to center equity, justice, and those most directly impacted by housing injustice. I am grateful to the Funders Together board and staff for always leading with abundance, joy, and an unapologetic commitment to equity and justice,” said Stephanie about her time leading and supporting the organization.
“While leaving Funders Together brings me many mixed emotions, I am honored and overjoyed to continue working alongside Amanda as the next Co-Presidents of NFG. We remain co-conspirators to the housing justice movement and are excited to continue organizing philanthropy across multiple systems to shift power and resources to people at the sharpest intersections of oppression.”
Our Gratitude and Next Steps
While bittersweet, everyone at Funders Together — past and present — is eager to witness Amanda and Stephanie continue to advance racial and housing justice, helping to build stronger, more equitable communities and futures for all. We are incredibly honored for the energy, wisdom, and care they have poured into Funders Together and the movement over the years.
In the coming months, the Funders Together board will engage interim leadership to guide the organization as it moves forward with an Executive search for our next CEO. We will share a formal announcement when the search opens. Throughout this process, the board is committed to centering our organizational values of housing justice and liberation, ensuring that the next leader carries forward the vision that Amanda and Stephanie have so powerfully shaped.
Click here to read the Neighborhood Funders Group statement on Amanda Andere and Stephanie Chan.