We are thrilled to welcome Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of Greater Washington Community Foundation and Michelle Foster, President & CEO of Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation to our dynamic board of forward-thinking community foundation CEOs from across the country.
We are so honored to have two incredible community foundation leaders join our Board of Directors at CFLeads. Both Tonia and Michelle will bring valuable insights and guidance as CFLeads continues to amplify and accelerate the community foundation field. I look forward to their collaboration as we shape the future of CFLeads.
About Tonia Wellons
Tonia Wellons is the President & CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the largest public foundation in the region with over $500 million in assets and $70 million in annual grants. With deep community development experience, Tonia leads a regional foundation with a 50-year history of mobilizing community resources and investing more than $1.4 billion to build equitable, just, and thriving communities.
Since being named CEO in April 2020, Tonia has worked with the Board of Trustees and staff to reimagine the strategic priorities of The Community Foundation to center racial equity and inclusion. Under her leadership, The Community Foundation developed a bold 10-year strategic vision that will leverage its resources and expertise to lead this community in addressing the most catalytic opportunity of our lifetimes: closing our region’s racial wealth gap.
I am thrilled to join the CFLeads Board of Directors and to engage more deeply with fellow community foundation CEOs. I look forward to the opportunity to provide guidance and support that strengthens the community foundation field.
About Michelle Foster
Dr. Michelle Mickle Foster is the President & CEO of Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF), a philanthropic leader that helps donors, nonprofits, and other collaborative partners strengthen the community so that all of the people and places served have the opportunity to thrive. With approximately $340 million in assets under management, TGKVF is the largest community foundation in Central Appalachia and ranks 82nd among community foundations nationwide. TGKVF distributes over $13 million annually to health, education, community economic development, basic needs, and arts and culture initiatives targeting Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties in West Virginia, as well as statewide scholarships.
Michelle lives a life of community service and actively engages with several organizations in West Virginia, the Appalachian region, and nationwide. Before joining TGKVF in 2016, Michelle was the CEO of the Kanawha Institute for Social Research & Action, Inc.
I am deeply honored to join the CFLeads Board, where I look forward to collaborating with passionate leaders dedicated to advancing the impact of community foundations nationwide. At a time when our communities face both profound challenges and opportunities, CFLeads plays a vital role in driving innovation, inclusivity, and community-centered solutions. I am excited to contribute to this important work, fostering resilience and equity in the communities we serve.
