A start-up donor-advised fund has a message for would-be donors: Don’t let your contribution gather dust.
Possibility Labs, which in August began to offer a donor-advised fund with a required annual distribution, today said it has attracted a donation of $20 million from the Kataly Foundation based on its commitment to support grassroots social-justice organizations led by people of color.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro
Institutional racism and white supremacy underlie many, if not all, of the social and health crises that exist today, whether it be the racial wealth gap, homelessness, or climate change. I believe that we all have a role to play in dismantling these deeply engrained ideologies and practices.
Together, we can make a change by consistently engaging and listening deeply to those who are most impacted, educating ourselves, acknowledging and using our privileges to advocate for change, reflecting on and challenging our biases and assumptions and those of others, and supporting BIPOC organizations that are leading the movement.
Junior Chief of Staff | she/her
Anika works closely with Keiko Murase, co-CEO of Possibility Labs, to implement strategic business initiatives. She serves as a thought partner by offering data analysis and perspectives, identifies improvement opportunities and formulates solutions, and provides communication, research, and administrative support. Anika brings five years of expertise in evidence-based program development, implementation, and evaluation, grant writing, strategic planning, contract management, and project management to this role. A passion for advancing equity for BIPOC through systems change underlies her career trajectory.
Previously, she worked as a Performance Management Analyst, Project Manager, and Manager of Special Projects for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). During this time, she played a key role in the active contract management of a $44 million portfolio of homeless service programs in Los Angeles County. Prior to this role, she worked as a Health Equity Fellow for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), during which she developed recommendations for organizational leadership on how they can improve their research and evaluation approach to issues affecting tribal communities. Anika holds a B.A. in Public Health Policy from UC Irvine and an M.P.H. in Community Health Sciences from UCLA and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
“…having the Courage to take on tough challenges, Abundance as our mindset and practice in all things, Resilience to take the “lump”, learn the lesson and keep moving forward, and Education as our core and foundation for delivering deep, durable solutions to our clients.”
Culture Consultant | she/her
Janet is the CEO and founder of Progressive Discoveries, a strategic consulting practice that takes a culturally intelligent approach to fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) at work and in an organization’s DNA. She delivered her first diversity training session in 1998, which led her to start Progressive Discoveries shortly thereafter.
The company provides Advisory & Coaching Services, A3 (Assessment, Audits & Analytics), Systemic Solutions and Education that encourages communication, learning and enhanced operational effectiveness for working with and providing services to people across nationalities, ethnicities, age groups, sexuality, gender expression, and ability status.
Janet previously held long-term consulting contracts with well-known corporations and worked to improve financial and business acumen; facilitate workforce and work process development programs; develop operations improvement materials, create performance management, change management, diversity, inclusion and leadership curriculum; create strategic synergies between departments; and administer assessments.
As a seasoned DEI-B, leadership and training professional, Janet is thrilled to serve as the Culture Consultant for Possibility Labs.
Collaboration within communities and the field is based on hearing the needs of movements and efficiently solving for the new economy together.
Senior Director, Business Development & Program Design | she/her
Kelsey serves as a strategic partner to support the co-CEOs with effective decision-making, project management, research & design, and execution of key strategic initiatives across the organization. Kelsey brings five years of expertise working to increase equitable access to funding, community and funder relationship building, participatory grantmaking, and capacity building for grassroots organizations. Previously, she worked as a Senior Program Officer at The New York Women’s Foundation’s NYC Fund for Girls and Young Women a collaborative fund supporting organizations led by girls, young women, and transgender/gender non-conforming youth of color. Prior to this role, she worked in the Office of the President at the Ford Foundation supporting grantmaking in the arts, civic engagement, disability inclusion and policy advocacy. Kelsey holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Philanthropy has the potential to restore balance by serving as a tool for achieving economic, environmental, racial, and social justice.
Chief of Staff | she/her
Melissa drives Possibility Labs’ fundraising processes, including philanthropic partnership creation and stewardship. Her focus is on overseeing the pipeline of funding opportunities, establishing moves management processes, and tracking goals for engaging individual and institutional partners. Melissa brings to the team a background in major gifts, fundraising strategy, and grant management from nine years of experience at nonprofit institutions ranging in size and scope. Previously, Melissa served as Development Director for La Leche League International and as Director of Development for the University of Florida. Melissa holds a B.S. in Public Relations and a minor in Spanish from the University of Florida.
None of us are seeds cast into the wind. We were lovingly planted in the rich fertile soil of family, friends, and culture. We cannot forget where we come from and act as if we have done it all on our own. We acknowledge the collective and ancestral contributions to our success and act accordingly by paying those efforts forward to our chosen tribe.
Social Investment Consultant | she/her
Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is a proud Puerto Rican, Gambian-American entrepreneur who is committed to shifting the inequitable wealth distribution in our society. Anna spent eight years working in wealth management advising ultra-high net worth families and institutions how to grow and secure their wealth for longevity and impact. She currently serves as a financial advisor and investment consultant to individuals and institutions who wish to build wealth in an intentional and values-aligned fashion.
Anna is among a small, but impactful group of BIPOC CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certificants who are trained to give comprehensive, holistic financial advice. She has won Investment News’ “Top 100 Influential Financial Advisors” twice and has been featured in well-known publications such as Bloomberg, CNBC, VICE News, The New York Times, Telemundo, Financial Planning, RIA Intel, Think Advisor, and Next Advisor. She currently is Partner and President for GRID 202 Partners.
Social Investment Consultant | he/him
Keith Beverly is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer for GRID 202 Partners, an independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm. GRID focuses on achieving attractive financial returns in a manner fully aligned with the personal or organizational mission of its clients.
Keith brings over 15 years of investment management and financial planning experience to the firm. His responsibilities include building customized investment portfolios to implementing sophisticated financial planning strategies – primarily for medical professionals, attorneys, and professional athletes. Keith is passionate about financial education, particularly in underestimated communities. He has delivered numerous seminars and workshops to groups ranging from elementary school students to retirees.
Keith graduated from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business with University and College Honors and obtained his MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Business School where he was a Dean’s Fellow. He also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner designations, the most respected credentials for investment management and financial planning, respectively.
… to help people find meaningful narratives and forge emotional connections to those with different lived experiences. Humans are born storytellers, it’s how we make sense of the world. Some of the earliest examples of human stories date back to cave networks over 30,000 years old. I think storytelling has the power to help humans see our infinite connectedness.
Public Relations Consultant | they/them
Shel Senai is the founder and principal of flypaper PR, a full-service public relations consultancy. Formed in 2014, flypaper PR offers strategic communications counsel and fresh, highly-creative PR guidance and campaign execution for clients that innovate against the status quo and aim to enact resonating change.
Shel brings more than 15 years of comms and PR experience to their work at PL. With an agency background that lends itself well to collaboration, Shel’s goal is to become an extension of the team in order to discover, develop, and deliver the most impactful stories from inside an organization. They hold a B.S. in communications with a minor in English from Boston University and an MFA in creative writing from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Their award-winning fiction writing has received financial support from the St. Botolph Club Foundation and the Mass Cultural Council.
“We are all implicated when we allow other people to be mistreated. An absence of compassion can corrupt the decency of a community, a state, a nation.” – Bryan Stevenson
When we begin to center compassion- in the way we interact with others, the way we make decisions, the way we live our lives, then we can effectively talk about what it takes to break down the systems that have been built to oppress and work towards equity and justice.
Operations Manager, Partner Services | she/her
Randall has made it her mission to utilize her professional expertise in support of mission driven work that centers both people and our planet. She is thrilled to serve as part of the Partner Services Team as a primary point of contact for partners, and to work in collaboration to further work being done to advance economic, social, and environmental justice.
Randall brings extensive experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit spaces, serving in operational, finance, and relationship-building capacities with a commitment to marginalized communities. She comes to PL after nearly four years in climate and social justice work, supporting grassroots initiatives across the country. Randall holds a B.S. from Old Dominion University in Speech Language Pathology & Audiology.
“Diversity is a fact, equity is a choice, inclusion is an action, and belonging is an outcome.” – Arthur Chan. Every person has the ability to take on the action of inclusion. As community members, it is our responsibility to be inclusive and demand inclusive action. Although systemic change takes time, it is through inclusive action that community members and organizations can move our society to one that everyone can feel like they belong. Being inclusive is not about race, gender, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Inclusivity is about seeing people as people and treating them with the dignity and respect personhood calls for. Being inclusive is being compassionate, having empathy, and respecting a person’s right to simply be themselves.
VP of Operations | she/her
An innovator and entrepreneur, Jill brings over a decade of experience serving historically disenfranchised community members through systems and program development. Bringing over 10 years of experience in nonprofit program management and operations, Jill is thrilled to lead Possibility Labs’ partner service operations. Throughout her career, Jill has pioneered multiple initiatives to efficiently collect and analyze data, generate grant and donation revenue, increase volunteer pipelines, and create and streamline operational systems. Her professional and personal core values are grounded in a firm belief in equity, empowerment, and a responsibility to support all community members. Jill holds a M.B.A. from National University and a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies from California State University, Northridge.
“As a global community of activists and change-makers, we collectively share the burden of our individual experiences. And when we ground our relationships in mutual respect and validation, we can leverage our expertise and individual gifts to lift each other up, break through challenges together, and propel the entire movement forward in solidarity.”
Senior Operations Manager, Partner Services | she/her
Chanell is passionate about providing unwavering support for partners as they do their work to advance social justice and care for marginalized communities. Working within the Partner Services Team, she serves as a primary contact for partners and uses her analytical and problem-solving skills to engage project leaders in exploring pain points that arise during the course of their work and collaborate with them to co-create unique solutions to meet their project needs.
Chanell has always gravitated towards roles which allow her to guide, champion, cheerlead, and empower others to succeed. She has had extensive of experience in customer service and operations management including supervisory roles at McMaster-Carr, a nationwide industrial supplier, and management positions at Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies in their Workers’ Compensation division. Most recently, she provided back office, project management, and operations support for Brunch & Budget, a New York-based financial advising firm that helps those in the BIPOC community build generational wealth. She earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.P.P. from the Luskin School of Public Affairs at UCLA, which is also where she began her professional career supporting fellow students in higher education, first as an Academic Peer Counselor and later as a Student Affairs Officer and Teaching Assistant.
Health, safety, a clean environment, economic security, well-being and quality education for all communities must be valued and prioritized over excessive individual gain and accumulation of wealth.
People Operations Strategist | she/her
Masako leads Possibility Labs’ culture and people development strategies, including organization-wide values alignment and integration. Masako’s expertise comes from 18+ years in creating Human Resources, Finance, and Operations infrastructure, policies, and processes that center the needs of BIPOC and low-income communities. Most recently, she served as Senior Director of People Operations at Movement Strategy Center, with 150+ employees across 20 states and 26 fiscally sponsored projects, leading its People Operations Team. Previous to MSC, Masako was Finance & Operations Director and Interim Executive Director at the Museum of Children’s Art in California. Masako is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and holds a B.A. in International Relations and French Studies from Mills College and L’Université de Paris.
At the grassroots level, and following the leadership and visions of BIPOC leaders, change-makers, and grassroots movements to bring us closer to the world we envision
People Engagement Manager | she/her
Morgan supports Possibility Labs’ People Operations Team in building a people engagement strategy and organizational culture that is BIPOC-centered and values aligned. She brings experience in stakeholder relationship management, fostering cross-team relationships, and process management focused on creating thriving and productive environments. Previously, she worked at Movement Strategy Center as Investment Partnership Coordinator and at Restaurant Opportunities Centers United as Executive Assistant and Donor Organizer. She holds a B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies and a minor in Public Policy from the University of California Berkeley.
To guide social justice leaders and take care of the back-end services that inhibit their work, so these leaders can focus on fundraising as a nonprofit.
Operations Research Analyst | he/him
Daniel supports Possibility Labs as an Operations Research Analyst, helping with business intelligence, system integration, process automation, operations research and planning, sourcing vendors for the Possibility Labs’ portal, and helping drive the platform’s back-end services. He brings 6+ years of expertise working as a data analyst within operations, engineering, finance, process automation, and research experience. Previously, Daniel worked with ABM Industries. He supported strategic and operational planning for the corporate finance teams, developed an automation ecosystem using custom Python scripts and automated new customer creation processes. Daniel also has experience in financial reporting and process engineering. He holds an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University.
As an intermediary partner, the shared focus in humility, integrity, and setting and achieving the highest bar in what we set out to do is critical to our contribution to strengthening communities and movements — and ensuring the responsive and scalable partnership that bold and game-changing BIPOC entrepreneurs most need.
Co-CEO | she/her
Keiko co-leads Possibility Labs’ strategy and team. As a former management consultant, Keiko brings 20+ years of experience as strategic partner to C-Suite teams in helping them envision strategic goals and bringing their visions to life. She worked with clients, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 firms, to develop business infrastructure and operational excellence for rapid and sustainable growth.
Keiko transitioned to the non-profit sector in 2017. Her commitment to social justice was sealed after witnessing the harsh working conditions that people experienced in the factories and warehouses in remote areas overseas. She brings to the work her expertise in challenging the norms and creating innovative solutions for systemic change.
Previously, she worked as Deputy Director of Operations for Movement Strategy Center and Operations Director at Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation. Keiko holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Nanzan University in Japan, and an MBA from Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College.
Help build a platform to confront capitalist financing mechanisms and operational systems that are driving worker exploitation and planetary destruction and help community-driven, BIPOC-led initiatives to operate with the scale and agility of white-led enterprises, without capitalistic values.
Director of Field Building | he/him
Raymond leads Possibility Labs through philanthropic partnership building and fund development, shifting funders to make decisions in relationship with communities and to resource transformative work at scale. He brings 14+ years of experience working in philanthropic innovation, fund development, social justice strategy, grant writing, project development, and research. Previously, Raymond worked as Fund Officer at Movement Strategy Center, Director of Development for Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and as consultant for the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team. Raymond holds a B.A. in Anthropology from CUNY Hunter College and a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the CUNY Graduate Center.
As we take on the challenging work of navigating, disrupting, and transforming complex financial and information systems, leading with integrity is what can keep us grounded and accountable to what we are trying to accomplish. This means leading from our personal and shared values as much as encouraging the integration of our whole selves and holding a view of our whole communities.
Co-CEO | he/they
Lem has spent the past 12 years as a growth executive in startups, philanthropy, and non-profits supporting executive teams to develop high-growth strategies. He brings a breadth of expertise in leading teams to solve highly complex challenges with impactful solutions. Lem’s early work in community development taught him that shifting decision-making power to communities most impacted by development policies is the most impactful way for them to thrive. He has worked across social justice philanthropy and witnessed the power that storytelling has to activate people towards progressive social change. Additionally, he has worked alongside Black and Brown organizational leaders in gaining traction and funding by getting to the heart of an organization’s mission in its strategies and storytelling.
Lem co-leads Possibility Labs’ strategy and team. His focus is on understanding the needs of our partners and translating those into effective, impactful programs and platforms. Previously, Lem was Executive Director of Strategy at Movement Strategy Center, Chief Growth Officer at Refound, and Marketing and Communications Director at North Star Fund. Lem received his Bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. He studied Philosophy in the Master’s program at the New School and still enjoys diving into books on philosophy and his other love, theology.
For all people to thrive, not just survive, through concurrent modalities of individual therapy, interdependent care systems, and advocacy, and movement organizing to help rebuild community care.
VP of Marketing and Communications | she/they
Jaimee leads Possibility Labs’ marketing and communications, serving as an integrated brand planner, tactical executor, and creative storyteller through the lens of culture and empathy. She brings to the team valuable skill-sets from cross-functional roles such as: community manager, copywriter, researcher, and integrated strategist. Their approach is simplifying the complex by focusing on both the big picture while executing in the micro, a combination of strengths from her 11 years in restaurant operations and consumer marketing. Previously, Jaimee was a Director of Strategy at VaynerMedia for 8 years, leading the development of brand, content, and go-to-market strategies for Fortune 500 brands and start-ups. Jaimee holds a B.A. from Cornell University in Hospitality Administration.
Board Member | he/him
Mark Watson is the President of Potlikker Capital, a nonprofit charitable loan fund and integrated capital fund supporting BIPOC farmers at the intersection of racial and climate justice. Having started his career as a banker at the First National Bank of Chicago, then JP Morgan, Mark has had a 30-year career managing investment portfolios for foundations, endowments, and institutional pension funds. Mark was formerly the Managing Director and now serves as a Senior Investment Strategist of the Fair Food Fund. He founded Keel Asset Management LLC, a financial advisory firm providing socially responsible financial planning and investment advisory services to nonprofits, corporations, and the public on pension plans. Mark is an investment committee member of the Boston Impact Initiative Fund; an advisory board member of MIT/Health Innovation Systems Inc.; Director of Transition of The Institute of Educational Leadership; board president of Sustainable Cape, Inc.; and a former board member of the Social Venture Network. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois Champaign -Urbana, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Booth School, University of Chicago.
Board Member | she/her
Rosemary’s role within Possibility Labs’ Board leverages her expertise in nonprofits and board operations, governance, and law. She brings 30+ years of legal, teaching, advising, and leadership experience around nonprofits and social justice. Rosemary is currently a Principal at Adler & Colvin, a law firm focused on nonprofit and tax-exempt organization representation, and served until recently on its inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She holds a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and a BS in economics, summa cum laude, from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Board Member | he/him
Khalid’s role within the Possibility Labs’ Board of Directors focuses on fostering restorative and regenerative funding opportunities for BIPOC movements and community-driven organizations. He brings 15+ years of teaching, research, and work experience focused on leveraging social justice and environmental sustainability to address the needs of underserved communities. He is currently a Continuing Lecturer at UC Berkeley teaching courses focused on political economy, poverty, and the intersection of engineering and social justice. Khalid holds a Masters and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley, and a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
