The Women of Woods Fund Chicago

September is my month to curate or write our blog; I have been struggling with what to share. There are so many important issues at the forefront, startling new realities, and a lot of really compelling narratives and voices in the blogosphere.  Within this context from my vantage point at a grantmaking foundation – what could I possibly add? What do I have to share that hasn’t been shared, or isn’t already being shared?  So, I decided to provide some insight into WHO Woods Fund is – beyond our grantmaking, beyond our guidelines and core principles, and beyond what you see on our team’s “who we are” website.  I can share with you a look into who powers this foundation from the inside: our staff team.

The seven of us were born in different countries, cities, and states.  We celebrate and believe in different gods, or no gods at all. We are single, married, and dating; we are parents, step-parents, and grandparents.  We are different in many ways, but we are very much the same in regards to our deep commitment to the Woods Fund and everything that this foundation stands for.  

With different personality styles, perspectives, and backgrounds – working in harmony is not always easy.  We know that maximizing diversity of thinking and a creating culture of candor requires investment in our relationships.  We can only be strong and honest in our critique and support of each other’s work if we have build a solid foundation of trust.  We do this through regular staff development activities, including visits to the Holocaust and DuSable Museums and participation in an escape room (highly recommended!).  Most recently, each of us has shared an “About Me” presentation at staff meetings. In these presentations, we share what we love and what we fear, where we grew up, and what are our “pet peeves;” they have been deep, funny, and intimate.  In these ways and ongoing commitment, we hope that we can wrest more of the benefits of our diversity for the good of the work of Woods Fund.

Suzanne Boyle

Suzanne joined the Woods Fund before it was the Woods Fund.  She worked in the Woods family office and developed trusted relationships with fellow staff and members of the family.  In this regard, she is our institutional memory and the guide back to our roots. She is our very detail-oriented assistant treasurer who ensures that we have a solid financial instructure to launch from and to continue to strongly support our grantee community.  She is a volunteer with her church and is a die-hard fan in the stands at her grandchildren’s hockey and football games.

Deborah Clark

Deborah has been at the Woods Fund for over ten years as our grants and operations manager.  She has more than ably worked with four presidents and a myriad of staff, and is the daily ambassador to grantees, answering questions and trouble-shooting.  She has a generous spirit, relishes the opportunity to meet new people, and is always eager to learn new things. She is active in her church’s sisterhood committee and the new program committee chair for PEAK grantmaking.  

Hina Mahmood

Hina joined Woods Fund as an intern the year I began.  She quickly became an important part of the Woods Fund team.  She now leads our grantmaking with precision and passion and is a true community and field builder.  She has a laugh and spirit that is contagious, and she is an organizer at heart. Hina is a new board member at Asian Americans Advancing Justice and was the dynamic co-chair for Asian Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy for several years.  

Caronina Grimble

Caronina and I worked together at the Illinois Department of Human Services; we’ve known each other the longest.  She’d previously worked in direct service, seeing first hand the impact of structural racism on young women and their children.  She is a program officer and leads the racial equity work for Woods Fund. Caronina is smart and thought-provoking in her analysis of issues and stretches us to think deliberately about our decisions.  She is active in her neighborhood and her church, and is also on the boards of Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, and the Chicago Lawyers Committee.   

Alejandra L. Ibañez

Like Caronina and me, Alejandra has worked in government, community, and philanthropy, but her heart is rooted in community from her days as an organizer.  Born in Chile, Alejandra is a program officer and deeply engaged with and focused on immigrant and workers rights. Alejandra keeps us grounded in community and is a gracious co-worker.  She is active in her neighborhood and is a commissioner with the city of Evanston’s Equity and Empowerment Commission.

Jaye Hobart

Jaye joined us most recently as the coordinator for a special W.K. Kellogg Foundation funded project: Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) initiative.  Jaye is almost always one or two steps ahead of what needs to be done; her enthusiasm for the her work is deep and demonstrated by her ability to engage with the hundreds of people who have touched TRHT Greater Chicago.  She is involved in the Korean Adoptee community and organization called Korean Adoptees of Chicago and recently completed the New Leaders Council fellowship.

I am proud to be in community with this strong, diverse group of women.  We work hard to ensure that we are true to ourselves, bringing different viewpoints and backgrounds to this work — while also striving to build a loving and supportive organization culture.  I am incredibly grateful.

Grace Hou, President, Woods Fund Chicago