A woman dressed in green with olive-toned skin, brown curly hair, and large earrings smiling
San Mateo, CA, August 25th, 2023 — The WITH Foundation is pleased to announce that Adela Ruiz-Olivo has joined the WITH Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Adela is a grantmaker, strategist, professor, and lifelong New Yorker with proud Afro-Carribean roots. Her experiences as a member of historically excluded communities drive her commitment to actualize equity and expand opportunities for disabled, Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC), women, and immigrant families. She is a values-driven leader who has worked in Philanthropy, nonprofits, and Higher Education for over 15 years, leading sector-wide initiatives that uplift racial equity, disability justice, and inclusive approaches to grantmaking and programming. Having worked at Ford Foundation, Open Society, and served as a Disability Inclusion Fund Advocate at Borealis, among many other institutions, Adela has worked closely with executive leadership across foundations to create opportunities with and advance the inclusion of people of color and people with disabilities. She is a proud alumna of the respected Rockwood Equity in Philanthropy Fellowship (2021) and Hispanics in Philanthropy Líderes Fellowship (2018).
Her work has been spotlighted at many national conferences like Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) and Upswell and published several times in NPQ. A firm believer in centering justice and joy in all that she does, Adela currently serves as the first-ever NBA Foundation‘s Director of Programs.
Adela earned her BA/MA in Sociology from St. John’s University, has completed Graduate Disability Studies coursework, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Sociology at the CUNY Graduate Center.
“We are delighted that Adela Ruiz-Olivo has joined the Board,” said Board President Lynne O’Hara. “Her grantmaking experience and leadership will further advance our organization’s mission.”
“Adela Ruiz-Olivo is an excellent addition to our Board of Directors,” said Executive Director Ryan Easterly. “WITH Foundation admires her commitment to disability justice and inclusive approach to grantmaking.”
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WITH Foundation promotes comprehensive and accessible healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities in the United States.
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Press Contact: Sofia Webster, Director of Communications, WITH Foundation
communications@withfoundation.org