& STAFF
Board of Directors
Eva Grove
Founder & Secretary
At the Foundation
- Enjoys being an active Founder and Board member
- Sits on the immigration committee where she collaborates with staff
- Participates in the Civic Engagement program
When not working
- Works in her garden, mainly tending her roses and tomatoes
- Likes to knit and read
- Does her best to inject some variety into her walks around her neighborhood
Karen Grove
Board Chair
At the Foundation
- Supports an amazing staff – strives to resist chasing shiny objects, while staying nimble and open to change
- Raises the subject of white supremacy – outside and inside our organization
- Engages in civic advocacy and funder organizing
When not working
- Parents her puppy: Sit! Down! Come! Go potty! Yes! Click. Treat.
- Watches TV and reads too many books at once
- Walks, hikes and backpacks
Staff
Alicia Harris
Program Officer
At the Foundation
- Manages the reproductive health, rights and justice grant portfolio
- Provides support to the WISE (Working to Institutionalize Sex Education) Initiative
- Collaborates with other funders interested in reproductive equity and better philanthropic practices
When not working
- Grows food and California native plants (with varying success)
- Learns new sewing techniques
- Spends time with her spoiled pet rabbit
Blanch Vance
Grants Manager
At the Foundation
- Spearheads grantmaking systems and workflows
- Digs into and analyzes data for impact
- Advises on grant structure and compliance-related matters
When not working
- Tries new recipes and cooks vicariously through the Food Network
- Explores the nearest farmers market or beach
- Plays Game of Thrones trivia and board games
Helen Zhang
Controller
At the Foundation
- Leads the finance function (tax, audit, budgets)
- Manages administrative operations
- Unofficial historian/archivist/answerer of random questions
When not working
- Travels to experience different cultures and natural settings
- Sings in a Chinese choir
- Enjoys nature hikes and photography
Jose Santos
Program Officer
At the Foundation
- Leads local grantmaking and the safety net grant portfolio
- Co-leads racial justice/equity work
- Co-Chairs ReWork the Bay, a workforce funder collaborative
When not working
- Enjoys playing any sport and walking and running 5k’s
- Has a fondness for the unique sound of old records
- Self-proclaimed food critic, willing to travel for food
Leslie Dorosin
Co-Executive Director
At the Foundation
- Manages the Civic Engagement grant portfolio
- Joins forces with other funders to bring resources to partners doing amazing work
- Works with Rebekah to support The Grove Foundation’s people and systems so we can all do our best work (informal motto: KISS – Keep It Simple, …)
When not working
- Loves to go for hikes and walks, sometimes with Piper the dog
- Consumes caffeine in the form of coffee (hot and cold) and dark chocolate (70% and above)
- Enjoys reading, primarily non-fiction, and watching comedy escapist TV
Rebecca Thomas
Executive Assistant
At the Foundation
- Administratively supports the Executive Directors
- Assists Controller with bookkeeping
- Executes staff outings and adventures while always keeping the team well fed and caffeinated
When not working
- Musical theatre performer who makes music daily with her equally theatrical family
- Does jigsaw puzzles at record speeds, (aka her “useless talent”)
- Makes LEGO and BRIO cities with her future architect (or firefighter, or astronaut, or rock star, depending on the day) son
Rebekah Saul Butler
Co-Executive Director
At the Foundation
- Leads the design and implementation of the mission aligned investment portfolio
- Manages the environment program, blending grants and investments
- Works with Leslie to support The Grove Foundation’s people and systems so we can all do our best work (informal motto: KISS – Keep It Simple…)
When not working
- Daydreams about (and whenever possible, from within) national parks
- Co-leads a middle school girl scout troop
- Revisits favorite poetry books and piano tunes
Sara Campos
Senior Program Officer
At the Foundation
- Manages the immigration grant portfolio
- Uses her immigration attorney and advocacy experience to partner with service providers and organizers
- Chairs the Legal Services Working Group for Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees
When not working
- Writes fiction and poetry and does occasional readings
- Co-directs the work of the New American Story Project, a digital archive of unaccompanied immigrant children’s voices
- Explores the island of Alameda where she recently moved with her family and young adult children