FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, TUESDAY, 1/23/24: After 16 years as Executive Director of the Wallace Global Fund, Ellen Dorsey is stepping down from her leadership role.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2024
CONTACT: Alison Barlow, akbarlow@gmail.com
Ira Arlook, iarlook@gmail.com, c: 202 258 5437
Announcement of Leadership Transition from the Wallace Global Fund Board of Directors
After 16 years as Executive Director of the Wallace Global Fund, Ellen Dorsey is stepping down from her leadership role. During her tenure, Dorsey has been a leader within philanthropy and fierce supporter of progressive movements. She led the Foundation’s strategic plan to support people-centered movements advancing environmental, economic, racial, and gender justice. She developed an innovative model of integrating grant making, 100% mission aligned investing, and advocacy. Additionally, Ellen led the foundation’s work on corporate accountability and supporting African social movements, while spearheading a suite of justice-centered impact investments driven by communities and generating new climate and economic solutions. Recognized globally for her leadership in the fields of climate, human rights, and corporate accountability, she will continue to serve the foundation as a Senior Advisor, while writing and supporting movement projects.
Scott Fitzmorris, Co-Chair of the WGF Board, reflects: “Ellen Dorsey led the Wallace Global Fund through a period of extraordinary change and brought strategic vision to all areas of our work. In a landscape too often dominated by complacency, indecision and opposition, Ellen is an agent for action, dedicated to seeking change partners, and creating real progress. Too often, people get caught up in groupthink, fads and social norms. Ellen has special insight to see the gaps and is not afraid to speak up. She was instrumental in catalyzing and driving the global fossil fuel Divest-Invest movement that shifted tens of trillions of dollars, while organizing the world’s largest foundations to commit their assets. During Ellen’s tenure, she has also been a powerful voice calling on philanthropic peers to center justice, support movements, align the investments, and increase spending commensurate with the crises of the day. We are grateful for Ellen’s commitment to advancing Henry A. Wallace’s legacy and for bringing her unique blend of passion, persistence, and humor to our work.”
The Board is pleased to announce the selection of Robby Rodriguez as WGF’s new Executive Director. Originally from Pico Rivera, California, Robby started his career as a community organizer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, campaigning for environmental justice, corporate accountability, Tribal sovereignty, and the rights of young people, women, workers, and immigrants. For the last thirteen years, he has worked as a grant maker and philanthropic advisor supporting social movements for progressive social change. As an author and thought leader, Robby has written and presented on generational change in the nonprofit sector and on building state-based civic engagement and community power building strategies. He will begin on February 1.
In announcing the transition, Scott Wallace, Co-Chair of the WGF Board, stated: ‘We could not be more thrilled to welcome Robby to our team. His renowned leadership of the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) and his experience in philanthropy at peer institutions working at the nexus of democracy, economic and environmental justice, and racial and gender justice make him uniquely qualified to lead our Foundation at this historic and challenging moment. The compounding global threats of fascism, climate, war, and worsening economic inequality pose new challenges to our sector. However, with ideological clarity, strategic rigor, and sustainable funding, philanthropy can support the frontline activists risking their lives to build movement power and deliver transformative impacts. Robby’s leadership will elevate our work and ensure WGF’s solidarity with the most important movements of our time.”
In additional news, Allison Barlow, WGF’s longstanding Director of Democracy and Media, will become Deputy Director of the foundation. Since joining the foundation, Allison has played a vital leadership role within the organization, while managing with creativity and dedication a significant grant making program defending and advancing US democracy.
Wallace Global Fund’s Board and staff remain committed to our core mission: to support people-powered movements that advance democracy, protect human rights and fight for a healthy planet. Please visit wgf.org to learn more about the work we are proud to advance in partnership with our remarkable grantees and allies. Ellen can still be reached at edorsey@wgf.org and messages to Robby can be sent to aabdikarim@wgf.org.