Research and evaluation expert to lead foundation’s new effective philanthropy team
ATLANTA – Feb. 17, 2022 – The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has appointed Jodi Nelson as managing director, effective philanthropy, starting March 1, 2022. In this newly-created role, Nelson will design and build a high impact advising team that will serve as a resource to the foundation’s leadership and staff on strategy, program measurement, evaluation and learning. She will report to the foundation’s president, Fay Twersky, and will be a member of the foundation leadership team.
Throughout her nearly 25-year career, Nelson has worked with global organizations, small to medium size social enterprises and private philanthropies to improve the quality and effectiveness of their work. She joins the Blank Family Foundation after four years owning her own consulting firm, following leadership roles at the International Rescue Committee and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
“Jodi is a collaborative leader with deep knowledge of effective philanthropic practices. Her ability to build a dynamic culture of learning with both rigor and creativity will be invaluable as we accelerate our philanthropy and set strategies for our new areas of giving,” said Fay Twersky, president, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.
As managing director, effective philanthropy, Nelson will oversee the design and delivery of tools, frameworks and tailored advice that support effective philanthropic practice and ambitious outcomes across multiple portfolios and initiatives. She will identify external resources and iterate approaches that can add value to programmatic grantmaking and learning. Additionally, she will collaborate with leadership across the Blank Family of Businesses, including Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and PGA TOUR Superstore, to identify opportunities to partner and drive impact across a diverse portfolio of social impact work.
“I am thrilled to join the Blank Family Foundation at this important time in their history. It’s a dream come true to work with Fay Twersky and the phenomenal leadership team she has formed to support the Blank family to achieve impact in some of our society’s most pressing areas,” said Nelson.
About The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
After 25 years and more than $800 million in giving, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has committed to significantly accelerating the impact of its philanthropy over the next 10+ years.
The Board is embarking on a journey of deeper learning and strategy setting for its new collective areas of giving, which include: Youth Development, with a focus on workforce development and economic mobility; Democracy, with a focus on key areas of Voting Rights and Journalism; and Environment, with a focus on key areas of Conservation and Climate Resiliency. Across these portfolios, the foundation will look for opportunities to address the growing crisis of disconnection in our nation. Geographically, much of the work will continue to prioritize Georgia (with a focus on Atlanta) and Montana, while also considering the potential for greater national impact and influence.
In addition to the collective areas of giving, the foundation will continue to oversee a large portfolio of Founder-led initiatives, including investment in the transformation of Atlanta’s Westside neighborhoods, mental health and well-being, veterans and the military, and stuttering, among others. The foundation will also continue to guide the seven Associate-led giving committees operating across the Blank Family of Businesses.
Mr. Blank, chairman of the foundation, co-founded The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 1978 and retired from the company as co-chairman in 2001.
For more information and to stay up to date, visit www.blankfoundation.org.
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