Leon Levy Foundation Promotes Three Managers

 

Robert F. Goldrich, President and Chief Financial Officer of The Leon Levy Foundation, today announced the promotions of three executives. Jennifer E. Ellis, Director of Communications and Operations Manager; Controller Justine Koch, who has added the title of Human Resources Manager; and Meredith Ross, Grants Manager and Manager of Special Projects.

 

Mr. Goldrich said, “Jennifer, Justine and Meredith have formed the nucleus of our team for some time. These richly-deserved promotions are in recognition not only of their past contributions to Foundation leadership, but also our expectation that they will remain vital contributors in the future.”

 

 

As Director of Communications and Operations Manager, Ms. Ellis is responsible for the Foundation’s internal and external communications and helps shape and drive the overall communications strategy. She also manages the daily operations of the Foundation’s offices. Including managing the relations and work of outside consultants, grantees, and other foundations and institutions, as well as supporting the Foundation’s Trustees. Prior to joining The Leon Levy Foundation in 2013, Ms. Ellis worked in development, project management and marketing at The Related Companies and UPH Landscape and Horticultural Design. Prior to that, Ms. Ellis served as the Director of Communications at Gale International, a private real estate development firm specializing in master-planned, city-scale projects. Ms. Ellis earned a B.A. degree in Communications and Sociology from Boston University.

 

 

As Controller & Human Resources Manager, Ms. Koch works with the President/CFO and oversees all financial activities, budgets and analysis and assists in the due diligence process for the Foundation’s investment portfolio. She is also in charge of Human Resources functions, including benefits and employment law compliance. Prior to joining The Leon Levy Foundation in 2013, Ms. Koch was Assistant Controller at the Surdna Foundation, where she played a key financial role in an $830 million endowment. Prior to Surdna, she served in a treasury function at the Altman Foundation. Ms. Koch serves on the audit committee of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, as well as board member at the Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Education. Ms. Koch received her B.B.A. degree from Pace University.

 

 

As Grants Manager & Manager of Special Projects, Ms. Ross administers grant- making at the Foundation and manages programs and projects in neuroscience, nature and gardens, the ancient world and human rights. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2014, she worked in fundraising for 15 years, most recently as Director of Foundation Partnerships for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which provides entrepreneurship education programs in low-income schools nationwide. She also worked for NetAid Foundation (subsequently merged into Mercy Corps) and for MassINC, a non-partisan public policy think tank in Boston. Ms. Ross holds a B.A. degree in history from Colby College and an M.B.A. degree from the Carroll School of Management, Boston College.

 

The Leon Levy Foundation, founded in 2004, is a private, not-for-profit foundation created from the estate of Leon Levy, a legendary investor with a longstanding commitment to philanthropy. The Foundation's overarching goal is to continue the tradition of humanism characteristic of Mr. Levy by supporting scholarship at the highest level, ultimately advancing knowledge and improving the lives of individuals and society at large.