Michael Kourabas works across UUSC’s programs to maximize the impact of its grassroots partners around the world. In addition to directing UUSC’s grantmaking and partner support work, Michael has conducted on-the-ground assessments of UUSC’s work and convenings with UUSC’s grassroots partners in Croatia, Greece, Haiti, Nepal, and the Philippines.

Trained as an attorney, Michael has a strong background in international human rights law and corporate accountability. In various roles prior to joining UUSC, Michael implemented the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and worked to support the International Criminal Court’s investigations in Kenya and northern Uganda. He also helped launch one of the nation’s first Business and Human Rights practices at an American law firm.

Michael received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Michigan in 2004, and his law degree from William & Mary School of Law in 2008. Michael is passionate about organizing philanthropy for systemic change. He is on the board of the Engaged Donors for Global Equity (EDGE) Funders Alliance and has served as an advisor to the EDGE Global Engagement Lab learning community. From 2019-2021, he was a member of the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Human Rights Commission, to which he was appointed co-chair in 2020.

Sharon Anderson Damelio is the Senior Director of Development at WhyHunger, which works to advance the right to food around the globe by supporting social movements, scaling out agroecology, and fueling grassroots solutions rooted in social, environmental, racial, and economic justice. Before joining the team at WhyHunger, Sharon worked as the Development Director at Central Outreach & Advocacy Center, an Atlanta nonprofit that provides supportive services to those who are homeless and advocates for policies that improve the lives of people living in poverty.

Sharon’s love of nutritious food is older than her love for the powerful work that makes it accessible to all. She previously worked as an Assistant Editor at Fine Cooking magazine and co-authored a cookbook and memoir called Three Many Cooks. Sharon holds a B.A. in English and Classics from Williams College and a Master of Divinity from Yale. She lives with her husband and their dog in New York City.

Eva is the Network and Ecosystems Director at WINGS. Prior to this, she joined Global Greengrants Fund as its member of staff in 2015, as the Director of Strategy and Global Integration first and interim Vice-President of Program after. Eva worked for Amnesty International and with CIVICUS and Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Eva is a German national, based in Denver, US. She is a member of the Alliance Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, and co-convenor of the international funders network of the Association of Charitable Foundations. Previously, Eva served on the EDGE Funders Alliance European Steering Group and is excited to continue and deepen her engagement with the EDGE community.

Ali served as the programme manager in OSF’s Europe & Central Asia civic space team. Previously he worked on equity & justice, with a specific focus on racial justice. Prior to joining OSF, Ali worked at the European Foundation Centre, EUROCITIES and he was also involved in several local initiatives in Antwerp on the rights of racialised young people as both a volunteer and a steering group member.

Based in London, Jenny grew up in Trinidad and, during her time in philanthropy, has been networking, nudging and advocating for changes to the mindsets, processes, practices and structures that influence philanthropic decision making.  Jenny’s role at the Lankelly Chase Foundation was about connecting and working in partnership with changemakers, organisations, networks and other movement actors to analyse and disrupt oppressive systems.

Jenny is one of the co-founders of Future Foundations UK, a network of minoritised racial groups working in UK philanthropy.  She sits on the EDGE Board  Alliance and is a trustee of Global Dialogue, an international platform for philanthropic partnerships.

In previous incarnations, Jenny has worked in research and information management for international strategy consultants, broadcasting and advertising.

A native of Bombay, Rajiv leads the Philanthropic Partnerships Program at Thousand Currents, overseeing individual and institutional donor engagement, education, and fundraising. He is engaged in strategic development and effective execution of all activities related to cultivating a just, equitable, and inclusive philanthropic impact investing sector that centers local solutions, forms learning partnerships with grassroots groups, and reimagines wealth, well-being, and giving. As part of the Senior Management Team, Rajiv informs and guides Thousand Currents’ overall strategy and planning, ensuring collaboration and interconnectedness across all Thousand Currents’ programs.

He currently serves on the Board of the Management Assistance Group, which strengthens individuals, organizations, and networks to bring about transformative change. A member of the Stewardship Circle of Thrive East Bay, a purpose-driven community of people committed to creating a flourishing world for all, Rajiv is also a recovering academic, who was professionally trained as a historian of international relations with expertise in Modern Europe, South Asia, and the Cold War. In addition to designing and teaching college courses, he has led the Indian Diaspora Oral History Project, a community-centered project focused on South Asian immigrants in Silicon Valley at San Jose State University. Rajiv has a BA in English and History from Newman University, and a Master’s in history from The Ohio State University. A cricket fanatic, he is a published poet and writer who enjoys cooking, the outdoors, the ocean, reading, and traveling.

Ryan joined Wellspring Philanthropic Fund as a Program Officer with its Children’s Anti-Poverty Program after 15 years of organizing and campaigning on a range of issues. He recently served as a Program Director at UltraViolet where he ran cultural and digital campaigns to increase support for abortion access. Ryan also ran an experimental organizational model utilizing online and traditional grassroots organizing to tackle issues like childhood hunger and corporate tax reform. Previously, Ryan served as the deputy and interim field director for USAction (now People’s Action), as well as deputy field director at MoveOn.org where he directed nationally scaled community events on election reform, health care, and more. Ryan was trained in organizing by Midwest Academy and got his start with Citizen Action/Illinois.

Ryan recently moved from Chicago, IL to Washington, DC and received his Masters and Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Illinois State University.

Ana brings experience supporting nonprofits and grassroots organizations to develop robust financial and operational practices. She holds a Master of Public Administration with a specialization in financial management for nonprofits, Ana loves to travel and splits her time between Colombia and the US.

Hana has been with EDGE since 2019, originally as an intern of the GEL then eventually full time. Beyond EDGE, Hana stewards land with her family focusing on regenerative agriculture plot and dedicating space for nature (@dakatrafarm). Her background is in multispecies Anthropology and environmental research. Through her work in the non-profit world, she realized how unjust the field of philanthropy is: money is not reaching those that deserve it most. To redirect her frustration, she dedicates a majority of her time to EDGE Funders Alliance on their funder organizing programs to get funders to move more of their money towards the grassroots in a way that centers justice, systemic change and equity.

Kinga Wisniewska joins us as the Incoming Director of Philanthropic Partnership. Kinga has nearly ten years experience working in fundraising and resource mobilization for social justice organizations, most recently from FRIDA | The Young Feminist Fund where she served as the Chief of Resource Mobilization. Kinga’s fundraising practice is rooted in transforming traditional forms of philanthropy by challenging the complex and intertwined notions of wealth and privilege, tied to redistributing money and resources from those who have, to those who have not. In her free time, Kinga loves being in nature, cooking, and reading in the sun.

Martina has been part of the EDGE Team since July 2018, moving from her role as Communications Trainee to her more recent position as Director of Engagement and Strategy. In her free time, Martina loves reading, taking care of her plants and walking around Brussels.

She holds a MsC in Violence, Conflict and Development from SOAS University of London and a BA in Human Rights Law and International Relations from the University of Padua.

Martina recently joined EDGE as an Operations and Communications Trainee, bringing with her a strong academic background, including a MA in Policies and Governance in Europe from LUISS University in Rome. Driven by a passion for exploration, diversity, and justice, she previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics of Tourism while actively engaging in various volunteer initiatives to support those in need. Martina’s deep connection to nature, rooted in her childhood, fuels her commitment to environmental protection. Energetic, motivated, and guided by strong values, she fully embraces EDGE’s mission to channel positive energy towards creating a better world.

Yagna brings more than a decade of experience working as a researcher, social worker, and facilitator. Throughout her several roles she has been committed to creating systemic change by challenging structures of oppression and power. Her academic training in the humanities and social sciences have equipped her with the skills to apply complex theories and ideas to the diverse crises we face, as well as being able to imagine new ways of being in the world. Yagna holds a PhD in Asian Literature, Religion, and Culture from Cornell University with a focus on cultural studies and anthropology. She also has a Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences and an MPhil in Social Sciences from Center for Studies in Social Sciences, in India. In her free time, Yagna loves cooking for her friends, boxing, singing Indian classical music, and staying connected with friends and family located in different parts of the world.

As a feminist strategist, queer gardener and former dancer, Amanda is convinced that art, activism and compost are key to disrupting and transforming unjust power systems worldwide. She has worked for over two decades at the intersections of funding and activism with organisations such as Mama Cash, Calala, Semillas and other Prospera members, and more recently as a consultant with the Fenomenal Funds, IG Advisors, EDGE and others.Amanda lives between Amsterdam and rural Serbia, where she is slowly co-developing an art house and retreat space with her partner.

Jotham’s goal is to help people and organisations get better at the work they love and believe in. For him it’s all about building relationships, being brave, becoming more pivotal, and bringing joy while making the world a place for all. Jotham will bring strategic thinking, creative design, deep listening and networking approaches to any process or project. He holds over 15 years of experience working in Europe, West Asia, and North Africa with e.g. zusa-art of collaboration, MitOst, European Cultural Foundation and AIDS Foundation East-West. He’s a member of the Democracy & Belonging Forum, hosts the Culture Moves Impact community-of-practice, is inspired by the Wasan network and loves to be a cross-pollinator to the Building Bridges LATAM group supported by Bosch Alumni Network, BMW Foundation, Skoll Foundation and others. Jotham is also a failed diplomat, an adamant cook, and lives a privileged life with his small family in Leipzig.