The Boston Women's Fund recently added new leaders to our incredible Board of Directors!
We are excited to welcome Stephanie Klinkenberg-Ramirez (she/her) to the Boston Women’s Fund board! D.J. currently serves as an Associate at Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP. In her legal practice, Stephanie regularly advises clients on matters related to private foundations and charitable giving. She is also on the board of Project LEARN, a nonprofit that supports public schools in her hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts.
We connected with Stephanie to learn more about what liberation means to her and the work she hopes to do with the Boston Women’s Fund!
Boston Women's Fund: What initially drew you to the Boston Women’s Fund?
Stephanie Klinkenberg-Ramirez: I believe that BWF has the right approach to philanthropy because we, first, listen to communities and their grassroots leaders to understand their needs. This is a unique model in philanthropy that places the power back in the hands of the communities with which BWF works. It also allows philanthropists who work with BWF to obtain a true understanding of a community’s needs and ensures that their contributions will have the most impact.
What are you most looking forward to in your new role as a Director of the Board?
I am excited to hear directly from grassroots leaders and gain a better understanding of the innovative initiatives that they wish to implement.
What does liberation mean to you?
In the context of my role as a board member of BWF, liberation means the freedom and ability for communities to make the changes they wish to make.
If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about philanthropy, what would it be?
Often when decisions are being made about how to structure philanthropic giving, the people that philanthropy seeks to serve are not invited to the conversation. Decisions are made on behalf of communities by individuals who are not members of those communities. I believe BWF is making the exact change that I most wish to see in philanthropy by amplifying the voices of grassroots leaders when they express the needs and goals of their communities, permitting donors to better serve those communities via their philanthropic efforts.
What are two fun facts about you?
My family immigrated to the U.S. from Colombia. Most of my family - including many aunts and cousins - now live in Massachusetts, which means that our typical family gatherings include 20+ people.
I have a dog named Lulu, and we love going on long nature walks together.
What’s one quote that gives you life?
“But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer.” ― Samwise Gamgee
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