Keynote Speakers

Amanda Misiko Andere, CEO Funders Together to End Homelessness

Has spent over fifteen years working in the nonprofit and public sector as a leader committed to racial and housing justice through advocacy for systemic change. Currently, she serves as board chair of the United Philanthropy Forum and board member of Equity in the Center and the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers. Amanda is a founding member and on the leadership team for the National Racial Equity Working Group on Homelessness and Housing and the National Coalition for Housing Justice.

Amanda will deliver our Day 2 Opening Keynote that focuses on how philanthropy can improve housing access, quality, and justice as a basic human right.

Phil Li, President & CEO
Robert Sterling Clark Foundation

Leads the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation in its effort to create a more equitable and vibrant New York City by investing in her people. Previously, he was COO at The Century Foundation, a public policy think tank founded by Edward Filene and at the Brooklyn Community Foundation, which he helped convert from a corporate foundation. He served as Executive Director of Coro New York Leadership Center . Phil is co-chair of the Leadership Funders Group and on the steering committee of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. He also serves on the boards of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, and the United Philanthropy Forum.

Phil will deliver our Day 1 Keynote, Advancing Trust Based Philanthropy through and after the Pandemic

Satonya C. Fair, JD President & CEO PEAK Grantmaking

Brings more than 25 years of experience working in corporate community relations, private philanthropy, and nonprofit management. Her extensive knowledge on the funder landscape, nonprofit structures, compliance, change management, philanthropy technology, outcome measurement, and knowledge management have allowed her to navigate and support strategic efforts across many fronts. She is dedicated to helping create equity and parity between funders and nonprofits, particularly those whose work supports communities of colors, children, and families. Satonya has a JD from the University of Cincinnati and her bachelor’s degree in psychology and political science from Miami University (Ohio). She is an avid volunteer and makes her home in Catonsville, Maryland. For her full bio, visit here.

Satonya will be a headlining panelists for Day 3’s Opening Keynote F.A.I.L. Fest (First Attempts At Learning), embracing the lessons learned by funders to improve their grantmaking, impact, and leadership.

Mary Witten Wiseman, CEO Foundation for the Tri-State

Has led the Foundation for the Tri-State Community since December 1993. Throughout Wiseman’s tenure at the Foundation for the Tri-State Community the foundation has increased its grantmaking, community partnerships, and endowments in the three state region it serves. As of late 2020, the foundation is nearly $30 Million. As part of its community leadership mission, Mary Witten along with the team for the Huntington, WV’s 2017 America’s Best Communities grand prize worked extensively on the plans and vision for the community’s future. Wiseman will share the successes, challenges, and translatable practices from Huntington’s work to benefit any community in West Virginia and Appalachia.

Mary Witten her fellow panelists will discuss the success, progress, and lessons learned for Huntington’s implementation of the 2017 America’s Best Communities National Award ($3 million). They will share how other West Virginia and Appalachian communities can replicate this transformative work.

The Honorable Steve Williams,
Mayor of Huntington, WV

Mayor Williams was elected to his third consecutive term in 2020 as Mayor of the great city of Huntington, WV. Since taking office in 2013, he has utilized his diverse background in economic development, finance, state government, and local government to shepherd a renaissance in Huntington that has not been seen in decades.

Under Williams’ leadership, Huntington has established itself as the city of solutions with national honors from the 2017 America’s Best Communities grand prize winning team who won the national competition for a community revitalization campaign to addressing the substance use disorder crisis impacting the state. For his full bio, visit here

Steve, along with Mary Witten will lead our Day 3 Closing Keynote discussion, Lessons on Lifting Up Your Community from America’s Best Communities. Their discussion will share a vision for the future and action to turn the vision into a reality that other counties, cities, and towns can achieve.