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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

QUANITA TOFFIE

Executive Director, Groundswell Action Fund

Quanita is the Executive Director of Groundswell Action Fund, a first-of-its-kind 501(c)(4) public foundation founded in 2017 resourcing electoral organizing efforts led by women of color, transgender and gender expansive people of color in reproductive and social justice. We had the luxury of building on 15 years of wisdom and power from our work on the c3 side, Groundswell Fund, which is one of the largest funders of the Reproductive Justice (RJ) movement in the U.S. Quanita has helped to raise $100M for grassroots social justice organizations advancing democracy and reproductive justice.

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Prior to this role, Quanita led Groundswell’s 501(c)(3) Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE) program, which equipped 20 Reproductive Justice (RJ) groups with cutting-edge voter engagement skills and technology. Quanita began organizing for social and racial justice alongside her parents in her native South Africa during the transition from apartheid to democracy. She joined her parents as they voted, for the first time in their lives, for Nelson Mandela in 1994. It was this moment that sparked a lifelong passion for electoral organizing. Passionate about advancing multi-entity organizing for reproductive and social justice, she currently serves on the 501(c)(4) boards of Proteus Action League, Tides Advocacy and National AAPI Power Fund.

IAN FULLER

CEO, Westfuller Advisors

Ian is a co-founder and partner of Westfuller, an investment advisory and wealth management firm that provides advice, strategy, and investment management for values-aligned global institutions and private clients seeking impact. Westfuller is a certified B-Corporation with a commitment to use business as a force for good.

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Ian is a specialist in evidence-driven, global investment advisory and planning, strategic Sustainable/Responsible/Impact-focused investment management, and philanthropic giving. He works closely with institutions and people to empower wealth with purpose. Ian is a believer in the promise of resources and financial systems to drive a flourishing democracy and inclusive economy. He co-leads the firm’s commitment to support efforts building: a just and equitable society, public purpose finance for All, community infrastructure and assets, and a sustainable approach to climate. As an activist and finance professional, he is the Board Chair of the Marguerite Casey Foundation, a justice-focused foundation with a nearly $1B endowment committed to shifting power and creating an inclusive economy and representative democracy. He also serves as a board member and Investment Committee Chair of ImpactAssets, a board member and investment committee member of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts, an investment committee member of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and board member of other innovative social justice and impact investing organizations.

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He received both a B.S. in Business and Political Economy and an M.S. in Global Finance from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology/New York University; holds a Chartered Financial Consultant designation, and the Series 66 investment advisers’ license (7 and 24 inactive). He is an Aspen Finance Leaders Fellow, member of the Aspen Global Leaders Network, member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) NY Liberty Chapter, and members of the Black Trustees Alliance for the Art Museums.

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Ian lives on the Lower East Side of New York City with his family where he can often be found dialing in the perfect espresso, reading a good book, or training for the next adventure race.

JESSIE ULIBARRI

Co-Executive Director, State Innovation Exchange

Jessie Ulibarri has spent the last 25 years working at the intersection of community organizing, social justice and public policy. He's served as a Colorado State Senator, field organizer, public policy wonk, trainer, co-executive director, and convener. He prides himself on being a hope monger, rooted in the embodied belief that when people have a sense of their own power, we can change the world.

JESSE BEASON

President & CEO, Northwest Health Foundation

Jesse Beason is Northwest Health Foundation’s President and Chief Executive Officer. He leads the Foundation in pursuit of its vision of health for everyone in Oregon and Southwest Washington. Before becoming President in 2019, Jesse served as the foundation’s Vice President of Strategy & Public Affairs. He has also served, among other roles, as Executive Director of Proud Ground and as Senior Policy Director for then-Commissioner Sam Adams. Jesse keeps saying yes to serving on boards – too many, really. It’s a dangerous habit. He moved from Denver, Colorado to Portland to attend Lewis & Clark College two decades ago. Jesse is a proud uncle, a semi-closeted sci-fi geek and a middling beekeeper.

RICHARD BURNS

Interim Executive Director, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

Richard Burns is the interim executive director of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation and is Senior Advisor at the Johnson Family Foundation. He has served as interim executive director of GLAD Law, JFF, the Drug Policy Alliance, Lambda Legal, the North Star Fund, PENCIL, the Funding Exchange, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, and the Stonewall Community Foundation.
 
He is chair of the founding board of directors of the American LGBTQ+ Museum.
 
He was previously the chief operating officer of the Arcus Foundation and was executive director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center for 22 years, from 1986 to 2009.
 
Richard is a trustee of the New York City AIDS Memorial Park.
 
He served on the advisory board of the Center for HIV Law & Policy from 2005 through 2022 and was Managing Editor of Gay Community News in the late 1970’s.
 
Richard is a graduate of Hamilton College and Northeastern University School of Law.

NIC CAMPBELL

Founder of Build Up Companies

A. Nicole Campbell is founder of the Build Up Companies, comprised of Build Up Advisory Group, The Campbell Law Firm, and Build Up, Inc. She is Chief Executive Officer of Build Up Advisory Group, an advisory firm that specializes in improving governance, grant making, and organizational design for brave philanthropists, philanthropies, movements, and nonprofit organizations to provide them with the structural capacity to deliver on their missions.

GUILLERMO QUINTEROS

Executive Director – Weaver at Partnership for Democracy & Education

Guillermo Quinteros is the Executive Director of the Partnership for Democracy & Education, LLC.

PAUL DI DONATO

President & CEO, Proteus Fund & Proteus Action League

Paul Di Donato has been President and CEO of Proteus Fund and Proteus Action League since 2016. He is a deeply committed activist for comprehensive, progressive social change with a record of over thirty years of accomplishments. Prior to becoming President, Paul directed Proteus Fund’s Civil Marriage Collaborative a groundbreaking donor collaborative that played a critical role in winning the freedom to marry in the United States in 2015.

"A lifelong commitment of organizing for electoral and racial justice has afforded me deep insight into the kinds of support social justice organizations need to thrive and defend our democracy. I hope to bring my experience to the Proteus Action League Board so that we can continue to empower organizations to act boldly and justly now more than ever."

Quanita Toffie, PAL Board Member

Contributions by check

Proteus Action League

PO Box 825481
Philadelphia, PA 19182-5481

Contact

(413) 256-0349

Please make your check out to “Proteus Action League” and indicate the program or project you’d like to support on the memo line.
Proteus Fund is a 501(c)(4) charitable organization, EIN 22-3888268.

©2025 by Proteus Action League

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