Upcoming Event
Women Standing Together Lunch - Portland
Begins Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 11:45 AM
Christy Hemenway of Gold Star Honeybees wants your ideas for staffing her growing business! Christy’s business and share your suggestions on how to plan her staff growth so…
Staff
Elizabeth Stefanski, Executive Director
Eli, as she often goes by, joined the Maine Women’s Fund (MWF) as its Executive Director in December 2006. As an accomplished social investor, Elizabeth brings to the fund a decade’s experience investing in grassroots organizations around the world, a deep knowledge of the new philanthropic tools available for affecting social change, an established track record in fundraising and management, as well as expertise in the area of resource diversification and nonprofit capacity building.
Prior to joining the Maine Women’s Fund, Eli was the Chief Program Officer for GlobalGiving. GlobalGiving is an online philanthropic marketplace that enables donors to find and fund social entrepreneurs around the world. During her tenure, the GlobalGiving Foundation scaled from $70,000 to over $5 million, given to grassroots organizations around the world. Prior to GlobalGiving, Eli served as the International Director for Ashoka’s Citizen Base Initiative, where she managed program operations in India, Thailand, Bangladesh, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and expansion into Central and Eastern Europe.
Eli is passionate about social change in the US and abroad and believes that given the proper resources, individuals will take responsibility for themselves, communities, and their broader surroundings. Eli is an avid blogger, yogi, and epicurean. She and her family camped on Chebeague Island while she was growing up. Currently, she, her husband Scott, her daughters Willa and Clara, and dog George live in Yarmouth, ME. She can be reached at Elizabeth@mainewomensfund.org or 207-774-5513.
Lauren Dietlin, Director of Development
Lauren was thrilled to join the Maine Women’s Fund team in September 2008. She has been part of the Maine Women’s Fund community for several years, and brings with her a strong commitment to social change for and by women. She is focused on growing the Fund’s assets so that we can increase our grantmaking and help even more Maine women and girls as we strive together to create lasting change in our communities.
An experienced and effective fundraising professional, Lauren has worked in the nonprofit sector for 15 years. She most recently managed the Campaign for Justice, a successful fundraising initiative on behalf of Maine’s legal aid providers, and previously was an Associate Director of Annual Giving at Bowdoin College.
A native New Yorker, Lauren has been delighted to call Maine home since 2001. Lauren loves to quilt, hike, run, eat good food, and spend time with her family and friends. She lives in Portland with her husband, Mark, and two young sons, Luc and Everett. Lauren can be reached at Lauren@mainewomensfund.org or 207-774-5513.
Kristin Chase Duffy, Director of Communication and Programs
At the Maine Women’s Fund, Kristin leads communications and creates programs, events and activities that focus on building communities, fostering connections and relationships, and promoting philanthropy.
Kristin has spent nearly 15-years developing, directing and implementing marketing and communication initiatives. She began her career in public relations at The Cambridge Hospital and Cone Communications. After spending eight years in the technology industry, Kristin moved into a contract and consulting role and returned to Maine. Since 2003 she has worked with a variety of organizations managing business and marketing strategies and leading client relations.
Kristin holds a M. B. A. and B.A. degree in Communications from Bentley College. In her spare time, she loves to garden and spend time with her family and friends. Kristin grew up in Brewer, and now lives in Portland with her husband, Bill, and two young children, Patrick and Kathryn. Kristin can be reached at Kristin@mainewomensfund.org or 207-774-5513.
Jessica Wallner, Administrative Assistant
Jessica began her career at The Maine Women’s Fund in November, 2008. She recently earned a B.A in Media Studies with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Jessica’s passion for encouraging young girls’ potential has developed through efforts such as volunteering as a big sister for the Big Sister Association and as a mentor for two teen girls in a journalism mentoring program at Teen Voices Magazine.
During the summer of 2008, Jessica was lucky enough to work as a Flash Quote Reporter for the Olympic News Service at the Beijing Olympics. Her experience in China has inspired an endless love of travel and a deep respect for the state of Maine. Jessica lives in Portland and hopes to gain as much experience as possible at the Fund before returning to school for graduate study. Jessica can be reached at Jessica@mainewomensfund.org or 207-774-5513.
