2023–2025: Shared Leadership and the Next Evolution
How the Fund brought its commitment to shared leadership into its own structure, building a more resilient organization for the future of grassroots funding.
The Fund's next chapter took its commitment to shared power and turned it inward, onto its own leadership structure. The organization transitioned into a co-director leadership model, embedding shared power more structurally. This era reflects a continued evolution toward distributed decision-making, deeper community partnership, and long-term resilience in grassroots environmental funding. During this time of systemic upheaval, The Grassroots Fund leadership was also going through it's own transition. Long time staff members Sarah Huang and Bart Westdijk took over as the organizations first Co-Director team. This was a moment of learning for how shared leadership and team communication builds more sustainability on the team.
Faye Christoforo and Bart Westdijk become co-directors of The Grassroots Fund in 2024. The Fund distributed a record 1.5 million dollars of funding to grassroots groups across New England in 2025.
“For 30 years, the foundation’s work has been rooted in a deep respect for grassroots leaders, people often working with too few resources, balancing multiple commitments, and still answering the call to create change in their communities. The foundation’s role has never been simply to provide financial resources, but to help people build capacity, find connection, and discover new possibilities.
That meant being intentional about how people came together. Every gathering was designed to meet people where they were, whether they were just beginning to organize, reflecting on their work, or simply seeking reassurance that others were wrestling with the same questions. The goal was for people to leave feeling supported, energized, and better equipped for the work ahead.
At its heart, this approach recognizes that movements are built through shared learning. It means connecting people to one another, to new resources and perspectives, and to lessons from movements past: what worked, what didn’t, and what might work differently now.
After 30 years, that commitment also means embracing the messiness of the work. The foundation continues to evolve while carrying its history forward, building resilience for what comes next. The path may change, but the commitment remains to listen, learn, adapt, and equip grassroots leaders to meet the moment with strength and support.”
-Rev. Mariama White-Hammond, former Grassroots Board Member