CEO, Jacob & Terese Hershey Foundation
This blog series features reflections from the Inaugural Fellows of EGA's Executive Grantmaker Fellowship.
I felt tremendously privileged to step into the Chief Executive Officer role at the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation in 2020. It was a time of transition for the organization after being newly endowed following the passing of its founder, as well as a time of shifts in our society, given the COVID-19 pandemic and new calls for racial justice. Nevertheless, I felt relatively prepared, having spent the past decade in philanthropy, where I learned from savvy and courageous leaders making change within the sector and on the front lines.
In just about every way, it has been a joy to help guide the Foundation toward its potential. I’m fortunate to have a supportive, values-aligned board and talented staff who are deeply committed to our mission. That mission is to support those working boldly toward a healthy environment, reproductive justice, and the nurture of nature, a charge that’s not always easy here in our home state of Texas.
Together we’ve rolled up our sleeves to reimagine our approach to governance, operations, investing, and grantmaking; to consider how we can share power with our community; and to grapple with some big questions, such as our philosophy on spending (spoiler alert: we increased our payout).
At the same time though, I found that I felt a bit alone, without trusted peers – folks in my same boat who can inspire and encourage me, empathize with me, and hold me to account. I was looking for people who didn’t have a stake in the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation beyond wanting it to be as impactful as possible.
Enter the Executive Grantmaker Fellowship (EGF). When I learned of the Environmental Grantmakers Association’s 18-month program to build capacity among foundation presidents and trustees, I was intrigued. I love to learn and grow, and the EGF curriculum seemed thought-provoking and relevant to my work. But it was the Fellowship part that really sparked my curiosity. EGA was offering a pathway for executives to participate in a mutually supportive community, which was exactly what I’d been looking for.
One year in, and nearly halfway through the Fellowship, it has more than lived up to its name. As expected, the curriculum has been thought-provoking and relevant to my work, such as our most recent session on collaborative leadership. EGA’s ability to tailor our learning to meet the moment has been especially helpful in an ever-evolving landscape (mock Congressional hearings, anyone?).
Several of the Fellows go axe throwing at the 2024 Fall Retreat. Left to Right: Bakeyah Nelson, Elizabeth Love, James Logan, Big Foot (Honorary Fellow), I-Hsing Sun, Lourdes J. Rodríguez, Lauren Nichols.
But it’s the connections with EGFers that are the heart of this experience. My fellow “axe-throwers” (true story!) are strategic, creative, and compassionate, and there is no better group to wrestle with fears and doubts or to lift up hopes and successes. Each fellow brings their own powerful story to the work, and an extraordinary capacity to share their wisdom.
Credit: I-Hsing Sun
For example, Lourdes has taught me to question more deeply. James taught me to let the small stuff go. Nathan has taught me to seek truth from our youth. And Tamara taught me that there is no movement without joy.
Like taking on the CEO role five years ago, I feel tremendously privileged for the opportunity to be in fellowship with these remarkable leaders, and I’m grateful to EGA for cultivating this very special community.
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Elizabeth Love serves as CEO of the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation, which supports those working boldly toward a healthy environment, reproductive justice and the nurture of nature. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as Senior Program Officer at Houston Endowment, where she led environmental and health-related initiatives for 11 years. Before that, Elizabeth served as Director of Harris County Public Health’s Office of Policy and Planning, and as a fellow for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Elizabeth received a bachelor’s degree from Rice University and a master’s degree from the University of Texas School of Public Health. Elizabeth serves on the boards of LINK Houston, Commission Shift and The Funders Network, as well as on the Steering Committee of the Climate and Energy Funders Group and the Advisory Board of the School of Social Sciences at Rice University.
