Staff

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  Kris Abrams

  Director of Communications and Donor Relations

  Kris lives and works for a society in which we treat each other and the natural world with respect and love. Some highlights from her work include producing the national radio/TV news hour Democracy Now!, leading Boulder-based community radio station KGNU’s expansion into Denver, and co-founding the Denver-based non-profit, Let Us Rise. Kris holds degrees in Neuroscience and Philosophy of Science from Brown University, and obtained her Master’s in Social History from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. She is currently pursuing a second Master’s in Counseling Psychology, with a focus on wilderness therapy. She loves hiking, backpacking, and trail-running in the mountains.

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  Courtney Banayad

  Foundation Partnerships Manager

  Courtney's passion for promoting human rights brought her to Global Greengrants Fund in August 2011. Prior to joining Global Greengrants Fund, Courtney was involved in the anti-human trafficking movement in Colorado, U.S. foreign diplomacy in Finland, and humanitarian assistance & disaster relief in Texas. She holds an M.A. in International and Intercultural Communication from the University of Denver and bachelor’s degrees in Ethnic Studies and American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

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  Megan Begley

  Development Coordinator

  Megan comes to Global Greengrants Fund from the Appalachian Mountain Club where she worked for four years in fundraising and administration. Her passion for conservation started as a young child camping, hiking, and cross country skiing with her family and her interest in international projects stems from volunteering in Mexico during high school and college. Prior to working for nonprofits, Megan was a professional photographer specializing in weddings and events. She has a BA in biology from Westmont College and a diploma of professional photography from Brooks Institute of Photography.

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  Jan Combs

  Director of Finance

  Jan joined Global Greengrants Fund in April 2011 with over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector. Most recently, Jan served as President and CEO of Boulder College of Massage Therapy, a not-for-profit founded in 1975, having been promoted from her role as Vice President for Business and Finance in 2005. She was Associate Director of Administration/CFO at Colorado Chautauqua Association upon her arrival in Boulder. Jan’s first foray into the nonprofit world was as Director of Finance at a large not-for-profit organization in Illinois which serves individuals with developmental disabilities. Jan served on the Board of Directors of the YWCA of Boulder County 2007 – 2009. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University.

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  Tanya Dautkanova

  Grants Associate

  Born in Siberia, Tanya found her way to Global Greengrants Fund from the front lines of the grassroots environmental movement. On a fellowship to the United States she attended grad school and interned for Global Greengrants Fund in 2002. She soon became our Russia Board Administrator, and then joined our Program team full-time in 2009. Now, from the Boulder office, she is the point-person for most of our Global Advisor Networks, Samdhana, and both the Russia and Pacific Islands boards. Tanya has an M.A. in Public Affairs from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a B.A. in Linguistics and Translation from Krasnoyarsk State University.

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  Dona Hittinger

  Finance Assistant

  Dona came to Global Greengrants Fund in November 2011 with 10+ years experience in non-profits. Her recent experience being in the higher education arena as the Bursar at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy. Dona is a registered Massage Therapist in the state of Colorado and a Reiki Master practitioner. At BCMT she participated in a fund raising event to send 12 therapists to India to teach Tibetan refugees a skill to advance them in the community and to assist in the healing process of their loved ones. She hopes to return to India and volunteer in the children’s village. She also spent the last 6 years teaching at BCMT in the Communications and Career Development departments.

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  Kotrina Keichline

  Grants Administrator

  Before joining Global Greengrants Fund, Kotrina worked, interned, and volunteered in several non-profit settings, usually in capacities that involved helping people gain access to services or education and managing technology. Kotrina has traveled and studied in Costa Rica, Bangladesh, and India, and, along the way, has found a strong passion for grassroots movements, environmental justice, and human rights. She moved to Colorado in 2005 and earned B.A.s in International Studies and Applied Computing, as well as an M.A. in International Human Rights from the University of Denver.

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  Sahana Khanal

  Accountant

  With over 10 years of accounting experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, Sahana keeps all of our books in order and funds flowing to the grassroots. Prior to joining the Global Greengrants Fund staff, she provided accounting training to more than 100 non-governmental organizations in Nepal, where she was born and raised. Sahana has an M.A. in Business Administration from Tribhuban University.

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  Peter Kostishack

  Director of Programs

  Peter has worked for many years supporting communities and indigenous organizations in defense of their rights, territories, and natural resources. Prior to coming to Global Greengrants Fund, he coordinated the Amazon Alliance, a coalition of indigenous and non-governmental organizations protecting the Amazon Basin. He has also been a community mapper, researcher, blogger, activist against mega projects, and consultant to funders and organizations on how to partner with indigenous peoples’ organizations. Peter has an MESc in Social Ecology and Community Development from Yale University and a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University.

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  Greg Miller

  Executive Coordinator

  Greg joined Global Greengrants Fund in July 2011 as Executive Coordinator. Before that, Greg spent three years in Mongolia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. For two years, he taught English in a rural secondary school. He then extended his service in the role of Volunteer Leader, assisting new volunteers with adjustment to a new environment. Greg currently volunteers as the Membership Coordinator for Friends of Mongolia, a small organization dedicated to fostering a cultural exchange between Mongolia and the United States. Greg earned a double degree, studying History and Music, from the University of Colorado.

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  Ursula Miniszewski

  Philanthropic Partnerships Manager

  Ursula joins Global Greengrants Fund with experience working on human rights issues in Africa, Latin America, and Europe, and several years of work in internationally focused non-profits based in the United States advocating for girl’s education, women’s rights, and access to safe water. Ursula is very excited to bring this mix of experience to an organization that supports environmental and social justice. She also brings experience from the private and non-profit sectors in proposal and grant writing and resource development to her position as Philanthropic Partnerships Manager. Ursula holds a M.A. in International Studies from the University of Denver and a B.A. in History from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

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  Katy Neusteter

  Communications Manager

  Katy is a content expert who has crafted marketing communications for nonprofits, travel destinations, and natural-health brands. Prior to joining Global Greengrants Fund, she spent ten years as a magazine editor, covering the arts, the outdoor industry, health, and conservation. Katy is passionate about clean rivers, bicycles, high heels, and good stories. She holds a bachelors in film from Northwestern University.

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  Terry Odendahl

  Executive Director and CEO

  Our fearless and determined leader, Terry joined Global Greengrants Fund at the start of 2009 and has pushed us to new heights every day since. Her vision and leadership have grown out of her three decades of experience in philanthropy, including stints teaching, writing, and organizing. Previously, Terry served as President of the New Mexico Association of Grantmakers. She has also been Executive Director of two women’s funds, the Business and Professional Women's Foundation and the Women's Foundation of Colorado, and Program Director at the Santa Fe Community and Wyss Foundations. For a decade in the 1990s, she served as Executive Director of the National Network of Grantmakers where she led a campaign to increase foundation payout. In 2004-5 she was Neilsen Chair in Philanthropy at the Georgetown University Public Policy Institute. She served on the faculties of Yale University’s Program on Nonprofit Organizations and the University of California, San Diego Women’s Studies Program.

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  Dana Perry

  Grants Manager

  With 800 grants going out to almost 100 countries every year, overseeing and systematizing the process is no small task. Thankfully, we have Dana to keep things organized. She and the Grants Management team are a crucial link between the Boulder office and the groups we support. Outside of the office, you'll probably find her adventuring through the Colorado mountains, likely with a pair of skis on her feet. Dana has an M.A. in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from the United Nations-affiliated University for Peace in Costa Rica, an M.A. in International Affairs from American University and a B.A. in International Relations from Tulane University.

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  Justine Reed

  Donor Relations

  Justine grew up exploring the back roads and wild places of the Sierra Nevada in a VW bus with her family. This experience eventually led her to a degree in forestry from the University of California at Berkeley. Justine’s career path has spanned the nonprofit sector: She has worked on health and social issues such as heart disease, AIDS, and domestic violence. In 2006, she began working on climate change and energy efficiency when she joined the staff at Rocky Mountain Institute. Justine brings more than 20 years of fundraising experience to Global Greengrants Fund, where she is thrilled to combine her commitment to human services and the environment. She continues to express her love of the Earth through hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time with her family at their cabin in the woods.

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  Kim Jessen Roberson

  Director of Philanthropic Partnerships

  Kim is leading the expansion of Global Greengrants Fund’s corporate strategy, while also managing a portfolio of large foundation donors. Prior to joining Global Greengrants Fund in 2010, Kim’s development experience included raising funds for a community school in Costa Rica, a global microfinance network, and the American Cancer Society. Kim has a M.A. in International Development from George Washington University and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

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  Francesco Sangiorgi

  Technology Support Coordinator

  Francesco was born in Varese, Italy and raised in the foothills of the Alps. His early appreciation for nature has developed throughout his life into a passion for hiking, climbing, and exploration of the outdoors. Francesco earned his B.A. in Philosophy, with an emphasis on Political Philosophy, from Bologna University in Bologna, Italy. In 2006 Francesco relocated from Italy to the United States, and arrived in Colorado in 2007. He worked as a database manager for a small internet media company for five years before joining Global Greengrants Fund as Technology Support Coordinator in 2012.

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  Alice Srinivasan

  Donor Relations

  Childhood trips to her father’s homeland of India first sparked Alice’s passion for environmental and social causes, and it has grown ever since. She joined Global Greengrants Fund with more than a decade of experience in non-profit fundraising, having held a variety of positions at well-known environmental conservation and reproductive rights groups. Alice earned a B.A. in International Studies and Theater Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University, where she minored in French.

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  Baohua Yan

  Program Coordinator

  Baohua Yan knows first-hand the importance of small grants to environmental organizations—she came to Global Greengrants Fund as a student leader in China’s blossoming environmental movement. She has also worked for Greenpeace China, Friends of Nature, and as a consultant for China Environmental Forum at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. After four years on Global Greengrants Fund’s China Advisory Board, she joined our home office in 2009. Baohua has a Ph.D. in Environmental Education from the University of Arizona and an M.A. in Environmental Policy from Northern Arizona University.