Staff

Courtney Banayad
Foundation Partnerships
Courtney's passion for promoting human rights brought her to Greengrants in August 2011. Prior to joining Greengrants, 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.
Tina Burke
Development Administrator
Tina came to us in 2005 with over a decade of experience in development for large non-profit organizations. Since then, she has become our office maven—helping everything run smoothly behind the scenes. When it comes to keeping things organized in our day-to-day, “ask Tina” is a common response around here.
Hilary Byerly
Communications Manager
Growing up in the mountains of Colorado and then traveling through South America to study social movements and human rights, Hilary’s passion for the environment and social justice found the perfect home at Greengrants. Now, she is our rock star communications manager and social media guru, connecting our network with the incredible work of our grantees and advisers. Hilary has a B.A. in International Affairs and Environmental Studies from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Aaron Campbell
Major Gifts Officer
Aaron’s passion for creating positive social change began at the tender age of 19, when he joined in grassroots campaigning for the environment. Since then he has lead canvassing operations, petition drives for state ballot initiatives, major gifts and annual funding campaigns, as well as volunteered on projects ranging from habitat restoration to non-profit Board development. Aaron is our point person on the West Coast for growing the support of our funders and discovering new and untapped resources. He is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and holds BA in History with a minor in Urban Planning.
Jan Combs
Director of Finance
Jan joined Greengrants 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.
Tanya Dautkanova
Grants Associate
Born in Siberia, Tanya found her way to Greengrants from the front lines of the grassroots environmental movement. On a fellowship to the United States she attended grad school and interned for Greengrants 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.
Paul Hendricks
Donor Advised Fund Manager
With a diverse background in social justice and environmental protection projects, Paul became a great asset to Greengrants in 2010. He traded in his sailboat for a pair of skis and climbing gear, and knuckled down to liaison between our Spanish-speaking advisory boards and the home office and now manages our donor advised fund program. Prior to coming to Greengrants, Paul worked with organizations in Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Australia. Paul has a M.A. in International Relations from the University of Chicago, a M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a B.A. in Business, Spanish, and Secondary Education from Hope College.
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.
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.
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 Greengrants, 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.
Tom Lane
Major Gifts Officer
Originally from an island off the coast of Maine, Tom's civic engagement began with running a nonprofit community sailing program and progressed while working as a college intern with the United Way. Tom brings more than a decade of fundraising expertise to the Greengrants team as its East Coast Major Gifts Officer, having advanced the work of several leading regional, national and international political advocacy, health and human rights organizations. Tom is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, serves on the Advisory Board of the Child Soldier Relief Foundation, and is an active member of The New School Alumni Association. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College and a M.S. in Nonprofit Management from The New School.
Greg Miller
Executive Assistant
Greg joined Greengrants in July 2011 as the Executive Assistant. 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.
Ursula Miniszewski
Foundation Partnerships
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 the position of Foundation Partnerships. 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.
Terry Odendahl
Executive Director and CEO
Our fearless and determined leader, Terry joined Greengrants 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. Prior to Greengrants, 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.
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.
Kelly Purdy
Associate Director
Kelly’s love affair with Greengrants began during her time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine, where she worked as a consultant for a Greengrants grantee. Once back state-side, she joined our development team and has helped the organization grow significantly ever since. In her current role, Kelly manages everything from HR to development, with a remarkable commitment to the work of those who brought her here in the first place: our grantees. Kelly has a M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Regis University and a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs from the University of Colorado.
Kim Jessen Roberson
Director of Philanthropic Partnerships
Kim is leading the expansion of Greengrants’ corporate strategy, while also managing a portfolio of large foundation donors. Prior to joining Greengrants in August 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.
Alice Srinivasan
Director of Individual Giving
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 Greengrants 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.
Sahana Tuladhar
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 Greengrants 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.
Baohua Yan
Program Coordinator
Baohua Yan knows first-hand the importance of small grants to environmental organizations—she came to Greengrants 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 Greengrants’ 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.