On behalf of The Nelson Foundation’s Board of Directors, I am writing to share that our long-time President, Mindy Aldridge, has decided to step down as President of the Foundation this fall.   

During Mindy’s nearly 20-year tenure at The Nelson Foundation, she has led a transformation of the Foundation which has culminated in centering the work of the organization on racial equity and social justice. This is evidenced in many ways – from the changed composition of the Board to grantmaking that adheres to equity and best practices in trust-based philanthropy to aligning the endowment with our mission. In everything she has done, Mindy has been dedicated to deepening the Foundation’s impact.

Mindy especially values the relationships she has built with our grantee partners, supporting them not only with grant dollars, but also with opportunities for networking, learning, development, and most importantly, she is always there to listen and provide thoughtful guidance.  The same can be said for Mindy’s relationships in the broader philanthropic community, where she built important partnerships and raised the profile of the Foundation, locally and nationally.  Her active participation in a variety of membership organizations, funder cohorts and collaborations have helped to further the work of the field.

We are incredibly grateful for her vision and commitment to furthering the Foundation’s mission and to bettering philanthropic and nonprofit communities. Under Mindy’s leadership, The Nelson Foundation has grown into an institution that the entire Board and Staff are very proud to be a part of.

To carry on Mindy’s work when she steps down, we are pleased to announce that Jenny Snyder, our current Director of Grantmaking, will become President in October.  Jenny has worked alongside Mindy for more than ten years and she has played a key role in building equity into the Foundation’s work, deepening grantee partnerships and community impact. With Jenny at the helm, the Board is confident that The Nelson Foundation is positioned to continue to advance its mission and strategic priorities and to be a leader in the field. Mindy will remain on staff as a strategic advisor through March 2026.

Please join us in wishing Mindy well in her retirement.  She will be missed, but she has built a strong legacy at The Nelson Foundation that we will proudly carry forward.

Donna Lindner

Chair, Board of Directors