The events kicked off on Wednesday evening with a Pizza & Pinot social hosted by Board Member Gail Schulze (MBA ’80), who welcomed more than 60 attendees to her home.

The Annual Meeting on Thursday was held at the Law Offices of Morrison and Foerster.

The Afternoon Session was kicked off by hosts Maya Dhir (MSx ’20) and Todd Logan (MBA ’85).

Mike Fitzgerald (MBA ’90) and Donna Allen (MBA ’80) reviewed Project Redwood’s impact-driven grantmaking model, which provides the catalytic capital to propel worthy organizations onto a greater scale and impact. The success of our grantees as a group and the recognition they have received show that it has worked. Examples proudly shared included Village Enterprise, MiracleFeet, Cova, EarthEnable, Comer, Cristo Rey Network, Youth Design Center, Educate!, Juma Ventures, Village Health Works, and others, which have since received significant funding to drive their growth.

Claudia Lindsey (MBA ’80), Co-chair of the Grant Review Committee, shared how Project Redwood’s grantmaking approach continues to evolve. To date, most grant distribution has focused on awarding funds to support specific projects for early-stage organizations, providing catalytic capital to propel them to scale. Implicitly, the goal was to build multi-year relationships (up to four grants). Project Redwood sought to leverage member expertise and networks to offer non-financial support as well.  

A two-year pilot program has demonstrated that unrestricted grants to multi-year grantees have enabled the organizations to address broad-based operational needs that are critical to growth. 

Grant-making will shift going forward. Grants will be more overtly catalytic and explicitly intended to be multi-year. Unrestricted funds will be an option for grantees who are mission-aligned with Project Redwood and with whom Project Redwood has built a trust-based relationship.  While project specific grants can be assessed based on measures of impact, unrestricted grants used for more organizational development will need qualitative metrics applied. The goal is to resolve outstanding issues and transition in the 2026 grant cycle, clearly communicating this strategic framework.

• Ambassadors, Catalysts of Community: Phil Jonckheer (MBA ’80) and Kristy McHugh, Project Redwood’s Welcome and Engagement Program Manager, reported on the Ambassador Program, an initiative that relies on current members reaching out to fellow alums to expand the memberbase. The goal is to find an alignment of shared values (e.g., a desire to participate in a community-oriented, impact-driven approach to philanthropy) and utilize a personal, storytelling conversation to engage new members. The program now has 14 Ambassadors spanning 9 different GSB classes. Ambassadors meet quarterly to share ideas.
• Culture of Philanthropy: Ritchie Geisel (MBA ’73) introduced Scott Kleinman (MBA ’90), Project Redwood’s newly hired Director of Development. Scott encouraged members to approach fundraising as an act of philanthropy rooted in shared humanity—listening deeply and connecting donors to causes they care about. Attendees practiced these conversations in small-group break-outs.  This approach humanizes and personalizes the discussion. 

The meeting concluded with recognition of Project Redwood members who serve, and/or recently served in a leadership role.  

• Board Transitions: New board members Dan Whalen (MBA ‘80) and Ritchie Geisel (MBA ‘73) were welcomed, and thanks were extended to outgoing board members Laura Fratt (MBA ‘88) and Jorian Wilkins (MBA ‘01).
• Recognition was also extended to those passing the baton as committee chairs: Grant Review Committee: Mike Fitzgerald (MBA ’90); People Committee: Bill Westwood (MBA ’80), Mike Fitzgerald (MBA ‘90); Communications, Marketing, Technology: Stacy Williams (MBA ‘13); Project Redwood Co-Chair: Ken Inadomi (MBA ‘80).
• New chairs stepping up: Grant Review Committee: Rusty Gaillard (MBA ‘01); People Committee: Ken Inadomi (MBA ‘80), Donna Allen (MBA ‘80); Evaluation and Impact Committee: Leanne Scott (MA ‘20); Welcome and Engagement: Gelila Bekele (MBA ‘21); COGS: Dan Judd (MBA ‘19); Executive Committee: Gail Schulze (MBA ‘80); Project Redwood Co-Chair: Mike Fitzgerald (MBA ‘90).
• Members honored Kristi Smith Hernandez (MBA ‘80), a founding member remembered for her commitment and dedication to Project Redwood.
• Special recognition went to Donna Allen (MBA ‘80), named one of 100 GSB Catalysts to be honored at the GSB’s Centennial Celebration.

Co-Chairs Brad Smith (MBA ’95) and Mike Fitzgerald (MBA ’90) reiterated thanks and appreciation to all those changing roles. More broadly, they thanked everyone for attending and actively participating in the day’s programming. A shout-out then went to members and staff who helped coordinate all of the meeting sessions, serving as hosts, moderators and discussion leaders.