Board

Karen Ansara launched New England International Donors (NEID) with a cadre of Boston-area funders in late 2008. Via the Ansara Family Fund at the Boston Foundation (TBF), she and her husband Jim make grants to end global poverty (primarily in Haiti) and build resilient health facilities globally.  In 2010 Karen cofounded the Haiti Fund with TBF, which made grants in Haiti for five years before evolving into the Haiti Development Institute (HDI.) She serves on the boards of HDI, MCE Social Capital, the Millennium Campus Network and Build Health International.  Karen is an advisor to the Rian Immigrant Center and Boston University’s Pardee School for Global Studies. A member of the Leadership Council for Oxfam America since 2003, Karen is a graduate of Wellesley College (Political Science) and Andover Newton Theological School (MDiv).  Karen earned a certificate in Non-Profit Management and Leadership from Boston University in 2018 and belongs to The Philanthropy Workshop, Women Moving Millions and other philanthropic networks.  She and Jim have four young adult children and live in Essex, MA.

In Memoriam: Edwin Naylor, (Honorary Member), was Groundswell’s first Board Chair in 2009, and was instrumental in shaping our founding bylaws and governance structure based on principles of international partnership. He passed away in 2018 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Ed brought over 50 years of organizational management experience and passion for social justice and community development to Groundswell. His experience includes over 16 years serving as President/CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area, Washington, DC (1987-1995) and Executive Director/CEO of Lutheran Social Ministry of the Southwest, Phoenix, AZ (1978-1987). In 1995 Mr. Naylor retired to found The Naylor Group with his wife Sarah Naylor, offering consultation services to non-profit organizations from 18 states in the U.S. He helped to found the Verde Food Council, a collaboration of four food banks in the Verde Valley of Arizona. We are grateful to Ed for helping to plant the seeds of Groundswell International.