Philanthropy Network Names New Leadership

Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, a membership organization comprised of over 150 regional funders, has named Maari Porter as its next executive director. She will assume her new role in February 2015. Porter previously served as the City of Philadelphia’s chief grants officer and as the executive director of the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia.

“We’re in a great spot of strength,” said Susan Segal, president of Philanthropy Network’s board of directors. “Maari came recommended by a lot of different people in the community, and we are just thrilled at her passion for urban life and the issues around that.”

The board also agreed that Porter is a “good listener and connector” and would “guide us to more collaborative and collective giving,” according to Segal.

“Philanthropy Network has set a bold new vision for its work to advance solutions that improve the prosperity of Greater Philadelphia,” said Porter in a statement.

The organization’s membership has recently rallied around Sparking Solutions, an issue agenda to foster cross-sector collaborations that address poverty-related problems. The five Sparking Solutions focus areas are reading by fourth grade; preventing and ending homelessness; reducing hunger and fostering healthy eating; increasing access to health care; and youth safety.

Porter will succeed Debra Kahn, the outgoing executive director of Philanthropy Network, which was previously known as Delaware Valley Grantmakers. Under Kahn’s leadership, the 26-year-old organization rebranded last year to “better support the diversity and dynamism of regional philanthropy.”