Who We Are

Jeff Atwood, Betsy Burton and the Atwood family (Henry, June, and Raisin)

GiveDirectly – Laura Keen

Laura is the U.S. Program Director at GiveDirectly. In collaboration with trusted local experts, Laura and her team oversee the entire operational process —from program design to outreach and enrollment to payment delivery — ensuring rural households receive dignified and timely cash assistance. With a strong background in fundraising, program management, and a commitment to data-driven solutions, Keen has been instrumental in building and implementing innovative cash models across the United States. Her work emphasizes the importance of tailoring cash programs to meet the specific needs of vulnerable populations, ensuring that interventions are both effective and equitable. 

PhilanthropyRX – Allen Smart

A national leader in the space where philanthropy and rural communities come together, Allen lived and worked in rural areas throughout the USA, serving as a funder, writer, researcher and presenter. Allen dedicated his life to rural philanthropy as an advocate and provocateur.

OpenResearch – Aristia Kinis

OpenResearch’s Director of Strategy & Partnership is a compassionate leader with 15 years of experience in nonprofit research who believes in gathering comprehensive data to fill pivotal knowledge gaps. She played a key role in OpenResearch’s Unconditional Cash Study, the largest and most comprehensive basic income trial conducted in the United States. The study’s human-centered findings revealed that the cash relief provided families with much-needed breathing room, helped them meet their basic needs, and increased their agency to set goals and take steps toward achieving them. By sharing data and insights, Kinis aims to spark conversations about promoting economic pathways, particularly in often-overlooked rural communities, and inform solutions grounded in the realities of everyday life.

Ripple Philanthropy Strategies – Joanne Schneider

Joanne is founder and principal at Ripple Philanthropy Strategies. She has almost two decades of experience helping individuals, families, and organizations find joy and meaning in philanthropy. Previously a Director at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, she guided funders in defining priorities, identifying nonprofit partners, and managing grantmaking across diverse issue areas and geographies. Her background spans the Skoll Foundation, American Express, Morgan Stanley, the Jewish United Fund, and the Peace Corps. She holds a BS from the University of Michigan and a MBA from Columbia Business School, and currently serves on the board of Friends of the Alameda Free Library..

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