News

Two senior leaders bringing experience in philanthropic and nonprofit leadership join the Board of Trustees for the Nathan Cummings Foundation. 

New York, NY – The Nathan Cummings Foundation (NCF) announced today that it elected Jarrett Barrios and Gabriella E. Morris to join its Board as Independent Trustees. 

Mr. Barrios currently serves as the Senior Vice President for Strategy and Programs at the California Community Foundation. Ms. Morris is the Chief Philanthropy Officer at World Food Program USA. They join existing Independent Trustees Rey Ramsey and Jane M. Saks. 

“Jarrett and Gabriella are thoughtful and dedicated colleagues, who share our passion for social justice and bring an exciting array of professional skills and personal experiences to the foundation. We are grateful to have their vital partnership as we continue to live into our values and pursue the bold work needed to advance our mission,” said NCF Board Chair, Jaimie Mayer. 

Both Mr. Barrios and Ms. Morris have served on a variety of boards of directors, as well as in numerous leadership positions. 

Mr. Barrios has dedicated his career to supporting and protecting community basic needs through nonprofit leadership, as well as philanthropic and governmental roles. Previous positions include Chief Executive Officer at both American Red Cross Los Angeles and Massachusetts Red Cross, President and Chief Executive Officer at GLAAD, and President of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. In public service, Mr. Barrios was a Massachusetts State Representative for four years before becoming a State Senator for Massachusetts for five years. Through these roles, he focused on a range of issues, including public safety and violence prevention, among others. Mr. Barrios holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and an A.B. from Harvard College. 

Active in a range of boards of directors and civic engagement roles, Mr. Barrios currently serves as the President of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, Director of CLASP, and Fellow of the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy. He has previously served on the boards of directors of Families USA, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and Preservation of Affordable Housing. 

“Alongside its mission and values, the foundation’s commitment to transformation is deeply aligned with my life’s work,” said Mr. Barrios. “This is an organization that is not afraid to embrace risk and innovation in order to address some of the greatest challenges of our time. I am deeply honored to join the foundation’s board, staff, and many partners in that work.” 

Ms. Morris is a recognized philanthropic, corporate, and non-profit leader with over three decades of leadership experience and service in the foundation, nonprofit, and corporate sectors. Prior to joining the leadership team of World Food Program USA, she served as the Interim Chief Development Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at UNICEF USA. Ms. Morris also completed 26 years in senior legal, philanthropic, and community relations positions at Prudential Financial. She previously practiced law at The Southland Corporation and Baker & Botts and received her law degree from the University of Texas and her A.B. at Princeton University. 

Throughout her career, Ms. Morris has served on boards, agencies, and committees that reflect her interests, passions, and expertise. She currently is a member of the boards of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, where she chairs the Governance Committee, the Harlem School of the Arts, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center Women’s Association, the Lincoln Center Foundation Education Committee, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, where she is a Senior Director.

Previous service on boards, include the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She was also a founding board member of many organizations, including United States Artists, the Newark Trust for Education, and Brick City Development Corporation. Her support of the sector includes service on the Board of the Independent Sector, the Corporate Council of the Council on Foundations, and the Contributions Committee of the Conference Board.

“I am thrilled to be chosen to join the Board at the Nathan Cummings Foundation, said Ms. Morris. “It is a distinct privilege to help guide the organization and its partners in pursuing the progressive work needed during this pivotal point in our nation’s history.”

NCF partnered with Koya Partners, a leading executive search firm that works exclusively with mission-driven clients, to conduct a national search for two Independent Trustees. 

For additional information about this announcement, please contact Candice Wynter at communications@nathancummings.org.

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The Nathan Cummings Foundation is a multigenerational family foundation, rooted in the Jewish tradition of social justice, working to create a more just, vibrant, sustainable, and democratic society. The foundation partners with social movements, organizations, and individuals who have creative and catalytic solutions to climate change and inequality.