New York Women's Foundation adds three board members

The New York Women’s Foundation has named Elizabeth De León Bhargava, Lisa Ferri and Lolita Morrow to its Board of Directors. The appointments add leadership experience in government, law, media and nonprofit work as the foundation expands its mission across New York City.

Why it matters: - The New York Women’s Foundation is adding senior leaders with backgrounds that align with its grantmaking and advocacy work. - The new board members bring experience in public policy, intellectual property, media partnerships and nonprofit leadership. - The board additions come as the foundation continues investing in women, girls and gender-expansive people across New York City.

What happened: - The New York Women’s Foundation named Elizabeth De León Bhargava, Lisa Ferri and Lolita Morrow to its Board of Directors. - Ana L. Oliveira, president and CEO of The New York Women’s Foundation, said the foundation depends on strong leadership and thoughtful governance. - Oliveira said the three new board members bring experience that will help guide the organization’s mission. - Elizabeth De León Bhargava is returning to the board. - Lisa Ferri and Lolita Morrow are new board members.

The details: - Elizabeth De León Bhargava is interim president of Guttman Community College. - De León Bhargava has more than 25 years of executive, legal and public policy experience across federal, state and city government. - She most recently served as assistant secretary for administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. - At HUD, she oversaw agency operations and a $10 billion federal contracting portfolio. - Her background also includes roles in the White House, the New York State Executive Chamber and the New York City Council. - In those roles, she worked on educational equity, workforce development and economic opportunity. - Lisa Ferri is global co-chair of Mayer Brown’s intellectual property practice. - Ferri has spent nearly 30 years representing life sciences companies in federal courts across the U.S. - At Mayer Brown, she has served on the Partner Promotion Committee, chaired the Diversity Steering Board and Women's Leadership Committee, and co-chaired the New York office Women's Forum. - Ferri has also served on the board of the Women in Law Empowerment Forum. - She has been a long-standing member of the National Association of Women Lawyers and Legal Momentum, including on Legal Momentum’s board. - Ferri has been recognized for leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. - Lolita Morrow is vice president of brand partnerships at Genius. - Morrow has worked in media, marketing and digital media for decades. - Her previous roles include positions at Pepsi, Molson Coors, Paramount and Vox Media. - In those roles, she created partnerships, campaigns and initiatives that drove growth and value for her organizations and partners. - Morrow is also the author of a best-selling book and hosts the companion podcast. - She serves on the boards of two nonprofit organizations focused on inclusion and representation in arts and culture. - The foundation was established in 1987. - The foundation describes itself as a leading voice for gender, racial and economic justice. - Based in New York City, the foundation invests in community-led solutions for women, girls and gender-expansive individuals. - The foundation says it is among the largest women-led grantmaking organizations in the world. - Over nearly 40 years, the foundation has awarded more than $141 million to more than 500 organizations.

Between the lines: - The board appointments suggest the foundation is leaning on leaders who can connect philanthropy with government, business and cultural networks. - The mix of legal, policy and media experience may help broaden the foundation’s reach and influence. - The new members also reflect the organization’s emphasis on leadership tied to diversity, representation and community impact.

What's next: - The foundation will rely on the new board members to help shape governance and advance its mission. - The New York Women’s Foundation says its work will continue through support for grantees, advocates and community-rooted change. - More information is available in the foundation’s announcement. - The foundation’s social channels include IG @nywomensfdn, FB NewYorkWomensFoundation and X/T @nywomensfdn.