GEO Welcomes Kristina Wertz as Vice President of External Affairs

We are excited to welcome Kristina Wertz to the team as GEO’s new Vice President of External Affairs. We are looking forward to working with and learning from Kristina in support of our mission to transform philanthropic culture and practice in service of thriving nonprofits and communities.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the team at GEO. I’ve long respected GEO’s work as the go-to organization for grantmakers ready to move from inspiration to action. In my new role as Vice President of External Affairs, I’m excited to support the brilliant team at GEO reflect the collective voice of nonprofits and the communities we serve in the rapidly evolving field of philanthropy.”

Prior to GEO, Kristina served as Senior Vice President of Engagement and Philanthropic Outreach for our colleagues at Funders for LGBTQ Issues (Funders). At Funders Kristina developed strategies for grantmakers committed to LGBTQ issues to connect with another, learn from each other, coordinate their efforts, and maximize their impact. An expert in connecting LGBTQ issues to a range of grantmaking priorities, Kristina also led outreach and training to grantmakers ready to be more LGBTQ-inclusive in their grantmaking and internal practices. A skilled facilitator and natural consensus builder, Kristina doubled attendance at the Funders for LGBTQ Issues’ annual conference, Funding Forward. while also transforming the conference to be member-driven, centered on LGBTQ communities of color, and deeply intersectional. With a lifelong commitment to social justice and over two decades of advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ communities under her belt, Kristina played a key role in the development and rollout of Funders signature initiatives – Out in the South and Grantmakers United for Trans Communities (GUTC).

A seasoned attorney, public policy advocate and philanthropic organizer, Kristina is passionate about increasing philanthropic resources for queer and trans people. Prior to her work at Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Kristina was the Director of Policy and Programs and Legal Director at the Transgender Law Center where she helped secure groundbreaking legal protections for transgender and gender nonconforming people.

“I am delighted to welcome Kristina to GEO. Her long track record of advocacy, equity and philanthropic leadership, as well as her steadfast commitment to connecting grantmakers to each other for learning and collaboration is in clear alignment with our mission,” said GEO’s President and CEO, Marcus Walton. “We look forward to working with Kristina to develop spaces for our community to practice translating any aspirations, theories and frameworks, into effective grantmaking practices.”

About Grantmakers for Effective Organizations

GEO is a community of funders committed to transforming philanthropic culture and practice by connecting members to the resources and relationships needed to support thriving nonprofits and communities.

We envision courageous grantmakers working in service of nonprofits and communities to create a just, connected and inclusive society where we can all thrive.