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Maari Porter to Head Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia

Wednesday, December 3, 2014
The Board of Directors of Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia has announced the selection of Maari Porter as the organization’s next Executive Director. She will assume her new position in February 2015.
 
Porter comes to the Network with a strong track record of working effectively with philanthropy, public agencies, and nonprofit and private sector partners to build common purpose.  A native of New Zealand, Porter previously lived in London and held several policy and analyst positions with the UK Government before coming to Philadelphia in 2010. Over the past four years, she has worked in the administration of Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter. She currently serves as Chief Grants Officer for the City of Philadelphia and Executive Director of the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia. Previously, she was Deputy Director of Finance for Recovery, helping to set strategy and oversee distribution of $350 million in federal stimulus funding. 
 
Commenting on Porter’s appointment, Philanthropy Network Board President Susan A. Segal stated, “Maari earned the Board’s enthusiastic and unanimous support for her knowledge of philanthropic, public policy and social issues, her extensive local network, and her skills as a strategic thinker and inclusive team leader. She possesses a keen understanding of the pivotal role that collaborative philanthropy can play in addressing our region’s toughest problems.” 
 
Remarking on her new role, Porter said, “Philanthropy Network has set a bold new vision for its work to advance solutions that improve the prosperity of Greater Philadelphia. I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with the members to find new ways that philanthropy can serve as catalyst and partner in addressing our region’s most pressing issues.”
 
Porter holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Auckland and a MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics. She serves on the board of the Wooden Boat Factory, and resides in Center City Philadelphia.
 
Founded in 1988 as Delaware Valley Grantmakers, the organization became Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia in 2013 to better support the diversity and dynamism of regional philanthropy, and to reflect a new strategic direction that is focused on collective action. Porter joins Philanthropy Network as its fifth executive director. She succeeds Debra A. Kahn, who will leave at the end of 2014 after six years in that role. 
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