In January 2011, ECFA’s board established the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations ("the Commission").
The purpose of the Commission is to facilitate responses to Senator Charles Grassley, member of the Senate Finance Committee, on issues related to accountability and policy for religious organizations.
Three panels were named to work with the Commission and provide input and proposals on the issues.
The Panel of Nonprofit Sector Representatives is composed of leaders who represent large segments of the nonprofit sector.
Ms. Linda Czipo is executive director of the Center for Non-Profits, New Jersey’s state association of nonprofits, which strengthens the state’s nonprofit community through advocacy, public education, legal and management assistance, and member services. Her nonprofit sector experience spans over 25 years. Ms. Czipo is a public policy committee member and past board treasurer of the National Council of Nonprofits and a member of the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service.
Mr. David Evans is U.S. president and global executive officer of the international relief and development organization Food for the Hungry (FH). He is based in FH’s Washington, D.C. office. In this role, he serves on a four-person global executive leadership team that oversees and directs FH’s worldwide operations. His specific areas of responsibility include oversight for all international programs implemented by FH, grant funding from the United States and other northern governments, private resource development in the United States and abroad, and U.S. strategic partnerships.
Mr. Renny Fagan joined the Colorado Nonprofit Association in Denver in March 2009. The Colorado Nonprofit Association provides capacity building resources and technical assistance to almost 1,400 members and advocates on behalf of the entire nonprofit sector. Previously, Mr. Fagan served as the state director for U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, a Colorado Deputy Attorney General, Director of the Colorado Department of Revenue, and began his public service as a state legislator. He earned degrees from Northwestern University School of Law and the University of Chicago.
Mr. Matthew Hamill oversees the National Association of College and University Business Officers’ (NACUBO) policy, research, government, and public relations activities from their Washington, DC office. Before joining NACUBO, he held positions at a variety of nonprofit organizations, including The Institute for Higher Education Policy, Independent Sector, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Mr. Hamill served as district representative for Rep. Matthew F. McHugh (NY) and as legislative director for Rep. Robert T. Matsui (CA).
Mr. Kyle H. Hybl currently serves as trustee, senior vice president and general counsel for El Pomar Foundation in Colorado Springs. He is also past chairman of the Board of Regents of the University of Colorado System. Mr. Hybl serves as chairman of the Police Foundation of Colorado Springs and is on the board of directors for the Air Force Academy Foundation, Goodwill Industries Foundation, and Colorado Springs World Arena. He also serves on the Board of Regents of The Fund for American Studies and the Alliance for Charitable Reform steering group. Mr. Hybl is a former Air Force Captain and Judge Advocate. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees.
Ms. Margaret Linnane is the executive director of the Rollins College Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership Center located in Winter Park, Florida. She has full administrative responsibility for the college’s multi-purpose resource center dedicated to providing a broad range of education programs, seminars, and services for volunteer and staff leadership of nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the Philanthropy Center in 2004, Ms. Linnane served as executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida in Orlando for 18 years.
Dr. William C. McGinly has 35 years of nonprofit management experience and is president and CEO of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), representing 5,000 executives raising funds for nonprofit health care providers. Dr. McGinly, who has been named for the past 13 consecutive years in the NonProfit Times Power & Influence Top 50, is a former board member for the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University Indianapolis, a past chairman of the Greater Washington Society of Association Executives (GWSAE), an active member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), an I/D/E/A/ Fellow, a Certified Association Executive (CAE), and received his doctorate in administration from American University.
Mr. Chuck McLean is responsible for conducting research for GuideStar, Williamsburg, Virginia, and customers interested in nonprofit sector data. He also works to identify new data sources and ways to present data effectively to GuideStar users. He has 15 years of experience as a teacher and researcher in various institutions of higher education. A graduate of Christopher Newport University, Mr. McLean also received an M.S. degree in mathematics from the College of William and Mary.
Mr. Justin Pollock is principal and founder of OrgForward, a nonprofit consultancy working with nonprofit agencies and capacity builders to develop strategies that encourage organizational sustainability. His practice focuses on strengthening the confluence of organizational leadership, programming, finance, and infrastructure. Prior to launching OrgForward, Justin served as COO for Maryland Nonprofits where he was responsible for the overall programming, finance, human resources, and membership activities. He brings a diverse set of experiences to his presentations as an educator and organizational consultant. He has more than 20 years of experience in the education and nonprofit fields with an extensive background in the areas of leadership development, organizational management, group process facilitation, curriculum development, teambuilding, and adult education. Justin holds a dual B.A. in Organizational Theory and Environmental Studies from Pitzer College and an M.Ed. in curriculum and teacher education from Stanford University.
Ms. Pat Read works with nonprofits and foundations in developing and implementing policy advocacy strategies, fundraising and earned income programs, and board governance. Ms. Read has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic community, having served as senior vice president for public policy at Independent Sector, project director of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, executive director of the Colorado Nonprofit Association, and vice president for program services at The Foundation Center.
Dr. Patrick M. Rooney is Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Research at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis and a nationally recognized expert and speaker on philanthropy. He is frequently quoted by national news media and has served on several national advisory committees. As the Center’s director of research, he built it into one of the nation’s premier research organizations, leading research projects for organizations such as Giving USA Foundation, Bank of America, American Express, Google, and United Way Worldwide.
Mr. William A. Schambra is the director of the Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the Hudson Institute in January of 2003, he was director of programs at the Bradley Foundation in Milwaukee. Before joining Bradley in 1992, Mr. Schambra served as a senior advisor to and chief speechwriter for Attorney General Edwin Meese III, Director of the Office of Personnel Management for Constance Horner, and Secretary of Health and Human Services for Louis Sullivan. He was also director of Social Policy Programs for the American Enterprise Institute, and co-director of AEI’s “A Decade of Study of the Constitution.” He was appointed by President Reagan to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and by President George W. Bush to the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Mr. Schambra has written extensively on the Constitution, the theory and practice of civic revitalization, and civil society.
Ms. Kelly Shipp Simone is the deputy general counsel at the Council on Foundations in Arlington, Virginia, a membership organization that supports grant-makers in various aspects of foundation management. She provides legal information to private foundations and public charities. Ms. Simone has authored several publications for foundations including “Top 10 Ways Private Foundations Can Influence Public Policy.” She also works closely with the Community Foundations National Standards Board on issues related to the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations™ accreditation program.
Ms. Sandra Swirski is an attorney with more than two decades of experience in public policy. Ms. Swirski has advised two senior U.S. Senators, was an executive at a Fortune 10 company, has advised multinational clients at a premier professional services company and has founded two public policy/government affairs firms in Washington, DC, including Urban Swirski & Associates. Currently her practice focuses on advising Fortune 500 executives and leaders of nonprofit organizations on public policy and government affairs issues.
Ms. Christy L. Tharp is the chief financial officer for Feed The Children (FTC), Oklahoma City, one of the 10 largest international charities in the U.S. She is responsible for the financial reporting and management and serves as a key management leader providing professional and ethical guidance to maintain integrity and uphold the expectations of regulatory agencies and donors. Ms. Tharp also has eight years’ experience with the international public accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche, LLP where she was an audit manager, serving many different industries including a large client base of nonprofit organizations.
Mr. David L. Thompson is the vice president of public policy at the National Council of Nonprofits in Washington, DC, the nation’s largest nonprofit network representing over 25,000 charitable nonprofit organizations through their state associations. He previously served as director of government affairs at Independent Sector and as senior counsel and policy director to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Mr. Thompson began his career in private law practice, specializing in labor and employment law. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from the University of Georgia.
Ms. Anne Wallestad is the president & CEO of DC-based BoardSource, the only national organization focused exclusively on strengthening nonprofit governance and inspiring board service. Prior to joining BoardSource’s leadership team in 2008, Ms. Wallestad served in leadership roles with a number of local and national nonprofits, including the Human Rights Campaign, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa, and the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute. She is also an experienced trainer, and has worked with boards and volunteer networks to strengthen volunteer management, fundraising, and events planning skills. Ms. Wallestad holds a B.A. in English and Sociology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and currently serves as a member of the university’s regional advisory board for the Washington, DC metro area.
Mr. Robert Zachritz is the senior director at World Vision U.S. for Advocacy and Government Relations. Prior to joining World Vision in 2003, Mr. Zachritz worked for almost 15 years within the U.S. Congress for both Republican and Democratic Members of Congress. He received a bachelor of arts in international relations from Michigan State University and a master of arts in international trade/business from George Mason University. He has studied overseas at Cambridge University in England and in Moscow, Russia. Mr. Zachritz has traveled to nearly 40 countries – mostly on humanitarian business in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.