Samantha Franklin (she/her) has over a decade of experience working at philanthropic and capacity building organizations. As a Sr. Program Officer at Ms. Foundation for Women, she collaborates with Ms.’s program team to move grants and other supports to women and girl of color-led organizations advancing structural change for trans and cis women and gender expansive folks and their communities. Prior to Ms., she served at L+M Development Partners as Director of Community Investment. At L+M, she coordinated with various stakeholders and institutional partners to bring programs and resources to NYC communities through grant making and other CSR. Prior to working at L+M, Samantha was a Program Officer at Johnson Family Foundation (New York City, NY), a Project Manager at Jobs for the Future (Boston, MA) and a Junior Capacity Building Specialist at the Harm Reduction Coalition (New York City, NY). She also served on the advisory boards of the Brown Boi Project (Oakland, CA) and Third Wave Fund (NYC) and participated in various collaborative efforts with philanthropic groups that include Funders for LGBTQ Issues, New York Women’s Foundation, North Star Fund, and Queer Youth Fund. She currently serves on the board of Rainbow Heights Club, a support and advocacy program for LGBTQ+ consumers of mental health services that provides socialization, peer support, and a safe place to take the next step on the road to emotional recovery and wellness.
