Betty Francisco, Tracy Palandjian to join Boston Foundation Board of Directors
June 15, 2020
Boston – The Boston Foundation today announced the appointment of two new Directors, entrepreneur Betty Francisco and impact investing pioneer Tracy Palandjian. Francisco and Palandjian will join the Board of Directors beginning June 30, replacing longtime Board Chair Sandra Edgerley and Rev. Gregory Groover, who both rotate off after 10 years as Directors.
“While the Board loses two remarkable leaders in Sandy and Greg, we are fortunate to be joined by new Directors the caliber of Betty and Tracy,” said Linda Mason, incoming Chair of the Board. “Betty comes to the Foundation with thorough expertise in the critical needs of the region’s communities of color, and Tracy joins us as one of the nation’s preeminent leaders in social and impact investing. They both will provide valuable insights as we move the foundation into a new era of unprecedented challenges.”
Betty Francisco is an entrepreneur, business executive, attorney and community leader. She is known as a powerful convener and changemaker, unapologetic about creating visibility for Latinx and people of color. She currently serves as General Counsel at Compass Working Capital, serving as the organization’s chief legal advisor, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization’s legal affairs.
Francisco is also the co-founder of Latina Circle, a Boston-based network that is advancing Latina leaders across industries into positions of power and influence, and which recently launched theAmplify Latinx initiative to increase Latino civic engagement and political representation. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Roxbury Community College, the Board of Corporators of Eastern Bank, the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston YMCA and the Board of Directors of Boston Educational Development Foundation. She serves as an advisory member for the Boston Women’s Commission under Mayor Martin Walsh. She is also a member of the Advisory Council for The Capital Network and Bentley University’s School of Arts and Sciences.
Tracy Palandjian is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Social Finance, an impact investing nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing capital to drive social progress. The organization leads the development of Pay for Success financing tools such as the Social Impact Bond and the Career Impact Bond, which leverage catalytic capital to deliver measurable and lasting change within our communities.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Palandjian came to Boston as a student and was inspired to remain in the U.S. and become an American citizen. Today, she serves as vice chair for the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and is the co-author of Investing for Impact: Case Studies Across Asset Classes. She is a trustee at the Surdna Foundation (where she chairs the Investment Committee), and a Director of Affiliated Managers Group. She is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Development Advisory Council. Previously, Tracy also served as Board Chair of Facing History and Ourselves, co-Chair of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, and Trustee of Milton Academy. A former Vice Chair of the Harvard Board of Overseers and a 2019 recipient of the HBS Alumni Achievement Award, Tracy continues to serve on various Standing and Visiting Committees at Harvard University.
Francisco and Palandjian will serve terms expiring on June 30, 2025, and will be eligible for a second term. The Boston Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of 20 Directors, who serve a maximum of two five-year terms. Boston Foundation President and CEO Paul S. Grogan is an ex officio member of the Board.
The Boston Foundation Board of Directors, as of June 30, 2020, will include:
“While the Board loses two remarkable leaders in Sandy and Greg, we are fortunate to be joined by new Directors the caliber of Betty and Tracy,” said Linda Mason, incoming Chair of the Board. “Betty comes to the Foundation with thorough expertise in the critical needs of the region’s communities of color, and Tracy joins us as one of the nation’s preeminent leaders in social and impact investing. They both will provide valuable insights as we move the foundation into a new era of unprecedented challenges.”
Betty Francisco is an entrepreneur, business executive, attorney and community leader. She is known as a powerful convener and changemaker, unapologetic about creating visibility for Latinx and people of color. She currently serves as General Counsel at Compass Working Capital, serving as the organization’s chief legal advisor, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the organization’s legal affairs.
Francisco is also the co-founder of Latina Circle, a Boston-based network that is advancing Latina leaders across industries into positions of power and influence, and which recently launched theAmplify Latinx initiative to increase Latino civic engagement and political representation. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Roxbury Community College, the Board of Corporators of Eastern Bank, the Board of Directors of the Greater Boston YMCA and the Board of Directors of Boston Educational Development Foundation. She serves as an advisory member for the Boston Women’s Commission under Mayor Martin Walsh. She is also a member of the Advisory Council for The Capital Network and Bentley University’s School of Arts and Sciences.
Tracy Palandjian is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Social Finance, an impact investing nonprofit dedicated to mobilizing capital to drive social progress. The organization leads the development of Pay for Success financing tools such as the Social Impact Bond and the Career Impact Bond, which leverage catalytic capital to deliver measurable and lasting change within our communities.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Palandjian came to Boston as a student and was inspired to remain in the U.S. and become an American citizen. Today, she serves as vice chair for the U.S. Impact Investing Alliance and is the co-author of Investing for Impact: Case Studies Across Asset Classes. She is a trustee at the Surdna Foundation (where she chairs the Investment Committee), and a Director of Affiliated Managers Group. She is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Development Advisory Council. Previously, Tracy also served as Board Chair of Facing History and Ourselves, co-Chair of Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, and Trustee of Milton Academy. A former Vice Chair of the Harvard Board of Overseers and a 2019 recipient of the HBS Alumni Achievement Award, Tracy continues to serve on various Standing and Visiting Committees at Harvard University.
Francisco and Palandjian will serve terms expiring on June 30, 2025, and will be eligible for a second term. The Boston Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of 20 Directors, who serve a maximum of two five-year terms. Boston Foundation President and CEO Paul S. Grogan is an ex officio member of the Board.
The Boston Foundation Board of Directors, as of June 30, 2020, will include:
Linda Mason,Chair
T.J. Rose, Vice Chair
Zamawa Arenas
Andrew Arnott
Vanessa Calderón-Rosado
Elyse Cherry
Brian Conway
Dr. Pamela Eddinger
Michael Eisenson
Betty Francisco
Paul C. Gannon
Paul W. Lee
Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan
J. Keith Motley, Ph.D.
Peter Nessen
Ron O’Hanley
Tracy Palandjian
Dwight Poler
Scott E. Squillace, Esq.
C.A. Webb