Dear Friends and Partners,
The Weissberg Foundation Board of Trustees and Executive Director Ricshawn Adkins Roane are writing together to share an important leadership update.
After a period of deep reflection and conversation with the Board, Ricshawn has decided that this is the right moment to step into her next chapter of leadership. Accordingly, 2026 will mark the end of her tenure at the Weissberg Foundation.
When Ricshawn first joined the Foundation, we were at a turning point in our evolution. Moved by the passing of our founder, Marvin Weissberg—alongside a racial reckoning taking place across the country—we recognized an opportunity to reimagine our strategy to help build the power of those most negatively impacted by racism and to expand the Foundation’s engagement across Virginia, Appalachia, and the United States.
Today, the Foundation is governed by a 10-person Board comprised of 50% Family Trustees and 50% Independent Trustees committed to sharing power equally; we are intentionally allocating capital by pursuing 100% mission alignment of the endowment using a Racial Equity Investing lens; our grantmaking has grown from $2M in 2021 to over $10M in 2026; and we’re actively sharing what we’re learning across the sector to help influence our philanthropic peers to use their resources to center communities and move funding more efficiently.
On behalf of the Board, we want to reaffirm our commitment to building on this critical work in partnership with Foundation leadership and staff. We remain unwavering in our strategic focus and in our commitment to the communities we serve. This leadership transition will not disrupt our partnerships or grant commitments.
We have formed a search committee that is already actively engaged in the process of identifying a new Executive Director.
We are grateful to Ricshawn for her partnership with the Board and for her commitment to remaining on through the end of the year to ensure a smooth and supportive transition. In the meantime, as questions arise, we encourage you to reach out to your existing contacts at the Foundation.
Ricshawn has shared a personal note below reflecting on her time with the Foundation. We are deeply appreciative of all she has contributed to our work, our team, and our community. We are also grateful for our continued collaboration with each of you and for the work you lead every day.
With appreciation,
Courtney Morris
Board Chair
Edward Jones
Vice Chair
I was drawn to the opportunity to serve as Executive Director of the Weissberg Foundation in late 2021 because of my deep alignment with the Foundation’s mission, an abiding belief that institutional philanthropy can be done differently, and because, at my core, I am a builder.
Late in 2025, I took a three-month sabbatical to reflect on where I’ve been and how I want to grow. This intentional pause gave me space to review all the important and significant work the Board and staff accomplished together. It prompted within me a deep gratitude and humility for having the honor to lead, and deep pride at the realization that I had accomplished much of what I came to the Foundation to do. It also made space for me to remember my drive to build, and a recognition that there are yet more things that I want to help build.
Today, we are experiencing an unprecedented moment for democracy, civil society, and racial equity and justice across the country and world. Given what’s at stake, and the critical role foundations play in resourcing those on the front lines, my top priority is ensuring Weissberg Foundation’s work continues uninterrupted. One of the ways I’m doing that is giving the Board the longest runway possible to plan for a smooth and thoughtful transition.
While my next chapter is still taking shape, I remain committed to advancing approaches that align capital with values and shift how institutions think about their role in building a more just future. Over the coming months, I will continue working closely with the Board and our partners to ensure a successful transition. I am deeply proud of the work we have done together and confident in the Foundation’s future.
Warmly,
Ricshawn Adkins Roane
Executive Director, Weissberg Foundation
