As community investments director for Communities Foundation of Texas, Ashley leads CFT’s place-based community investments strategy aligned with the organization’s strategic plan. Working within Strategy 2030’s target areas including South Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Cliff, and the Education Corridor – her team’s portfolio will focus on affordable housing, education and workforce, community health, nonprofit capacity building, and comprehensive community development.
Ashley’s role will involve strategic alignment with CFT’s Learning & Insights department, as well as, North Texas Giving Day, and Educate Texas. In addition, her role will involve building connections within the community through capacity building, grantmaking, and relationship building.
During Ashley’s tenure at CFT, she has grown and developed a nonprofit network focused on economic security through strategic investments and capacity-building. Ashley is a coach of people and organizations and is passionate about data, human connections and relationship building — keys to effectively supporting communities, nonprofits and individuals so they are better able to connect their work and purpose to improving systems.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP / BOARD SERVICE
Ashley is the co-author of “I Said What I Said,” an anthology of Black women in nonprofit. Because of her expertise, she represents the Foundation on several boards and committees, including Co-chair, North Texas Asset Funder’s Network, Tarrant County To and Through, Junior League of Dallas Advisory Board, Texas Opportunity Youth Advisory Council, Wells Elementary PTA, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, Workforce Matters (2020-2023), Encore Park (2022-2023) and DFW Regional Housing Consortium (2020-2022).