PACE Board of directors

Kara Carlisle, Board Chair

Kara Carlisle joined The Ford Family Foundation in 2023 as President and CEO.

Brad Rourke, Vice Board Chair

Brad Rourke is the Kettering Foundation’s director of external affairs and DC operations. He leads the foundation’s Washington, DC, office and also heads efforts to increase the foundation’s impact and reputation across key audiences

Vanessa Tucker, Secretary

Vanessa Tucker is a Program Officer for U.S. Democracy at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. She leads the foundation’s grantmaking to support trustworthy elections and counter digital disinformation.

Janet Tran, Treasurer

Janet Tran serves as the Director of Learning and Leadership at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

Jen Algire

Jen Algire is the President and CEO of The Greater Clark Foundation, a place-based foundation in central Kentucky.

Benjamin Chou

Benjamin serves as Program Officer of Democracy, Rights and Governance at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Stuart Comstock-Gay

Stuart Comstock-Gay is president and CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation, and has devoted his career addressing issues of community, civic engagement, democracy, and civil rights.

Jason Garrett

Jason Garrett is a program officer in Civic Engagement and Government–US (CEG-US) at the Ford Foundation. His grant making focuses on the national infrastructure and critical capacities needed to foster civic engagement and a more equitable democracy

Rodney McKenzie, Jr.

Rodney is an openly gay person of faith, a community organizer, and a reverend. He currently serves as the Vice President of Ally Development at the Fetzer Institute

Tamara Tweel

Tamara Mann Tweel is a Senior Program Director at The Teagle Foundation specializing in civic initiatives.

Lauren M. Woods

Lauren M. Woods is a program manager for the Building Collective Power strategy at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, she is responsible for leading grant making initiatives that support local journalism, media, and civic storytelling in the Chicago region.

Kristen Cambell, PACE CEO

Kristen Cambell is CEO of PACE, a philanthropic laboratory for funders seeking to maximize their impact on democracy and civic life in America.