As the Kataly Foundation’s Managing Director of Programs, Maya Thornell-Sandifor leads efforts to support collaboration across program teams and in alignment with the organization-wide strategic goals. Maya also brings her deep experience working across the philanthropy sector to elevate community and movement centered strategies for a more just and restorative approach.
Maya brings 25 years of experience in philanthropy, organizational development, program strategy and change management. Before joining Kataly, Maya was the Principal of Mandala Change Group where she consulted leadership at philanthropic and non-profit organizations on strategy development while centering racial equity and justice.
Before Mandala Change Group, she was the Director of Racial Equity Initiatives at Borealis Philanthropy. In her role at Borealis, she helped launch and scale several pooled funds, including the Disability Justice Fund, the Racial Equity to Accelerate Change Fund, and the Racial Equity in Journalism Fund. She also managed the Racial Equity in Philanthropy Fund to support philanthropic support organizations advancing their membership’s commitment to practicing racial equity in the approach to grantmaking and institutional culture.
Maya is a certified coach through Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation and holds a Master’s in Organizational Development. Maya chairs the Board of New Left Accelerator and The Capacity Shop to support progressive power building for multi-entity organizations. She lives in Oakland with her two teen boys, husband, and dog Zora. Maya loves to paint, is a voracious reader, and enjoys diversifying the sport of sailing by exploring the San Francisco Bay and Caribbean waters with her family.
