Newsroom| High-Engagement Foundation Re-aligns Internal Responsibilities to Strategically Meet Community Needs |
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AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 30, 2008 — KDK-Harman Foundation, an Austin-based family foundation focused on funding education, has named Jacqueline S. Mata chief operating officer, responsible for all aspects of the philanthropy’s finances and operations. The appointment is effective immediately. “Jackie is one of the most talented, hard-working, and dedicated individuals I have ever had the honor of working with,” Janet Harman, KDK-Harman president and founder, said. “Her expertise and responsiveness to the changing needs and growth of the foundation are critical as the foundation continues to strategically give to best-practice education-focused nonprofits and blaze trails in the nonprofit industry.” Mata has been serving as KDK-Harman founding executive director, a post she assumed December 2004 when Harman created the foundation. “I am honored and thrilled to assist KDK-Harman in all elements of its high-engagement approach,” Mata, a certified public accountant and certified financial planner who began her career at Deloitte & Touche, said. “I look forward to continuing to nurture and increase our strong partnerships with our grantees, other grantmakers, education stakeholders and community contributors to and participants in life-long learning and education.”
This move, along with the corresponding internal position re-alignments, signals the robustness and rapid growth of Central Texas’ 13th-largest family philanthropy. In addition to Mata’s new and increased responsibilities, Program Officer Jennifer Esterline and Consultant Erica Ekwurzel enjoy greater independence and flexibility in their individual capacities and assignments. Jennifer Esterline, the Foundation’s Program Officer, will be in charge of all aspects of the Foundation’s grantmaking, including handling all grant inquiries, researching and managing grant requests, and making grant recommendations to the Foundation’s board of directors. She also works closely with grantees to manage, evaluate, and report on grant performance once the grants have been approved by the board. Erica V. Ekwurzel, the Foundation’s on-staff Consultant, manages advocacy outreach efforts and operates KDK-Harman Consulting. In her advocacy role, Ekwurzel coordinates the Foundation’s public policy outreach activities and collaboration efforts, specifically in the areas of education issues, ensuring the integration of said activities into the ongoing work of KDK-Harman. As Consultant, Ekwurzel provides individualized technical capacity-building support to the Foundation’s grantee portfolio extending from fund development, volunteer management, research and data analysis to communications consulting. KDK-Harman strongly believes that no single approach can satisfy the need or assist in building upon the organizational effectiveness of nonprofits aiming to making an impactful and sustained change to the lives of Central Texas families living in poverty. KDK-Harman Foundation is deliberate in its strategy to leverage all of its activities and efforts. About KDK-Harman Foundation KDK-Harman Foundation was founded by Janet E. Harman in December 2004. The Foundation provides financial and capacity-building resources to education-focused nonprofits that assist disadvantaged Central Texas families, with a focus on women, to help them achieve educational success. The ultimate goal of such funding is to transform their lives from poverty to financial independence to enable a better life for themselves and future generations. The Foundation supports programs within Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet and Llano counties.
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