Susie Franklin / Founder
Franklin Legacy Fund was founded by Susie Franklin in 2014. Her vision for the organization was driven by her desire to share her expertise in non-profit management and fundraising. Franklin Legacy Fund's mission was to provide coaching, classes & workshops, and expertise to non-profit organizations who would benefit from Susie's years of experience in the non-profit sector.
The mission of the Franklin Legacy Fund was to provide promising non-profits with seed funding and other support to help them build stability and excellence into their operations and ensure their success.
Franklin Legacy Fund was founded by Susie Franklin in 2014. Her vision for the organization was driven by her desire to share her expertise in non-profit management and fundraising. Franklin Legacy Fund's mission was to provide coaching, classes & workshops, and expertise to non-profit organizations who would benefit from Susie's years of experience in the non-profit sector.
The mission of the Franklin Legacy Fund was to provide promising non-profits with seed funding and other support to help them build stability and excellence into their operations and ensure their success.
Irwin Feinberg, Susie and Charly Franklin’s brother-in-law, is a partner and head litigator at the Los Angeles law firm of Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein. Before founding FMBK, he practiced at the law firm of Buchalter, Nemer, Fields, Chrystie & Younger. Irwin clerked for the Honorable Bertram Janes, Justice of the California Court of Appeals. He has won numerous awards and accolades including to their “Super Lawyer” from 2005-2014. He lives in Pacific Palisades.
Kristen Franklin, Susie and Charly Franklin's daughter-in-law, has 20+ years of experience in nonprofit program management in the arts and education fields. Before her work at Edutopia.org,, she led capacity building, fund-raising, and digital redesign efforts at various Bay Area museums. At Stanford University's museum, the Cantor Arts Center, she was a program manager, museum educator, and taught visual literacy seminars at the university. She is based in Albany, Calif.
Zach Franklin, eldest son of Susie and Charly Franklin, is Vice President of Development and Communications for GRID Alternatives, the country’s largest non-profit solar installer. Zach, who has over 15 years experience in fund development and non-profit management, has a degree in Economics and History from Brown University. He makes his home in Berkeley.
Cristine Kolisch is a designer and importer who has been working on projects in the Himalayas for 40 years. She established and continues to provide an educational sponsorship program for Nepalese students, as well as a micro-credit program for village farmer women in Nepal on the Monterey Peninsula for 29 years. She teaches yoga and meditation. She lives in Carmel Valley with her husband, Craig Covell.
Kelly O’Brien, who has been a Carmel Valley resident for the past 30 years, is a Monterey business owner and an environmental journalist. She holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University. O’Brien is president of the Board of Directors of Central Coast Public Radio KUSP 88.9. She produces “Life in the Fast Lane,” a show focusing on technologies that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
Kiran Kamath is an experienced educational administrator and travel industry professional. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Monterey Peninsula College. She has held senior administrative positions such a Senior Dean of Planning and Dean of Career and Technical Education, including serving as director and professor of the Travel Marketing program at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, California. She has taught at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, Canada; Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada; and at Xiamen University in Xiamen, China.. She is passionate about transforming lives through education.
Staff
Sandra Leader / Executive Director, Franklin Legacy Fund
Sandra has been conducting personal growth and development workshops for over 12 years. A freelance writer and editor who has made her home on the Monterey Peninsula for 36 years, she has had a 30-year career in print journalism including working as a copy editor and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and as editor of regional lifestyle magazines. Most recently she has worked in public relations and fund development for non-profits. She is also an artist and a minister.
Sandra has been conducting personal growth and development workshops for over 12 years. A freelance writer and editor who has made her home on the Monterey Peninsula for 36 years, she has had a 30-year career in print journalism including working as a copy editor and writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and as editor of regional lifestyle magazines. Most recently she has worked in public relations and fund development for non-profits. She is also an artist and a minister.
Maren Elwood, an IT professional, website designer and social media professional, ensures that the organization's website and IT are effective, up-to-date and function well. She also works with various grant recipients to ensure their website presence is updated and that social media is utilized effectively to promote and build their organizations. Maren has a Masters in Visual Anthropology, which means she studies cultures through film. She uses her skills as a filmmaker to produce website videos for online use. She currently is a Research Associate at the Center for Visual Anthropology at the University of Southern California.
Founding Member
Susan Rosen / Founding Staff Member
Susan's service as program officer was crucial to the development and effectiveness of our mission. She played a key role in developing the foundation's unique programs of Visioning and Sustainability.
Susan's service as program officer was crucial to the development and effectiveness of our mission. She played a key role in developing the foundation's unique programs of Visioning and Sustainability.