April 25, 2022 Press Releases
Community Foundation Welcomes Joanna S. Ballantine as Vice President for Philanthropic Services
Springfield, MA—The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is pleased to announce the appointment of Joanna S. Ballantine as its new vice president for Philanthropic Services. Ballantine will lead and oversee the Foundation’s philanthropic and development strategies, marketing and communications, and contribute to the stewardship of the Foundation’s strategic priorities – advancing charitable giving, diversity, equity and inclusion, post-secondary education and training, and support for the vibrant local arts and creativity ecosystem across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.
Ballantine joins the Foundation after serving at The Davis Financial Group as a financial planner and advisor. She has held multiple nonprofit leadership positions in the past including vice president for the Western Region at The Trustees where she provided executive and strategic leadership for the largest conservation and preservation organization in Massachusetts. For over a decade, she served as executive director for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation during a period of tremendous growth and innovation in its grantmaking programs and flagship initiatives.
According to Katie Allan Zobel, president and CEO, “We are very pleased to welcome Joanna to our leadership team. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a legacy of championing change and growth,” said Zobel. “She has a strong passion for serving her community and a visionary approach to philanthropic planning, strategic development, and team management, making her a valuable new member to the Foundation.”
An Amherst resident, Ballantine volunteers for a number of local community organizations including the Women’s Fund of Western MA, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Kestrel Land Trust, The Trustees, and on the national board of 18Doors. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College, Master of Arts in Jewish Studies from Baltimore Hebrew University, and Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland.
In addition to this new appointment, the Foundation has welcomed in recent months Murielle Gatewood as program officer for Post-secondary Education and Nancy LaFlamme as accountant. Gatewood joined the Foundation in January. She is responsible for the administration and implementation of education and workforce development programs. Gatewood will also focus significantly on the Foundation’s scholarship and interest-free education loan programs. In past work, Murielle served as the assistant director of the Springfield College AmeriCorps program. She received her Master of Science in Human Services and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
Nancy LaFlamme also joined the Foundation in January. She is responsible for assisting the Finance team with investment and operational activity and for enhancing the administrative and strategic workflows. In past work, she served as director of Finance for Unemployment Tax Control Associates, and she brings over 8 years of investment accounting experience with MassMutual Life Insurance. LaFlamme received her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Western New England University.
Founded in 1991, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts seeks to enrich the quality of life for the people of our region. With assets totaling $250 million, CFWM serves the three counties along the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties) by serving as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities. To learn more, visit http://communityfoundation.org/.