Foundation adds Nicole de Beaufort to the staff; and promotes Sarah Truax, Marissa Rossman, Kate Partington, Kari Pardoe, and Eric Phamdo

Detroit, MI – (April 4, 2025) – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is pleased to announce a series of staff promotions and a key new addition to its leadership team. Marissa Rossman and Kate Partington have been promoted to Program Officers, while Kari Pardoe and Eric Phamdo have advanced to Senior Program Officers. Sarah Truax has stepped into the role of Learning Manager. Additionally, the Foundation welcomes Nicole de Beaufort as Senior Director of Communications and Learning.

As the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation reaches the midpoint of its spend-down timeline, the need for enhanced communications and deeper learning has become increasingly important. In an exciting advancement in strategy, the communications and learning teams have joined forces into one unified department aimed at enhancing storytelling and providing crucial resources to grantee partners that will help advance and extend the work of the Foundation. Nicole de Beaufort, with her deep expertise in philanthropy, communications, and learning, is a uniquely skilled leader that will guide the bespoke department. Her background in consulting and strategic storytelling will be key in helping the Foundation share powerful stories of the communities they support and advance their mission in the most meaningful way.

“We recognized early on how important communications and learning would be to our work. Over the past 10 years, we’ve learned that they achieve their greatest impact when working together as one team,” said David Egner, President & CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation. “Bringing on a Senior Director of Learning and Communications at this pivotal moment, approaching the halfway point of our foundation’s lifespan, is a strategic decision. Our staff faces the unique challenge of keeping our eventual exit in mind as we move forward. By merging these two departments, we’re excited about the opportunity to coordinate storytelling, enhance transparency, and streamline information sharing in a unified, cohesive way.”

Sarah Truax joined the Foundation in 2022 as a Council of Michigan Foundations fellow, later serving as a Learning Associate. She now takes on the role of Learning Manager. Kate Partington joined the Foundation in 2022 as a Program Associate and has been promoted to Program Officer. Marissa Rossman joined in 2021 and has been elevated to Program Officer. Kari Pardoe has also been with the Foundation since 2021 and has been promoted to Senior Program Officer. Eric Phamdo joined the Foundation in 2020 and now steps into the role of Senior Program Officer.

The Foundation congratulates all newly promoted staff members and welcomes Nicole de Beaufort to the team. These strategic shifts will further support the Foundation’s mission to make lasting and meaningful contributions to the communities it serves.