The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Dan Fatton as our new Board Chair and Anisa Kamadoli Costa as Board Vice Chair. Dan and Anisa have served as Dodge Foundation trustees for 7 years, and both bring deep commitment to the Foundation’s mission of building a just and equitable New Jersey.
The Dodge Foundation’s goal is to close the racial wealth gap in New Jersey, focusing primarily on two strategies that are important levers to achieve that goal: Housing Choice, which works to expand access to safe, affordable housing and homeownership, and Economic Mobility, which invests in the training, credentials, and financial tools that help New Jerseyans build income and savings over time. Strong board leadership is central to carrying this work forward, including deepening our investment strategy and expanding partnerships across the state.
“As we look ahead, I can think of no better leaders to help guide the Foundation into our next chapter than Dan Fatton and Anisa Kamadoli Costa,” said Samra Haider, President & CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. “Dan brings a deep, on-the-ground understanding of New Jersey’s communities and the policy levers that shape them, and Anisa brings a rare combination of institutional rigor and sustained commitment to community-centered solutions. Together, they understand what it takes to close the racial wealth gap in this state.”
Dan Fatton has dedicated his career to advancing community development, equity, and sustainability in New Jersey. He currently serves as Director of Clean Energy at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), where he works to expand clean energy access and opportunity across the state. Previously, Dan served as New Jersey State Director for the Energy Foundation, and as Executive Director of the New Jersey Work Environment Council, where he co-founded the Jersey Renews coalition to fight for climate action. A long-time Trenton community leader, Dan holds a master’s degree in City and Regional Planning from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. He is a 2012 Lead New Jersey Fellow, a current Board Member of the Princeton Community Area Foundation, and has served on the boards of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, New Jersey Policy Perspective, I Am Trenton Community Foundation, and others.
“I am deeply honored to step into this role at a pivotal moment for the Foundation and for New Jersey,” said Fatton. “The racial wealth gap in our state is a well-documented reality for far too many families and communities. I am energized by the work the Dodge Foundation is doing to help more New Jerseyans access economic security, housing, and opportunity.”
Anisa Kamadoli Costa is a globally recognized leader in philanthropy and sustainability. She currently serves as President and Trustee of the Rivian Foundation and as Chief Sustainability Officer at Rivian. Prior to that, she spent nearly two decades at Tiffany & Co., where she served as the company’s first-ever Chief Sustainability Officer and as Chairman and President of the Tiffany & Co. Foundation. Her board service spans private, family, and corporate foundations as well as nonprofit organizations, including Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Kering Foundation in the Americas, Friends of the High Line, and Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where she also earned her Master of International Affairs. She also holds a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College at Columbia University.
“Solving wide-spread systemic challenges requires sustained, strategic investment in community-rooted solutions, and the Dodge Foundation is doing exactly that,” said Kamadoli Costa. “I am so proud to take on this leadership role and to deepen my partnership with the board and empower the staff to continue to expand what’s possible for resilient communities that have for too long been locked out of the promise of prosperity.”
The Foundation extends our heartfelt appreciation to Barbara Moran and Mark Grier, who served as Board Chair and Board Vice Chair respectively over the past year. Barbara, a lifelong champion for social justice, the arts, and the communities of New Jersey, and Mark, an expert in finance, impact investing, and institutional leadership, have led the board with wisdom, care, and an unwavering commitment to equity. We are grateful for their steady and visionary leadership, and are thrilled that they will continue to serve as trustees.