The leaders who started—and support—it all.
In 1986, Mary Jo Pulte gathered a group of 30 Michigan women to discuss philanthropy and the imbalance in donations to women’s programs. At that time, only 3% of philanthropic dollars went to programs for women and girls in the United States.
Empowered to change that statistic, the women founded Michigan Women Forward, formerly known as Michigan Women’s Foundation: the only public, statewide foundation devoted to the economic and personal well-being of Michigan women and girls.
MWF is a certified community development financial institution (CDFI) whose mission is to expand economic opportunity for women and entrepreneurs of color, empower the next generation, and celebrate and honor the accomplishments of Michigan women.
Each year, thousands of individuals, families, corporations and foundations generously donate both time and money to support MWF’s programs that provide opportunity for Michigan women to succeed.
View our 2021 Impact Report
View our 2020 Impact Report
View our 2019 Impact Report
Michigan Women Forward Team
Detroit Office
Kenneth Anene, Loan Portfolio Manager, 313.771.3513
Allyson Boyle, Chief Financial Officer, 313.771.3523
Carolyn Cassin, President & CEO, 313.771.3512
Kelly Daniels, Accountant
Alexis Dishman, Chief Lending Officer, 313.771.3524
Andrea Davis, Accountant, 313.771.3519
Tanesia Greer, Neighborhood Resource and Intake Coordinator, 313.771.3514
Ben Jirik, Loan Officer, 313.771.3522
Jennifer Moon, Loan Officer, 313.962.1920
Ann Parnis, Executive Assistant | Office Manager, 313.771.3516
Mayra Villareal-Martinez, Technical Assistance Business Consultant, 313.771.3517
Grand Rapids Office
Elly Drain, Program Reporting & Events Manager, 616.765.4515
Natalie Hall, Chief Development and Program Officer, 616.649.2322
Rachel Humphreys, West Michigan Development Director, 616.765.4224
Ana Jose, Director of Business Development, 616.903.4196
Therese Schneider, Development & Program Coordinator, 616.765.4230
Port Huron Office
Maggie Toole, Business Development Officer, 810.941.4030
Michigan Women Forward Board of Trustees
OFFICERS
Chair: Regine Beauboeuf, HNTB Corporation
Vice Chair: Kelly Springer, Metal Flow
Treasurer: Tonya Wells, Turning Point
Secretary: Dawn Tylkowski, Huntington National Bank
President & CEO: Carolyn Cassin, Michigan Women Forward
TRUSTEES
Tiffany Albert, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Teresa A. Bingman, Law Offices of Teresa A. Bingman
Stephanie Burnley, Devon Industrial Group, LLC
Denise Christy
Sarah Earley
Jessica Hayes-Stallings, Skinphorea Facial Bar
Julie Hegedus, Consumers Energy
Kim Kersten, Comerica Bank
Alyse Martinelli, Jack Entertainment
Kerri Miller, Fishbeck
Nancy Moody
Kimle Nailer, Nail-Rite Construction, Inc.
Stephanie Naito, Meijer
Denise Quarles
Eleanor Walker, Henry Ford Health Systems