Kate most recently served as director of development and communications for The Bridge for Youth. Prior to that, she supported the political development of youth as the development director at Mikva Challenge in Chicago (where she tripled the organization’s income in just three years) and as the LGBT community coordinator at Oberlin College’s Multicultural Resource Center. In that role, Kate developed educational series’ on transgender and LGBT communities of color that continue to be used as models by centers nationally.
While in Chicago, Kate was active in organizing and fundraising, and continued her work consulting with sexual assault organizations and battered women’s shelters on increasing their accessibility to transgender survivors. Since moving to Minnesota two years ago, Kate has focused her volunteer time on working with TYSN and learning her new community.
Raised in Concord, New Hampshire, she has a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College. Kate and her partner, Myrl Beam, live in south Minneapolis and raise three cats.
Susan Raffo Executive Director
Susan has worked in a consulting capacity as a fundraiser, writer, social justice and organizational trainer. She has provided coaching to multiple small organizations on strategic planning, mission shift and organizational development. Some of the organizations she has worked for include the Trans Youth Support Network (TYSN), District 202, aMaze, Sobriety High Foundation, PFund and Project 515. During the 1990s, Susan worked as the Managing Editor for Evergreen Chronicles, the Upper Midwest’s journal of GLBT Arts and Culture.
Susan has deep connections within local and national LGBT and social justice communities. Her trainings have focused on racial and economic justice and their connection to LGBT communities. Susan and Kate have also presented workshops, with David Nicholson from Headwaters Foundation, on new approaches to fundraising for grassroots organizations. Susan is a published writer and blogs with the Bilerico Project and BlogHer.
Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Susan and and her partner, Raquel (Rocki) Simões raise their daughter, Luca, in south Minneapolis.
Lois Epstein Accountant
With a wide range of professional accounting experience, Lois Epstein serves as the trusted accountant for PFund and a number of other Twin Cities-based nonprofit organizations including the Minnesota Council on Economic Education and Kingfield Neighborhood Association.
Ryan Kroening Events and Outreach Coordinator
Ryan, a 2009 graduate of the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, earned a Bachelor of Individualized Studies in cultural anthropology, design & family social science, along with a minor in GLBT studies. During his years at the U of M, he served as the event coordinator for the Queer Student Cultural Center, was an active member of the Midwest BLGTA College Conference planning committee in 2007, a co-chair of the Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference in 2007, and has served on the board of the MN GLBTA Campus Alliance. Ryan also worked as a peer advisor in the Honors College of Liberal Arts for four years.
Ryan, an active volunteer with PFund since 2007, joined the staff in July 2010. Ryan served on the host committee for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change conference, and is currently a trainer with the Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance Education Committee. He also plays French horn and serves as a member-at-large and membership coordinator with the Calhoun Isles Community Band. Originally from a small-town in north-western Wisconsin, Ryan currently resides in Northeast Minneapolis.
Alfonso Wenker Director of Communications and Development
Alfonso graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 2009, studying justice & peace and public relations. Alfonso served as the 2006 – 2007 board co-chair for the Minnesota GLBTA Campus Alliance and the 2006 Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference.
Previous to PFund, Alfonso worked for OutFront Minnesota as a development intern and the University of St. Thomas Residence Life Office as an apartment coordinator and office assistant. Born and raised in St. Paul, Alfonso has been active in the community for several years volunteering with OutFront Minnesota, Rainbow Families, Clare Housing, Minnesota AIDS Project, 2007 Red Ribbon Ride, and the 2007 Midwest BLGTA College Conference.
Kayva Yang Program Officer
Kayva most recently worked as Gender & Justice Manager at CAPI, a refugee and immigrant community organization, where she managed a grassroots gender equity coalition and internal efforts to build social justice capacity. Prior to this, she helped to manage National Gender & Equity Campaign, a demonstration project of AAPIP (Asian Americans/ Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy) and Funders’ Collaborative for Strong Latino Communities spearheaded by Hispanics in Philanthropy. Both initiatives aimed to strengthen local community infrastructure and support grassroots organizations by mobilizing community and philanthropic resources. Kayva also worked at the Otto Bremer Foundation and Loft Literary Center on donor related activities.
Kayva also spends time growing as an artist nurtured by Ananya Dance Theatre, Aniccha Arts and Mu Performing Arts. She formerly served on the PFund Board and Women’s Foundation Social Change Fund. Kayva earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota. She lives, plays, creates and generally rocks-out in Minneapolis.
