The Founder of Philanthropic + Nonprofit Consulting, Anuja works with foundations, donors, affinity groups and nonprofits on a range of critical environmental, gender, racial, social justice, and cross-movement intersectional issues. Through her work, she strives to clarify focus, foster relationships, build capacity, strengthen movements, and leverage resources to create impact. Working on projects in California and nationally, Anuja serves as a strategist, thought-partner, bridge-builder, and facilitator.
For the past 13 years, Anuja has been the Senior Philanthropic Advisor to the Race, Gender and Human Rights Fund, which support efforts that challenge the criminal justice system and mass incarceration in California. She cofounded the California Criminal Justice Funders Group and is a member of the Green Leadership Trust.
Prior to her consulting practice, Anuja worked at the Women's Foundation of California, the Marin Community Foundation, and the San Francisco Foundation, where she spearheaded an environmental health and justice funding initiative. She cofounded the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative and the National Healthy Nail and Beauty Salon Alliance. Anuja served on the funding boards of the Rose Foundation’s Northern California Environmental Grassroots Fund and the Center for Environmental Health’s Justice Fund, and the boards of Women’s Voices for the Earth, the Children’s Toolbox for Environmental Health and the Center for Environmental Health. She is a member of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy and has been on the program committees of Northern California Grantmakers and the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Anuja has an undergraduate degree in environmental sciences from Antioch College and a master’s in environmental studies from York University. She resides in Berkeley, California, loves being outdoors and is a walker of this beautiful earth.
Primary Organizational Affiliation:
Philanthropic + Nonprofit Consulting
My Grantmaking Focus Is On:
My grantmaking and consulting practice centers on advancing justice, people power, and equity, with focus on deep structural changes to the criminal justice system and towards advancing gender justice, environmental health and justice, Indigenous rights and ecological sustainability.
What Drew Me Into HEFN Leadership:
To be in thought partnership and community with strategic, innovative folks committed to advancing environmental justice, health and equity.
I See the HEFN Community Making a Difference:
By centering the disproportionate impacts of toxins and environmental harm on frontline communities, and strategically partnering with, lifting up and backing the vision, work and leadership of Black, Indigenous and communities of color, who at the forefront of key movements for change. And by supporting visionaries efforts that move us to a just transition and the redesign our economy, energy and industrial sectors towards sustainable, non-harmful practices, products, policies, and solutions.
When I'm Not at Work You Might Find Me:
Hiking, exploring, gardening, listening to podcasts (currently loving Sugar Calling, Modern Love and Ear Hustle), swimming, cooking and sharing food, ideas and stories with community.