The Golden LEAF Foundation recently welcomed two new staff members, Brynn Fann and Heather Cavanaugh Sains.
“We are excited to announce two new Program Officers to help carry out the mission of the Foundation,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer, Scott T. Hamilton. “Brynn and Heather’s skills and expertise will be a great addition to our hardworking team of dedicated professionals.”
Program Officers work to conduct due diligence review of applications, develop recommendations, and monitor the implementation of projects.
Fann joined Golden LEAF on June 1 as a Program Officer primarily focused on disaster recovery projects. Before joining the Foundation, Fann served as a program coordinator for a statewide nonprofit. In his previous role, Fann provided technical assistance and resources for program implementation to nonprofits and governmental entities.
Fann was born and raised in rural North Carolina and now lives in Raleigh with his wife, Madison, and their dog, Renny. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminology in 2016 at N.C. State University and received a Master’s in Public Administration from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020.
Sains joined Golden LEAF on July 1 as a Program Officer primarily focused on infrastructure, healthcare, and workforce development projects. Before joining Golden LEAF, she has held various program management roles in nonprofit, academic, and governmental institutions in the Carolinas and beyond with a focus in grants and financial management. Most recently Sains worked with Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration projects in southwest Florida.
Born and raised in Michigan, Sains found her way to North Carolina for college. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, she raised her family in western North Carolina. She looks forward to making eastern North Carolina home.
For more information about Golden LEAF’s Board and staff, visit https://goldenleaffoun.wpengine.com/staff-board/.