FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 25, 2019
CONTACT: Klie Kliebert, kkliebert@foundationforlouisiana.org; 225-326-7016
New Orleans, LA – Charmel Gaulden, a distinguished lawyer and philanthropic executive with over fifteen years experience in nonprofit administration, has been hired to serve as Foundation for Louisiana’s (FFL) Chief Operating Officer, FFL President and CEO Flozell Daniels, Jr. announced Monday (June 24). Gaulden will serve as the senior-most management officer and will be responsible for ensuring that FFL continues to tackle the issues that most deeply impact communities across Louisiana.
“Foundation for Louisiana is at a critical moment of organizational growth and impact,” Daniels, Jr. said. “We’re excited to welcome Charmel as a known innovator in philanthropy with a deep background in executive nonprofit leadership and human rights strategy.”
Gaulden brings extensive experience to her role as FFL’s COO, having served as Vice President of Public Safety Grants at Baptist Community Ministries, co-chaired the Criminal Justice Action Table of the Greater New Orleans Funders Network (GNOFN), and served as Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Fair Housing Center. Her leadership will guide FFL’s internal and external systems, including operations, human resources, finance, programs, and grants management. At the same time, Gaulden will serve as the primary steward of organizational values and culture – championing FFL’s commitment to justice, excellence, equity, and inclusion.
“I am honored to take on this new role at the Foundation for Louisiana,” Gaulden said. “I am devoted to the Foundation’s demonstrated values and look forward to joining and supporting a team focused on innovating solutions for Louisiana’s most pressing problems while adapting to the dynamic nature of community driven change work.”
Through her years of work in legal advocacy and nonprofit management, Gaulden has demonstrated a commitment to building strong, sustainable programs and organizations. Her commitment and experiences will help FFL support local leadership, remove barriers to equity, and create paths to resources and opportunities for all Louisianans.
Gaulden received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia. Licensed in both Georgia and Louisiana, Gaulden has practiced law in both state and federal courts. She has worked on a wide range of issues affecting Louisiana’s communities, including criminal justice reform, housing access, and public policy.
For more information about FFL’s staff and board, visit www.foundationforlouisiana.org.