Ashley B. Berendt
Vice President
Ashley B. Berendt, Vice President, joined TDC in 2013. She specializes in the design, management, and implementation of complex, multi-year philanthropic initiatives and planning projects. She works with public and private partners to analyze funding ecologies, identify organizational capacity challenges and opportunities, and create sound philanthropic programs with realistic outcomes. In addition, Ashley supports individual nonprofits with research and analysis; board and organizational assessment; strategy coaching; and process facilitation. With over fifteen years of experience in nonprofit, foundation, and research organizations, Ashley brings multiple perspectives from across the sector to her work with clients, a love for systems analysis, and a personal commitment to advancing equity and justice.
Prior to joining TDC, Ashley managed funder collaboratives and project implementation in New England for the Cultural Data Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts (now DataArts at SMU). She collaborated on DAFs and philanthropic initiatives at Tides Foundation in San Francisco; led research at the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University; and supported public opinion research at Peter D. Hart Research Associates in Washington, D.C.. Ashley began her career at the statewide organization, California FarmLink, where she managed small business development programs and designed a revolving loan fund for low- to middle-income farmers. Ashley holds a BA in religion and sociology from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School, where she studied the intersection of ethics, politics, and civil society.
Why TDC?
“In my work at TDC, I support leaders in moving from identifying challenges, through analysis and reflection, to action and making change. I have the privilege to lead with listening, build trust and relationships, and work through complex questions collaboratively. Every day at TDC, I am humbled by my clients’ passion, expertise, and ambitions, and am motivated to do better by our joint discoveries.”