Team & Leadership
The Fund’s work is led and supported by a group of passionate, experienced professionals who work at the intersection of food security, philanthropy, and cross-sector collaboration. Guided by a dedicated Fund Manager, an engaged Executive Committee, and an Advisory Board with a wide range of expertise, our lean team is committed to listening, learning, and acting with purpose.
Our Team
Brad Preston | Fund Manager
Brad Preston is a New Jersey native and lifelong learner with a history of leading strategic growth through the creation and expansion of innovative private and public partnerships. Prior to joining the Fund in September 2024, Brad served as Director of Community Impact & Innovation at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, where he led the distribution of $3.1 million in Capacity, Infrastructure, and Innovation Grants to 100 food distribution partners across 15 of New Jersey’s 21 counties.
He previously served as Project Lead for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund and has conducted outreach efforts on behalf of Hunger Free New Jersey. Earlier in his career, Brad practiced estate planning law at two large law firms. From 2012–2019, Brad directed programs for Ice Hockey in Harlem, an athletic and academic enrichment program serving 285 children in Harlem. His experience living and working alongside these families informs his passion for connecting individuals and communities with opportunities, resources, and dignity.
As the New Jersey Food Fund’s manager, Brad oversees the Fund’s strategic vision in alignment with systems-level change; programmatic and learning priorities in support of the sector’s needs; and operational infrastructure to ensure efficient processes that account for the distinct needs of the full range of New Jersey communities.
Grant Navigators
The Grant Navigator program contracts with experienced grant strategists and pairs them with New Jersey nonprofit organizations and coalitions for one calendar year. Navigators provide eight hours per week of one-on-one support to each grantee organization to help them identify and apply for external grants, build internal metrics and systems, and professionalize fundraising strategies.
Davita Louie | Grant Navigator
Davita Louie is a nonprofit consultant and career coach with over a decade of experience supporting mission-driven organizations. She has extensive experience in fundraising, development strategy, and stakeholder engagement, and has led efforts across individual giving, institutional fundraising, government grants, and strategic communications. Davita has served in leadership roles at national and local nonprofits, where she built and managed teams, secured millions in funding, and developed community engagement strategies to drive impact.
She brings a deep understanding of nonprofit operations, board relations, and cross-sector collaboration, shaped by her work in both programmatic and external relations roles. In addition to her consulting work, she supports professionals navigating career transitions and leadership challenges, drawing on her background in hiring, workforce development, and executive coaching.
Sara Ashe | Grant Navigator
Sara Ashe is a nonprofit advocate and seasoned grant writing and administration expert with over 20 years in the nonprofit sector and a decade dedicated to grant development. As the founder of It’ll Be Write, LLC, she partners with nonprofits to craft compelling grant narratives and strategic funding solutions that drive impactful change. Sara excels in identifying funding opportunities, writing persuasive proposals, managing complex grant compliance, and developing sustainable financial strategies tailored to each organization’s unique mission.
Her career includes significant leadership roles, such as Chief Operating Officer at Seed St. Louis, where she advanced community-driven urban agriculture, and Director of Operations at the Center for Survivors of Torture and War Trauma, providing culturally sensitive support to refugee and immigrant communities. Sara holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from Webster University and combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, guiding organizations through the complex funding landscape with clarity and confidence. She is passionate about helping nonprofits secure crucial resources to sustain and grow their missions.
Marsha Marshall | Grant Navigator
Dr. Marsha L. Marshall is a business owner and public health professional with over 16 years of experience in health promotion and more than a decade in nonprofit development, grant writing, and grants management. As Senior Consultant of M&M Nonprofit Consulting, she has secured over $4.8 million in grant funding from local foundations and federal agencies, including HUD, the Dept. of Transportation, and the CDC—often through customized prospecting strategies aligned with clients’ missions and needs. Dr. Marshall also teaches courses on grant writing and readiness and has served as a guest lecturer for Georgia College and State University’s Master of Public Administration program. Her signature course, Ready, Set, Grant$, helped a new nonprofit secure a $400,000 grant in its first year.
Her professional and personal commitment to food justice is rooted in experience—having evaluated Georgia SNAP-Ed programs and a Decatur-based pantry, and growing up in a food desert reliant on SNAP and food bank support. A 2023 Georgia Southern 40 Under 40 honoree and 2025 Houston County Woman of Achievement nominee, Dr. Marshall is a proud wife, mom of two, soccer and dance mom, and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Tonya Raines | Grant Navigator
Tonya Raines is an accomplished grant strategist and fundraising consultant with more than 15 years of experience securing transformative funding for nonprofit and public sector organizations. She brings a deep commitment to addressing food insecurity and equity through sustainable funding models.
Previously, she served as Grant Strategies & Compliance Director at United Way of Greater St. Louis, where she led grant fundraising efforts totaling $4 million to support regional priorities such as housing, food access, and education. Her background also includes directing Raines & Associates, LLC, where she secured over $10 million in grant funding and advised leaders on strategy, evaluation, and compliance. Tonya’s career began in housing and workforce development, providing her with a cross-sector lens that informs her current work.
She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and is a member of the Grant Professionals Association. Tonya is passionate about using funding as a tool for systemic change and community empowerment, aligning every effort with mission, metrics, and long-term impact.
Executive Committee
Our Executive Committee guides the Fund’s strategic direction, grantmaking priorities, and overall vision in close collaboration with the Fund Manager and partners.
Rose Rodriguez
Portfolio Manager for New Jersey
The Tepper Foundation
Jemmell'z Washington-Rock
Program Manager
New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate
Kate Masuch
Director | Corporate Sustainability & Social Impact
Novo Nordisk
Mark Dinglasan
Executive Director
New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board weighs in on the Fund’s overall strategy and grantmaking, participates in learning opportunities, and contributes unique perspectives.
