Today, on the birthday of my dear friend Janine Lee, I’m reflecting on her life and her lasting impact across the nonprofit and philanthropic sector. An inspiring leader in her own right, Janine was a board member at Independent Sector and the president and CEO of IS Member Philanthropy Southeast, as well as a mentor to countless leaders in our sector. She passed away at the end of February.
I first met Janine almost two decades ago, when I was a young program officer at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. She, then a vice president at The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, took the time to meet with me about my community building portfolio. She listened to my thoughts, asked questions, and didn’t rush me. I felt seen.
Janine’s willingness as a senior leader to thoughtfully engage with someone so young and junior left a lasting impression. Over the years, our paths continued to intersect, and I came to see Janine not only as a colleague but also as a mentor and trusted advisor. After I started as Independent Sector’s president and CEO last year, Janine and I would talk weekly about challenges ranging from Black women’s leadership to technical governance.
When I think of Janine, the words that first come to mind are “poised” and “classy.” Her refined presence commanded respect, yet she approached every situation with a warmth and openness that put others at ease. Janine was a cheerleader in high school, and you could see that spirit translate into her work: when you went to her with a challenge, she would hold space for you and then build you back up. Her genuine care for others was evident in every interaction, and she could light up a room with her bright, wide smile.
Janine’s impact on Independent Sector runs incredibly deep. As a board member, she took governance seriously, ensuring that our organization operated under the highest standards and best practices. She knew this was especially important given Independent Sector’s unique role in the sector, and our Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice. Her thoughtful approach to decision-making, and her willingness to challenge the status quo, pushed us to strive for excellence in all that we do. Janine wanted to set me and my organization up for success.
Beyond her role at Independent Sector, Janine’s influence extended far and wide across philanthropy. She had a unique ability to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and to lead in multiracial spaces. She was a mentor to countless leaders in our sector today, and she touched so many with her commitment to growing and nurturing emerging changemakers. I think that’s a huge and unspoken gift.
I hope we can all continue to embody Janine’s legacy of care. She cared deeply about good governance and fiscal health. She cared deeply about the South, and about ensuring voices that are often overlooked are invited in. She cared deeply about being a resource for other leaders, and about developing the leaders coming after her.
At the end of the day, our work in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector is about care. It’s about caring for the people our organizations serve, and it’s about caring for our own workforce. Janine embodied that. When I was 26, Janine treated me with the same love and care as she did when I became president and CEO of Independent Sector. As we remember Janine today, let’s all do our part to continue strengthening our sector by carrying forth Janine’s legacy of caring leadership.
For more tributes to Janine’s life and legacy, read these pieces from Kristen Keely-Dinger of the Philanthropy Southeast Board of Trustees; Susan Taylor Batten of ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities; Fay Twersky of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation; Sarah Mann Willcox of North Carolina Network of Grantmakers; and the Southern Education Foundation.
