Elizabeth Powley

Elizabeth Powley

Elizabeth oversees grants processes, systems, and data at the Foundation, ensuring the highest quality of grants administration across all of the Foundation’s programs. She leads the team responsible for efficient and effective grant operations that advance the Foundation’s strategy and impact.

She joined the Foundation in 2017, bringing 20 years of experience in the philanthropic and non-profit sectors to MacArthur’s newly centralized Grants Management department. Most recently, Elizabeth was the executive director of Heartland Alliance International, where she also served as a vice president of Heartland Alliance. Before that, Elizabeth worked with a variety of organizations on issues of post-conflict development and women’s political participation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Elizabeth earned a Master of Arts in International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University in Washington, DC, and a Bachelor of Arts in history from Grinnell College in Iowa.

She is the recipient of fellowships with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Truman National Security Project.