Established in 2023 to continue the philanthropic tradition established by David and Connie Donovan, we focus on grantmaking to projects and organizations that work to eliminate poverty. Our grantmaking is focused in Michigan, Washington, and New York.
Board of Directors
David Donovan, co-founder
David is a retired management consultant and active community volunteer. After retiring from the management consulting company he co-founded, which specialized in regulated utility management, he consulted independently with technology start-up companies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare organizations and universities. His consulting work has focused on strategic planning and organizational development. He has a BS degree in Economics from Western Michigan University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
David developed a passion for volunteerism while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Northeastern Brazil from 1971 to 1975. He has served on a variety of corporate and nonprofit governing boards, including the Food Bank Council of Michigan. Food banking has been a particular passion of his ever since he first began to volunteer with the Mid-Michigan Food Bank over thirty years ago. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs, Michigan.
Connie Donovan, co-founder
Connie is a retired education administrator, having worked for many years in the Wisconsin, California and Michigan public school systems. She has been a college counselor, a high school swimming coach and dance instructor, an education curriculum planner and a teacher training coordinator. For several years she also worked as Human Resources Director for a family-run business in Lansing. She has a BS degree in Physical Education and Dance from Western Michigan University and an MA in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin.
Most recently Connie has been an active volunteer, donor, and board member with many local, state and national nonprofit organizations. She has been particularly passionate about her work with the Red Cross and the American Cancer Society and is a big supporter of organizations that promote healthy families, such as the Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan and the Christ Child Society of Northern Michigan.
Colleen Donovan, Executive Director
Colleen Donovan is an economist and founder of Donovan Economics. For more than 15 years, she has been helping companies analyze their data and present their most compelling economic narratives. Before starting her own consulting firm, she spent several years at Charles River Associates and then went on to lead a team of scientists at Amazon as Director of Economics. She has worked across a range of industries from retail and technology to banking and finance. She holds a PhD in Economics from UC Berkeley and a BA in Economics from the University of Florida.
As Executive Director of the Donovan Family Foundation, Colleen is passionate about supporting the most promising interventions to help bring families out of cycles of poverty, including programs that give flexible funding to families during their most vulnerable times. She is based in Bellevue, Washington.
Joseph Donovan, Co-Director
Joseph Donovan is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and founder of Donovan Healthcare, PLLC. For over 15 years, Joseph has worked in underserved communities in and around New York City, treating some of New York’s most vulnerable populations, including undomiciled individuals, veterans, the formerly incarcerated, impoverished youth, and the elderly. He has worked in numerous inpatient and outpatient facilities, providing medication management and group and individual psychotherapy. Prior to starting his own Medicare-based practice in Manhattan, Joseph worked for several years with OnTrackNY, providing comprehensive psychiatric services to young adults and teens experiencing a first episode of psychosis, regardless of their ability to pay for treatment. Joseph has also worked extensively in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, and his current practice focuses on the treatment of cognitive impairment in the elderly. Joseph holds a doctorate in psychiatric nursing practice from Columbia University and a BA from the University of Michigan.
As co-director of the Donovan Family Foundation, Joseph brings to bear his extensive experience working with impoverished individuals and those struggling with severe mental illness. Joseph is interested in innovative and sustainable approaches to mental health care focused on improving quality of life for patients and their families. He is based in New York City.