James (he/him) has been excited about community-led grantmaking and trust-based giving since participating in a youth-directed grantmaking initiative at age 17.

After a brief detour to study plant biology, ecosystem science, and geography in college, he came to Headwaters in 2022 as a Giving Project participant. Through the program, he learned about donor organizing and experienced firsthand the power of giving circles fueled by honest, relationship-deepening conversations about money.

Following the Giving Project, James began his first role in nonprofit development and communications at the Legal Rights Center where he is focused on building support for the organization - financially, through fundraising and donor organizing, and digitally, through narrative campaigns and storytelling.

Outside of work, you can find James walking around one of the lakes in Minneapolis (seven times out of ten at Bde Maka Ska) and cooking up meals to share with friends in his tiny but mighty kitchen.