We’re thrilled to welcome three exceptional leaders to our Board of Directors, joining our dedicated team of visionaries who champion our values of equity, listening, and impact. These new members were selected through an open call earlier this year—inviting applicants from all backgrounds who share our commitment to centering feedback in decision-making. The response was inspiring, with leaders bringing forward innovative ideas, lived experience, and a shared dedication to strengthening communities.
Each of our new board members brings distinct strengths—spanning strategic systems-building, community engagement, philanthropic innovation, and inclusive leadership in complex environments. Their perspectives and lived experiences will play a vital role as we bring our three-year strategic plan to life, enhancing how we train, equip, and support organizations to center feedback in their work.
Meet the Board
John Ferguson
Director of Member Programs
Indiana Philanthropy Alliance
Term Begins July 2025
John develops and directs a comprehensive offering of IPA’s education, networking, and collaboration programming, including biennial conference, regional forums, peer communities, skill-building workshops and webinars, and cross-sector issue collaboratives. Additionally, he is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.
Prior to joining IPA, John was a Fellow at The Patterson Foundation (TPF) based in Sarasota, FL. His dynamic fellowship consisted of collaborating within and/or managing multiple special projects across several different initiatives to provide strategic value and further innovation. His primary roles included serving as manager of the Digital Access for All initiative and being intimately involved with the creation of multiple offerings within TPF’s Nonprofit Thrivability initiative.
Previously, he spent three years with Indiana United Ways in a variety of roles dedicated to supporting all local United Ways throughout Indiana. Prior to that, John was in hospitality for more than 18 years in a myriad of roles, including trainer and manager. He is passionate about helping people and organizations thrive.
John received his degree in Philanthropic Studies from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the world’s first school dedicated solely to the study and teaching of philanthropy. He was named Chancellor’s Scholar for his graduating class and proudly served as chair of the Alumni Association’s board of directors.
Laura Maher
Chief of Staff
Siegel Family Endowment
Term Begins July 2025
Laura Maher is Chief of Staff at Siegel Family Endowment, a foundation focused on understanding and shaping the impact of technology on society through investments in infrastructure, learning, and workforce. She leads the endowment’s communications and builds partnerships to help align technologies with the social challenges they’re meant to solve. Her previous work and research focused on the use of technology to improve global economic development, with work at the United Nations, Brookings Institution, World Bank, and global nonprofits. She holds Masters’ degrees from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame.
Marvin Vilma
Founder and CEO
Bevy Studio
Term Begins January 2026
Marvin Vilma is a social impact strategist and teacher committed to advancing justice and equity. He is the Founder and CEO of Bevy Studio, an innovation and venture studio that helps K–12 education organizations build solutions that strengthen their capacity for intrapreneurial innovation and systems change. Guided by values of Community, Curiosity, and Equity, Marvin brings a human-centered approach to his work—designing strategies that uplift the voices of those closest to the challenge. He is completing an MBA and MS in Digital Technology from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, and holds a master’s in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania. A proud Queens, NY native and first-generation college graduate, Marvin is also a committed screen aficionado who believes stories—on screen and in real life—can spark inspiration.
We’re honored to welcome John, Laura, and Marvin to our Board of Directors. Their leadership, expertise, and vision will help guide us into our next chapter—deepening our impact, expanding our reach, and ensuring feedback is at the heart of how decisions are made. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.
