A Legacy Built by Women, A Future Powered by Community
This Women’s History Month, Liberty Hill proudly honors the five extraordinary women who have led our foundation across five decades. Each stewarded Liberty Hill through pivotal moments in Los Angeles’ social justice landscape. Their leadership has helped expand our impact, deepen our commitments, and shape the progressive movements that define our region today.
Mary Jo Von Mach (1976–1989): Planting the Seeds of Community Power
As Liberty Hill’s founding executive leader, Mary Jo Von Mach helped lay the groundwork for what would become a “Home for Progressive Philanthropy.” Under her leadership, Liberty Hill launched its first organizer and donor trainings, introduced emergency grants supporting early LGBTQ rights and anti-war activism, and helped incubate the Fund for Santa Barbara and the San Diego Foundation for Change. Her vision expanded Liberty Hill’s regional footprint and seeded early investments in environmental and housing justice, marking the beginning of our legacy as a home for grassroots power.
Michele Prichard (1989–1997): Rising to Meet a Changing City
During a defining era for Los Angeles, Michele Prichard led Liberty Hill as it worked to unite organizers, donors, and community leaders to confront racial and economic injustice—most critically in the aftermath of the 1992 civil unrest. She oversaw the launch of the first Van Tour, a now-beloved Liberty Hill tradition, and helped catalyze statewide and national victories on sweatshop labor, disability rights, reproductive health access, and immigrant worker justice. Michele’s strategic leadership strengthened grantee networks and advanced environmental justice efforts that still define our work today.
Torie Osborn (1997–2007): Growing Movements & Building Collective Power
Torie Osborn’s tenure ushered in a decade of deep organizing investment, progressive coalition-building, and groundbreaking LGBTQ justice work. Under her leadership, Liberty Hill expanded its influence through the Progressive L.A. Conference, launched the Environmental Justice Training Institute, and supported transformative campaigns like the landmark 2006 immigrant rights May Day mobilizations. Torie’s leadership fortified the organizations that now anchor Los Angeles’ progressive political landscape.
Kafi Blumenfield (2007–2013): Strengthening Leaders & Advancing Equity
At a time of economic crisis and rapid change, Kafi Blumenfield streamlined Liberty Hill’s grantmaking and launched the Fund for Change. Under her leadership, the foundation established the Wally Marks Leadership Institute, deepened support for Black-led philanthropy, highlighted environmental disparities in polluted neighborhoods through the Clean Up Green Up initiative, and helped shape the Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition. Kafi’s leadership elevated community voices and expanded Liberty Hill’s role as a hub for leadership development and racial justice philanthropy.
Shane Murphy Goldsmith (2013–Present): A Transformational Era of Justice & Equity
Under Shane’s visionary leadership, Liberty Hill has partnered with frontline organizations to secure historic policy wins including the countywide youth justice transition, city and county oil drilling phase-outs, and major advancements in tenant protections. She spearheaded the launch of the foundation’s Agenda for a Just Future initiative, forged powerful public–private partnerships, expanded support for community efforts like STAND-LA and the Liberation Fund, and oversaw Liberty Hill’s largest-ever investment in grassroots organizing. Today, Liberty Hill stands stronger than ever, driving a bold agenda for racial, gender, environmental, and economic justice.
From Mary Jo’s grassroots beginnings to Shane’s transformative investments in community power building, Liberty Hill’s history has been shaped by women who dared to reimagine what justice could look like in Los Angeles. This Women’s History Month, we celebrate their courage, their leadership, and the generations of activists they’ve empowered.
