A Legacy of Leadership: Honoring Karen Grove’s Board Service
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This summer marks the close of a meaningful chapter at Groundswell Fund as we celebrate and honor Karen Grove’s board service. Since joining the board in 2019, Karen has brought clarity, humility, and a deep commitment to Groundswell’s mission of advancing reproductive and gender justice by resourcing women, trans, and gender-expansive leaders of color.
“I first got involved with abortion rights I realized that for an affluent white women like me, threats to the right to abortion was the greatest oppression I faced and I was indignant! At the same time, I realized that many other people experience oppression in far more daily and significant ways. That was my first “aha!” towards understanding intersectional oppression and the power of fighting for intersectional justice.”
Karen’s involvement with Groundswell began well before her board tenure. As a longtime donor for over a decade, she was drawn to Groundswell’s unique ability to foster honest and collaborative relationships between funders and grassroots organizations.
What stood out to her—then and now—was that Groundswell didn’t stage flashy presentations or overly polished pitches just to impress funders. Instead, staff facilitated real conversations. Space was created for sincere dialogue, political learning, and trust-building that pushed the philanthropic sector to evolve.
Karen’s journey into philanthropy was shaped by both personal and political transformation. Her early activism and giving centered around reproductive rights, but over time, she began listening more closely to organizers, especially those whose identities and experiences were different from her own.
As she deepened her engagement with movements led by women, trans, and gender-expansive people of color, her political analysis sharpened, and so did her giving. She didn’t just support grassroots organizing—she became a vocal advocate for ensuring that movements had access to every tool available to them, including 501(c)(4) resources for policy and electoral engagement.
“People with wealth are told to diversify their stock portfolios—but when it comes to giving, they don’t. If you’re only funding white-led orgs or only giving to C3s, that’s not a diverse investment. Groundswell over-invests in people who’ve been left out—women of color, disabled people, trans folks, immigrants—and they do the due diligence so I don’t have to. That’s the kind of portfolio I want to be part of.”
Karen (L) with her mother, Eva.
It’s no surprise, then, that Karen is not only a donor to Groundswell Fund, but also to Groundswell Action Fund. Her mother, Eva Grove, was the founding donor of the Action Fund, helping seed a powerful legacy of intergenerational giving committed to justice. Together, they understood that real change requires strategic investment in both long-term community power and the structures that shape public policy.
Karen’s leadership on the board came at a pivotal time. When Groundswell underwent a major leadership transition, Karen stepped up, not with a desire to control the process, but with a willingness to support it.
She brought a spirit of steady stewardship, showing up in the ways the organization most needed: tending to bylaws, organizing meetings, holding institutional memory, and creating space for staff and new leaders to lead. Her approach was thoughtful and grounded, rooted in deep respect for the organization and the communities it serves.
That same clarity and intentionality extends to how Karen shows up as a donor. Karen doesn’t shy away from the complexities of inherited wealth—she meets them head-on. When asked what advice she has for donors considering bold or unrestricted giving, she offers both a moral challenge and a practical framework. For her, the real legacy isn’t just financial, it’s political.
“You don’t need to leave as much money for your children’s safety if you are helping build a safer world. That’s the key. A lot of people hold onto wealth for their families, and that feels honorable, but what’s even more honorable is leaving behind a livable climate and a government that will support them.”
In every role she has played—as a donor, a board member, and a political accomplice—Karen has challenged philanthropy to be bolder, more self-aware, and more accountable. She understands that holding wealth comes with responsibility, and she’s never shied away from asking hard questions: How much is enough? What are we really building toward? What does it mean to use our resources in service of collective liberation?
Karen Grove’s board service has been nothing short of transformative. She brought not only her deep commitment to justice, but also the kind of clear-eyed leadership that grounds an organization through change. Karen showed up with humility, rigor, and heart, always centering the needs of our staff, our grantees, and our movements. We are profoundly grateful for her years of service and for the example she’s set for what values-aligned philanthropy can look like.Yamani Yansá Hernandez Groundswell CEO
Karen leaves Groundswell’s board at a moment of evolution and possibility. The board is now fully staffed, the organization is engaged in bold strategic conversations, and the foundation laid by leaders like Karen ensures we are prepared for what’s next. While we will miss her leadership on the board, we know her commitment to justice will continue to ripple outward in her giving, advocacy, and the example she’s set for others.
“What Groundswell offers isn’t charity. It’s solidarity, it’s movement infrastructure, and it’s strategy for the long haul. And I feel so lucky having played a role in that.”
We are deeply grateful for Karen’s years of service and solidarity. Her legacy is not only in what she gave, but in how she gave: with clarity, courage, and deep alignment. We look forward to building on that legacy in the years to come.
