Dana N. François, Haiti & the Art of Building Systems That Hold
Dana N. François, a Haiti-based Program Officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is a global impact leader whose work bridges philanthropy, investment, and sustainable development at scale. With a focus on systems-level approaches that strengthen food systems, advance biodiversity, and expand economic opportunity, François has helped design initiatives that impact hundreds of thousands of lives. At the heart of her work is a belief that long-term progress depends on institutions, partnerships, and community-led solutions that endure over time.
It is this approach that has earned François recognition as a 2026 Women Impact Awards Honoree, presented by the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance (CariPhil). The Awards will be presented during Future Forward 2026, taking place February 9–12 in Kingston, Jamaica, and honor women whose leadership is shaping more equitable and resilient futures across the Caribbean and its global networks. François’s work exemplifies that vision through its strategic depth, collaborative reach, and sustained focus on Haiti.
Leadership at the Intersection of Philanthropy and Investment
At the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, François stewards a $40 million economic development portfolio that promotes family economic security through sustainable food systems and community-driven approaches.
Her leadership extends well beyond grantmaking into governance and institutional stewardship. François serves as Board Chair of NEID Global, an organization focused on inclusive economic development, and as a Board Member of Root Capital, a social investment fund that supports agricultural enterprises in underserved regions. She is also the first woman President and Chair of the Haiti Biodiversity Fund, a multiyear financing vehicle working to align conservation and livelihoods in Haiti.
Together, these roles position François at the nexus of philanthropy, impact investment, environmental finance, and local enterprise, helping connect capital with community priorities in ways that strengthen ecosystems rather than fragment them.
Haiti as a Core Commitment
Haiti has been a central focus of François’s career, not as a place of episodic intervention, but as a landscape of long-term potential. Her work increasingly reflects a shift in development practice: recognizing that when local leaders and organizations drive solutions, communities can shape their own economic and environmental futures.
One hallmark initiative is the Haiti Food Systems Alliance (HFSA), a coalition convened by Kellogg partners that brings together 14 Haitian businesses and organizations working to strengthen agricultural value chains, increase farmer incomes, and improve nutrition outcomes for vulnerable children and households.
Among the Alliance’s early goals are expanding locally sourced school feeding programs — already benefiting more than 10,000 students — and helping 3,000 additional smallholder farmers increase their incomes through strengthened market linkages and technical support.
These collaborative efforts reflect François’s conviction that sustainable change in Haiti depends on locally rooted, regionally coordinated, and adequately resourced partnerships, instead of short-term projects.
Systems Thinking With a Human Center
François is known for pairing analytical rigor with empathetic leadership. Her work values governance, data, and financial discipline, while remaining grounded in accountability to the communities most affected by development decisions.
She consistently advocates for models that elevate local leadership and support cross-sector collaboration, ensuring capital functions as a tool for community advancement rather than as an external directive. This human-centered approach is especially relevant in Haiti, where nearly half the population works in agriculture and where food insecurity remains pervasive.
Across sectors, her leadership balances technical expertise with cultural sensitivity, moving seamlessly between strategy tables and community partnerships to ensure resources align with local priorities.
Why the Women Impact Awards Matter
The Women Impact Awards were created to spotlight women whose leadership is essential to the Caribbean’s future. By honoring Dana N. François, the Awards affirm the importance of leaders who are willing to invest in the long, often unseen work of strengthening institutions, aligning resources, and sustaining multi-stakeholder partnerships over time.
As a 2026 honoree, François represents a model of leadership rooted in stewardship and depth rather than spectacle. Her work reminds us that durable impact is cumulative, shaped by patience, coordination, and a commitment to long-term resilience, especially in places like Haiti, where economic and environmental challenges demand systemic responses.
Celebrating Leadership That Endures
In recognizing Dana N. François, the Women Impact Awards celebrate a leader whose influence is felt through what she helps build and sustain. Her work in and with Haiti reflects deep respect for local leadership and a belief that resilient futures are designed, governed, and nurtured over time.
As Future Forward 2026 approaches, François’s recognition stands as both celebration and signal: that the Caribbean’s future depends on leaders who understand that meaningful change is not rushed, it’s built with intention, collaboration, and unwavering commitment.
