Who We Are
We bring deep expertise in the arts, conservation, and education and equity – and apply it to help our clients accelerate into becoming more capable, confident fundraisers, powerful legacy creators, and transformers of communities and systems.
Our Vision
Helping every philanthropist and nonprofit connect deeply and more impactfully with the causes and communities most important to them through expert counsel and execution.
Justice & Equity
We seek to partner with those who challenge the systemic economic, social, and political conditions that undermine the true expression of human agency, equality of experience, and justice.
Conservation
We believe that the love we have for the place we call home must start with a deeper understanding of our role in and impact on the natural world. We believe in the collective human responsibility to protect and conserve the foundations of the natural world — both for ourselves and future generations.
Arts & Culture
We believe culture is an essential building block of our humanity and shared reality. It’s the well from which we derive our inspiration and our compassion. It allows us to construct powerful experiences, meaning, and understanding — together.
Education
We believe that lifelong access to personal development, growth, and learning are the foundation of human agency and dignity. We also believe that learning is not just about education and human development, it is about justice.
Meet The Team
Djassi DaCosta Johnson
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT + CREATIVE CONSULTANT
Djassi DaCosta Johnson joined Russell Philanthropies as an Executive Assistant and creative contractor in 2024, drawn by the firm’s commitment to influencing equity in the arts, culture and environmental causes – particularly at this crucial moment in time.
Dustin Carpenter
CONSULTANT
Dustin is a Consultant at Russell Philanthropies. He is passionate about driving systems change to create greater impact in fundraising, governance, and leadership.
Evelyn Chen
PARTNER
Evelyn Chen is a Partner at Russell Philanthropies with over 20 years of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and nonprofit leadership. She has helped scale mission-driven organizations, leading major growth initiatives at Per Scholas, Equality Now, and The Nature Conservancy.
Marcia Lynn Sells
CO-PRESIDENT
Marcia is Co-President at Russell Philanthropies. Her extraordinary and uniquely wide-ranging experience is built around education, public service, belonging, and inclusion. She joined Russell Philanthropies from the Metropolitan Opera, where she was Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant General Manager.
Rebecca Bowen
CO-PRESIDENT
Rebecca Bowen is Co-President at Russell Philanthropies. With more than three decades of experience in philanthropy, Rebecca most recently served as the Chief Advancement Officer for the YMCA of the USA.
Richard Russell
FOUNDER
Richard Russell is the Founder of Russell Philanthropies. A leading philanthropy executive and advisor, Richard has more than three decades of planning, participating in, and executing global capital campaigns. He has led major gifts programs, counseled families, foundations, and companies, and partnered with some of the world’s leading philanthropists.
Robin Powell Mandjes
PARTNER
Robin Powell Mandjes is a Partner at Russell Philanthropies and helps nonprofits and philanthropists plan for the future. She is the Founding Executive Director of EMBRACE BOSTON, Director and Fund Development Committee Chair at The Community Builders, Inc., and a trustee at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Teresa Lane
PARTNER
Teresa is a Partner at Russell Philanthropies. She has more than 40 years of experience at nonprofits, start-up ventures and established organizations. Her development career spans leadership roles in the environmental and higher education fields.
Our Partners
PAST & PRESENT
