Celebrating Rachel Korberg’s Leadership at the Families and Workers Fund

November 22, 2025

Today, the Families and Workers Fund extends our deep gratitude to our inaugural Executive Director, Rachel Korberg, who will be stepping down after nearly six years of service. Rachel guided the organization through a remarkable period of growth and expanded impact, ultimately uniting 20 of the nation’s largest philanthropies around a shared vision for a better future for families and workers in the United States. Together, the FWF community provided critical relief to people who lost their jobs during the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and then went on to make grants and launch public-private partnerships that resulted in 1.3 million workers and learners experiencing improved job opportunities and 4.5 million children, families, and adults living in or near poverty experiencing improved economic security and wellbeing.

Rachel will continue to serve in her role through January 16th to support a smooth and thoughtful transition. Transitions like this naturally prompt reflection on what enduring leadership looks like. Rachel has shaped FWF not only through results, but also by collaboratively building the systems, financial stability, relationships, and track record that will allow our organization to thrive well beyond any one leader.

“We want to thank Rachel for her incredible achievements here at FWF, and we want to congratulate her on her appointment as the inaugural CEO of a new, endowed foundation launching next year,” said Sarita Gupta, Vice President for US Programs at the Ford Foundation and Co-Founder of the Families and Workers Fund. “In that role, she’ll be able to marshal significant new resources to the very issues at the heart of our mission at FWF—creating a future where everyone has the chance to thrive in an uplifting career.”

Rachel co-founded the Families and Workers Fund with a group of fellow leaders in philanthropy in April, 2020. She ultimately led the organization’s growth from a $12 million project created by a few funders to a $135 million nonprofit fund bringing together corporate, private, and family philanthropies with a diverse range of strategies and perspectives.

“We need a big tent to build a future where workers, learners, and families thrive,” said Ellie Bertani, CEO of the GitLab Foundation. “Rachel embodies that ‘big tent’ spirit, and I know that the amazing FWF staff, leadership team, and funder community are more committed than ever to working together.”

At the invitation of FWF’s Executive Committee, Rachel will remain a close advisor to the organization during the transition period.

Today, the Families and Workers Fund is also opening the search for our next Executive Director. For more information, please reach out to: salem.mariam@truesearch.com.