Families and Workers Fund Announces Jina Krause-Vilmar as Executive Director
April 20, 2026
After celebrating its five-year anniversary, Families and Workers Fund has named Jina Krause-Vilmar as Executive Director. She succeeds inaugural Executive Director Rachel Korberg, who co-built the organization into a leading coalition of more than 20 philanthropies working together to help end poverty in the U.S. and to help all people–especially those living on low incomes–have a shot at economic mobility through uplifting careers.
Krause-Vilmar is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development and inclusive economic growth, with more than two decades of experience across the United States and globally. She grounds her work in community-driven solutions and believes they are essential to building resilient labor markets and expanding opportunity.
As former CEO of Upwardly Global, Jina led a 100-person team to deliver innovative workforce solutions for employers, community colleges, workforce boards, and nonprofit partners, while advancing AI-enabled equitable hiring strategies in partnership with HiredScore at Workday. Krause-Vilmar has collaborated with Fortune 500 companies on upskilling and apprenticeship programs and advised senior White House officials and U.N. institutions on migration and labor market policy.
“I’m thrilled to join Families and Workers Fund and to build on the extraordinary foundation the collaborative has created together,” said Jina Krause-Vilmar. “At a moment when families and workers are navigating rapid economic change, the Fund plays a critical role in bringing together philanthropy, practitioners, and champions to advance quality jobs, scale inclusive workforce development, and help deliver poverty-reducing public benefits. I’m honored to steward this next chapter.”
“I could not be more thrilled by the choice of Jina Krause-Vilmar as the Families and Workers Fund’s next Executive Director,” reflected Rachel Korberg. “She has the experience, tenacity, and vision to continue building the big tent of funders we need to advance a better future for families and workers in the United States.”
“Jina is a collaborative and values-driven leader with a strong track record of bringing people together to move ambitious ideas forward,” said Sarita Gupta, Co-Chair of Families and Workers Fund and Vice President of U.S. Programs at the Ford Foundation. “Her commitment to families and workers, paired with her ability to align philanthropy and the field around shared priorities, makes her the right leader for this moment. We are excited to partner with her as the Fund continues to grow its impact nationwide.”
“Jina is an exceptional leader with a strong track record of advancing economic recovery, refugee inclusion, and women’s economic empowerment,” said Ellie Bertani, Co-Chair of Families and Workers Fund and President & CEO of GitLab Foundation. “She brings both deep commitment to families and workers and a real ability to bring people together around bold, practical solutions. I’m excited to see her lead this coalition into its next chapter.”
Jina holds a Master of Science in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and a certificate in political studies from the University of Aix-Marseille. Her commentary has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Time, and she has been featured on CNBC, among other outlets.
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Media Contact: YK Vandekamp
yk@familiesandworkers.org