Lea Blackwell Favor

Lea joined the Pohlad Family Foundation in 2023 and serves as Program Officer, Grantmaking and Partnerships. She leads the Foundation’s Direct Impact program through grant review and recommendations, community engagement, and partnerships with grantees to evaluate impact and strengthen the Foundation’s approach. 

Lea brings more than 30 years of experience across the nonprofit, education, and philanthropic sectors. Before joining the Foundation, she worked at The Blake School and Social Venture Partners Minnesota and served as executive director of two Twin Cities nonprofits. She also provided organizational development consulting to nonprofits focused on racial equity, youth development, housing stability, and anti-displacement. 

Lea holds a B.A. and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Minnesota, as well as a professional development certificate in nonprofit management from Harvard Business School’s Executive Education program.