Patricia Eisner

Board of Directors

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Human bio: Where do I see goodness in the world? It’s everywhere if you’re looking for it. Darkness is always easy to find, but when we choose to notice and spread goodness, it shows up in the smallest, most meaningful ways—and I try to embrace it every day.

Walking my two daughters to school, we’re greeted by Mr. Joe, our kind crossing guard, who never misses a chance to high-five us and wish us a great day. At my coffee stop, I chat with Rose, my favorite barista, about everything from the weather to her college classes.

On my long commute to work, I remind myself to be grateful—grateful for my job, for friends I can call to pass the time, or for a podcast that sparks my curiosity.

For me, connecting with others—listening to their stories and sharing moments—reveals the quiet, everyday goodness all around us.

Professional bio: Patricia is the Senior Director of Development at the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. In this role she leads the annual development strategy and its execution for the organization. Through direct donor engagement, fundraising campaigns and community partnerships Patricia and her team are responsible for meeting the annual operational and programmatic budgets.

Patricia is a lifelong educator and learner. She started her career as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore. And quickly found her home in the nonprofit world where for 12 years as Executive Director she ran, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC region. Her most recent development roles have been as the Senior Director of Development for America’s Promise Alliance, the non-profit alliance founded by General and Mrs. Colin Powell and Chief Development Officer at Malala Fund, with Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, and the Senior Director of Development at Two Rivers Public Charter School, where her two daughters attended elementary school. She is the principal of a private fundraising consultancy where she supports nonprofits as they build their strategies, boards and fundraising plans.

Patricia holds a BA in English and Writing from Loyola University, Maryland, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University, Maryland and an MA in Writing and Design from the University of Baltimore.

She resides in Washington, DC, with her husband, two daughters and their dog, Teddy.