Shawn Escoffery, Chief Executive Director, Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation

Shawn Escoffery is the Chief Executive Director of the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation, where he leads a team committed to social justice and addressing the historical inequities that plague many lower-income communities. Since joining the Foundation 2018, Shawn has led the organisation through a strategy revisioning process, created a fellowship for someone who was system impacted, and launched an Impact Investing portfolio with a 10% carve-out of the endowment.

The Foundation now focuses on Criminal Justice Reform, Environmental Justice, and Affordable Housing Preservation with a trust-based approach that is centered in place and emphasises lasting partnerships as well as capacity building.

Prior to joining RPDFF, Shawn directed the Inclusive Economies portfolio at the Surdna Foundation. In this role, Shawn worked to support the development of robust and sustainable economies that include a wide range of businesses, equitable economic policy, and access to quality jobs. Shawn managed a $9.5 million annual grantmaking budget and an impact investing portfolio over $10 million.

Shawn holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers and a master’s degree from MIT. He also holds certificates in Communications and International Relations, Urban Redevelopment, and Effective Leadership from Carnegie Mellon, the UPENN, and Duke, respectively. Shawn currently sits on the board of The Funders Network and Hispanics in Philanthropy.