Nisenson, Amy
Amy Nisenson assumed the role of Executive Director of The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation in May 2009. The mission of the MMP Foundation is to provide financial support principally for capital projects for organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code. As Executive Director, Amy is responsible for the day to day operations of the foundation and the due diligence and allocation of $3-4 million in grants annually. In addition to her role as Executive Director of the Foundation, Amy works with small and emerging nonprofits in the Richmond community in a consultant role, assisting with grant research, grant writing, board development, and other functions associated with sustaining a nonprofit. Amy also teaches classes at the University of Richmond in the Institute on Philanthropy, Tidewater Community College, and Volunteer Hampton Roads.
Prior to her position at The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, Amy served as Vice President and Community Affairs Manager for Wachovia Corporation from 2005 to 2008. As Community Affairs Manager, she was responsible for implementing Wachovia’s community affairs programs, including the evaluation of corporate contribution requests, Best practices contributions management, and strategic community planning for the Central and Eastern Virginia Regions. Previously, Amy had responsibility for the 3-state Mid-Atlantic Region of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. In addition, Amy was responsible for providing leadership infrastructure, including management advisor and chapter leadership for WachoviaVolunteer! Chapters in primary markets, which encourage and support employees for community service work.
Prior to her work in grantmaking, Amy was the Special Projects Manager and Director of the Virginia College Dream Foundation, where she helped develop and manage the Agency’s Employer Sponsorship program, which marketing Virginia’s 529 College Savings Plans to private employers throughout the Commonwealth. In addition, Amy managed the activities of a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to providing at-risk children with scholarships for college.
Amy is a graduate of the University of Virginia and has been honored by the Richmond YWCA as one of the 10 Outstanding Women of the Year in Volunteerism. She is a graduate of the 2001 class of Leadership Metro Richmond and the 2006 class of Lead Virginia. Amy currently serves on many local, statewide, and national nonprofit boards including: The United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg, Leadership Metro Richmond, the Partnership for NonProfit Excellence, the Virginia Network of NonProfit Organizations (VANNO) and Jewish Women International. Amy is married and has 2 college-age children.
