The Alliance for Early Success has named Abriana Kimbrough as its Grants and Systems Manager—a newly created position in the organization. In the role, Kimbrough will strengthen the Alliance’s grantmaking practices and the infrastructure behind them. Her work will make the grant process easier to navigate so grantees can spend less time on administration and more time advancing their work for young children and families.
She will also improve the systems and technology that help Alliance staff coordinate, learn across our grantmaking, and support that work effectively.
Kimbrough brings extensive experience in managing complex grantmaking operations, improving organizational infrastructure, and supporting collaborative initiatives that advance systems change across philanthropy and public systems.
Prior to joining the Alliance, she managed a regional Early Care and Education Funder’s Collaborative at the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, supporting advocacy and systems change efforts impacting more than 100,000 children, families, and early childhood providers across the DMV region. Beyond her professional work, Kimbrough is a maternal health advocate and reproductive justice supporter. In her spare time, she works as a doula, lactation consultant, and herbalist, supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care.
“Abri is already making a meaningful contribution to the Alliance,” says Courtney D. Lee, the Alliance’s Deputy Director of People and Operations. “She sees how decisions connect now and down the line, asks the questions that make the work clearer, and makes sure people have the support they need along the way. I’m excited for how her people-centered systems thinking will strengthen both our grantmaking and how we work internally.”