The John R. Oishei Foundation is proud to announce the appointment of Pamela Ross, MSW as its new Leader of Community Impact. This pivotal role was created as part of the Foundation’s organizational transformation in alignment with its strategic framework and mission to work with communities to change systems and build financial prosperity for a racially just, vibrant Buffalo-Niagara region.
In this role, Ross will guide the Foundation’s efforts to incorporate community perspectives into its initiatives and lead strategies aimed at building financial prosperity by addressing the root causes of racial inequity. She will collaborate closely with community partners to design programs and investments that reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities the Foundation serves, beginning with the East Side.
“Pamela’s leadership reflects exactly where we’re headed as a foundation: firmly centering community voice, racial justice, and systems change,” said Christina Orsi, Oishei Foundation President. “Her deep expertise, humility, and vision will help guide our next chapter.”
Ross brings more than two decades of experience in philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and systems change work. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Community Leadership and Equitable Initiatives at The Indianapolis Foundation, where she led $8M in equitable grantmaking annually and designed nationally recognized strategies centered on racial equity and community empowerment.
Her portfolio has included leading large-scale initiatives such as the Elevation Grant, which invested $45M over three years in Indianapolis neighborhoods for violence reduction, co-developing the Movement of 10,000 platform to promote anti-racist learning, and launching a $3M Neighborhood Empowerment Pathways initiative focused on grassroots infrastructure and resident leadership.
“I know I’m entering this role as someone new to Buffalo, and that’s not something I take lightly,” said Pamela Ross. “Building trust and learning from this community—especially those who’ve been doing this work for a long time—is where I’ll begin. My approach is always to lead with intentionality, courage, and love, and to show up with humility, listening before I act.”
“Community impact happens when power is both shifted and shared,” Ross continued. “It’s not about doing work to or for communities, but alongside them. That’s the principle I’ve always led by, and it’s what I’ll carry into this next chapter at Oishei.”
“Pamela brings both the experience and the systems expertise needed to help us move from intention to impact,” said Glenn Jackson, Oishei Foundation Board chair. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Oishei Foundation.”
This leadership appointment is part of a broader evolution at the Oishei Foundation, one rooted in a mission to create a racially just region where all people have the opportunity to thrive. In 2024, the Foundation announced a two-year transition to reimagine its work in light of its mission, including re-aligning the internal structure, evaluating governance, and evolving support of partners. Ross’s new role underscores the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to transforming how it works in service to the community.
This article was originally published on the John R. Oishei Foundation‘s website.
