Team and Board

Aaron Damoa, UK Program Coordinator

Location: London

Aaron joined Unbound Philanthropy in 2022 as UK Program Coordinator, where he helps with the day-to-day running of the office and supports the grants management team.

Prior to joining Unbound, Aaron worked in the Office & HR Management field, where he has worked with non-profit organisations.

Aaron runs a successful catering business, which predominately focuses on Ghanian and Jamaican food. Aaron also has experience in hairdressing; he is the general manager of a hair salon in Shropshire, where he has been working since he was 12, and he has his own client base in London. Aaron’s mother immigrated to London from Jamaica and his father immigrated to London from Ghana.

Taryn Higashi, Executive Director

Location: New York

Taryn Higashi is the Executive Director of Unbound Philanthropy, which she joined as the first member of staff in 2008. Taryn has helped Unbound grow into a significant actor in contributing to pluralistic, just, and equitable societies in the US and UK that recognize the rights and contributions of immigrants and refugees. The foundation has co-founded several vibrant institutions such as the US-based Pop Culture Collaborative, to unleash the superpowers of pop culture to build widespread public yearning for a pluralist culture, and the London-based Citizenship and Integration Initiative, to ensure all Londoners are able to be active citizens, involved and invested in their city. In 2023, Unbound was an honoree of Chinese for Affirmative Action’s Celebration of Justice; in 2021, Unbound was awarded NAKASEC’s People Power Award; in 2020, Taryn and Unbound were awarded United We Dream’s first-ever Believer Award; and in 2019, Unbound was awarded the Mover and Shaker Award for Bold Peer Organizing from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

Prior to Unbound, Taryn managed the migrant and refugee rights portfolio and was Deputy Director of the human rights unit at the Ford Foundation, where in 2003 she co-founded the Four Freedoms Fund, a collaborative that has re-granted more than $180 million to state and local immigrant organizations. For co-founding the Four Freedoms Fund, Taryn and Geri Mannion of the Carnegie Corporation received the 2008 Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking from the Council on Foundations. Taryn is the Chair of the Board of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a former Chair of the Advisory Board of the International Migration Initiative at Open Society Foundations, and a former Board Co-Chair of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. Taryn is the granddaughter of immigrants from Japan.

Kaitlin Kitzrow, Senior Grants and Compliance Manager

Location: New York

Kaitlin Kitzrow is the Senior Grants and Compliance Manager at Unbound Philanthropy, where she supports the Foundation’s grantmaking through database management, compliance review, and financial analysis.

Kaitlin joined Unbound in 2018, after working as the Grants Manager for the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, a Grants Officer at University Settlement/The Door, and the Development and Communications Associate at Epic Theatre Ensemble. Kaitlin holds a Master of Arts Management degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Jake Lee, Deputy Director, UK Program

Location: London

Jake Lee is the Deputy Director of the UK Program at Unbound Philanthropy where he helps develop, implement and evaluate the Foundation’s strategies. Jake also works at The Legal Education Foundation where he has shaped the Foundation’s strategy and built its access to justice and policy portfolio. In both roles, he has helped to establish the Justice First Fellowship program and a number of major funder collaborations, most recently Justice Together.

Jake joined Unbound in 2012, after working as an attorney at Allen & Overy for ten years, where he worked in Brussels and London as an EU lawyer before managing the firm’s international pro bono program and foundations. Since becoming a social justice lawyer, Jake has served on and advised multiple boards and non-profits. Jake’s father migrated from Malaysia to London via Dublin.

Elyse Lightman Samuels, Director of Communications

Location: New York

Elyse Lightman Samuels is Director of Communications at Unbound Philanthropy, where she leads Unbound’s communications to exchange learning, nurture and inspire partnerships, and ultimately advance Unbound’s mission. Elyse joined Unbound in 2014 after working in writing, communications, and external relations at several social justice organizations, including EngenderHealth and American Jewish World Service. Elyse is also an independent writer.

Elyse has spent extensive time working in Cambodia, as a former Board Member of Harpswell, whose mission is to equip young women in Southeast Asia with leadership skills, education, and a supportive network; she also helped found PEN Cambodia. She is a former Board member of MADRE. Elyse earned an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Columbia University’s School of the Arts, a MPA in International Nonprofit Management and Public Policy at New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service, and a BA from Brown University. 

Joseph Matara, Chief Operating Officer

Location: New York

Joseph Matara is the Chief Operating Officer at Unbound Philanthropy, where he oversees all aspects of Unbound’s Finance and Operations, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Grants Management.

Joseph joined Unbound in May 2023. He brings extensive experience working in philanthropy, non-profit, and for-profit institutions. Most recently, Joseph served as Chief Financial Officer at the Victoria Foundation, a place-based foundation in Newark, New Jersey, where he worked since 2017. He was previously the Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer at New Community Corporation in Newark—recognized as one of the largest, most comprehensive community development corporations in the U.S.— where he worked for 15 years.

Joseph is originally from Kenya and has spent time there developing schools for children in informal settlements; he is the founder of GRACE Project, a not-for-profit organization that is providing opportunities in education, healthcare, and vocational training for families in rural Kenya. He volunteers at GRACE Project and is a board member of several non-profit organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Joseph has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from New Jersey City University and a Master of Business Administration degree from St. John’s University.

Alice Sachrajda, UK Program Officer and UK Head of Cultural Strategy

Location: London

Alice Sachrajda joined Unbound Philanthropy in 2023 as UK Program Officer and UK Head of Cultural Strategy. Alice is the UK lead on climate and migration.

Prior to joining Unbound, Alice worked as a cultural strategy consultant, specializing in creative research, narratives and strategic communications. She has authored a series of reports on narratives and cultural change and has worked with Comic Relief to establish the Power of Pop Fund, where she continues to support as an adviser to the fund. Alice previously worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, working on immigration and integration policy. She is Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees at Counterpoints Arts (a refugee and migrant arts charity) and is the Chair of her local refugee community sponsorship group in south London. Alice holds a BA in Law with French and she was awarded a distinction for an MSc in Human Rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science, specializing in international law relating to migration and displacement.  

Natasha Sealy-Dorvelus, Senior Manager, Human Resources & Operations

Location: New York

Natasha Sealy-Dorvelus is the Senior Manager, Human Resources & Operations at Unbound Philanthropy, where she is responsible for managing and providing Human Resources and Operational leadership at Unbound.

Natasha joined Unbound in 2021 after working as the Director of Finance Operation & Human Resources at the F.B. Heron Foundation where she managed Human Resources, Finance, Information Technology and Operations.

Natasha earned a Masters in Business Management & Leadership from CUNY School of Professional Studies.  She holds credentials as a SHRM-CP from Society of Human Resource Management and received a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. Natasha immigrated to the US from St Lucia.

Will Somerville, UK Director

Location: London

Will Somerville is the UK Director of Unbound Philanthropy. In addition to his Unbound role, he is a Senior Fellow for the think tank the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) and a Visiting Professor (Politics) at the University of Sheffield.

Will joined Unbound in 2010, after working as a consultant; at the Migration Policy Institute; the Commission for Racial Equality; the U.K. Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Cabinet Office; and the Institute for Public Policy Research. He has authored over sixty policy papers, chapters and journal articles, mostly related to migration, and has commented widely in the media. He has also consulted widely for charities, philanthropic foundations and governments and helped establish a number of social change organisations in the last decade. He currently sits on the Board of the global charity More in Common.

Hilde Svartrapmo, UK Grants Manager

Location: London

Hilde Svartrapmo is the UK Grants Manager at Unbound Philanthropy.

Hilde joined Unbound in 2016, after working as data and communications coordinator at Victim Support. Previously, she worked with Student Action for Refugees (STAR), a former Unbound Philanthropy grantee. Hilde earned a first-class degree in international development with NGO management from the University of East London, during which she spent time in Uganda as an intern at a children’s charity. Hilde is originally from Norway.

Stephanie Teatro, US Program Director

Location: Nashville, TN

Stephanie Teatro is the Director of Unbound Philanthropy’s US Program. Prior to joining Unbound in January 2024, Stephanie was the Director of Climate Justice and Migration at the National Partnership for New Americans. In this role, Stephanie helped lead the Climate Justice Collaborative, an initiative to build the capacity of immigrant justice organizations to powerfully join the fight for climate justice. The Collaborative works to ensure that climate policy is inclusive of immigrants, that immigrants and all frontline communities are protected from the worst impacts of climate change, and that the U.S. is a global leader in preparing for and welcoming people displaced by climate impacts.

Stephanie was trained as a labor organizer with AFSCME, is the former Co-Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and served as the Managing Director of Resilience Force, a national organization working to defend the rights of the largely immigrant workforce who rebuild after climate disasters.

Originally from Canada, Stephanie lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is active with local organizations and campaigns to build movement infrastructure and strengthen democracy in the South.

(Photo Credit: Annie Del Hierro-Jost)

Ayana Wint, Executive Assistant

Location: New York

Ayana Wint is the Executive Assistant at Unbound Philanthropy, where she supports the Executive Director and other senior management. Ayana is an accomplished Executive Assistant with a track record of optimizing executive workflows and enhancing efficiency. 

Prior to Unbound, Ayana served in a number of roles as executive assistant to executives and directors throughout New York City, across a wide swatch of industries. Proficient in event management, travel coordination, and project execution, Ayana is committed to driving productivity and fostering seamless collaboration between executives and teams. Ayana holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Delaware State University.

Julia Yang-Winkenbach, US Program Officer

Location: New York

Julia Yang-Winkenbach is US Program Officer at Unbound Philanthropy, where she helps develop, implement, and evaluate grantmaking strategies and priorities.

Julia joined Unbound in 2015, after working at Weill Cornell Medical College, where she served as a development associate for the Annual and Special Giving Programs in the Office of External Affairs. Previously, Julia held civic engagement and fundraising roles with various nonprofits in New York City. She is currently a member of the Asian American Impact Fund, a New York-based giving circle that prioritizes support for small and emerging organizations. Julia completed a MSc in Migration Studies at the University of Oxford, and earned a BA in International Studies and Political Science at the City College of New York – CUNY. Julia is a second-generation Taiwanese American raised in Flushing, Queens.