Leaders in Residence

Leaders In Residence are seasoned nonprofit executives with deep experience addressing the kinds of opportunities and challenges faced by EGF Accelerator grantees and other leaders in the sector. The Leaders in Residence program was conceived to connect those with relevant experiences in organizational development to the broader community of talented nonprofit executives. 

During their 12-month term, the Leaders in Residence will be sharing their wisdom through specially- designed workshops, small group discussions and curated conversations, as well as one- on-one consulting with organizations in our network. The program is directed by Nicole Chestang, Vice President, Learning and Leadership Development. 

The EGF Accelerator serves as an incubator for new ideas aimed at improving education and life outcomes for low-income New Yorkers. We do this by intensive, tailored consulting, nonprofit incubation, a 20- week Fellows program for early-stage nonprofit founders and by supporting the talent and success of leaders in the sector.



Eliza is the founding executive director of Global Glimpse, a national nonprofit that works to make transformative travel, leadership, and global learning opportunities accessible to high school students from low income and underrepresented backgrounds. Under her leadership the organization has grown ten-fold and served over 8,000 students. 

She was recently selected as a 2024 Top Woman in Travel and Hospitality by Women Leading Travel and Hospitality, a premier professional association for women in the travel industry.  

Eliza is a visionary leader who navigates challenges with grace and places relationships at the center of her work. Over the course of her career, she has raised over $40M, and developed game-changing partnerships with leading brands including United Airlines, Expedia Group, Marriott International, Away, and Snap Inc. 

An alumna of the EGF Accelerator, Eliza brings expertise in people-centered leadership, board development, corporate partnerships, earned revenue, and change management to her role with the foundation. 

Ailun’s consulting practice is centered around building a world where historically underrepresented and excluded BIPOC communities can thrive in every space throughout their entire lifespan.  

An alumna of the EGF Accelerator, AiLun possesses a wealth of experience in the educational equity and social justice sector. She has developed and implemented community-centered social change strategies, raised significant funds, and partnered with other leaders to create transformational change. A natural teacher, she brings expertise in leadership development, designs breakthrough learning experiences for individuals and teams, and strategic and implementation planning.  

AiLun most recently served as President and CEO of The Opportunity Network, a nationally recognized college and career guidance program supporting first-generation college students and young people of color from underrepresented communities. She led the growth of OppNet’s Fellows program to include more than 1,100 Fellows annually. Over the course of her tenure, she spearheaded the launch of the organization’s open-access online learning platform and the organization’s national capacity-building initiative. She serves as a senior advisor for the social impact B corp, NationSwell, and other foundations.