Supporting the Greater Philadelphia Area

Catherine Fuller manages Pew’s civic initiatives grantmaking portfolio, which funds projects to improve Philadelphians' access to a vibrant civic life. She also oversees grants to organizations with longstanding ties to Pew. Before joining Pew, Fuller led community-based learning work at Drexel University’s Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, where—through academic partnerships—she connected faculty and students to Philadelphia-area nonprofits. Fuller holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Vassar College and a master’s degree in international studies from Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Germany.

Lauren Hirsh provides administrative support to the Philadelphia program’s vice president, including serving as the primary contact for scheduling inquiries. Hirsh is responsible for coordinating meetings, tracking tasks and deadlines, and managing the VP’s calendar, and she plays a key role in the department’s daily operations.

Sophia Peake is a senior associate with Pew’s Philadelphia program. In this role she manages a portfolio of grants to organizations with which Pew has longstanding relationships, supports grants in the civic initiatives portfolio, and serves as a key resource on grantmaking throughout the Philadelphia program. Peake honed her skills in increasing revenues and providing operational support for large organizations and grassroots campaigns in the Philadelphia region. Before joining Pew, Peake worked for the Youth Sentencing & Reentry Project as a development and operations coordinator. She is a Philadelphia native and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in strategic communications from Temple University. 

Nicky Charles is a senior officer with the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services in Philadelphia. She coordinates and supports the Pew Fund’s growth grants—flexible, long-term investments designed to strengthen local organizations’ ability to improve the health, well-being, and overall stability of low-income Philadelphians. Before joining The Pew Charitable Trusts, Charles served as chief operating officer of the Durham Children’s Initiative and executive director of the School Reform Commission in Philadelphia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from Howard University and an interdisciplinary master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania. 

A lifelong Philadelphian, Sarina Chernock is an officer with the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services. She supports grant sourcing, due diligence, and grants management efforts, building and sustaining trust-based relationships with nonprofits throughout the Philadelphia region. Before joining Pew, Chernock served as co-founder of a tech startup and led program and evaluation efforts for the national nonprofit group Better Tomorrows. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Brown University and a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Jessica Gillespie is a senior officer with the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services in Philadelphia. She coordinates and supports the Pew Fund’s growth grants—flexible, long-term investments that aim designed to strengthen local organizations’ ability to improve the health, well-being, and overall stability of low-income Philadelphians. She also supports venture grants—versatile two-year investments aim to facilitate organizations’ ability to implement innovative practices. Before joining Pew, Gillespie served as senior consultant at a local strategy and planning firm and as director of impact strategy and operations for the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. She holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in education from Temple University.

Meridith Polin is a senior officer with the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services. She oversees the evaluation capacity building initiative, which aims to accelerate the use of data for monitoring, learning, and evaluation purposes among Pew fund grantees. Polin has a background in evaluation, strategic planning, and program development. Previously, she worked at the nonprofit group Public/Private Ventures. She also was the director of research and evaluation at Citizen Schools. Polin holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston University and a master’s in community resources and development from Arizona State University.