Antony Bugg-Levine

CEO at Nonprofit Finance Fund
Greater New York City Area
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Nonprofit Finance Fund Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
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Reason to Hope in a Time of Crisis
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Antony Bugg-Levine
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Drawing inspiration from the AIDS activists who built the "Food is Medicine" movement Are you looking for reasons to hope in a time of crisis? I know I am. I have found it in a piece of US history I did not know: about how one community’s refusal to give in to despair three decades ago has built a national movement already making a huge difference and poised for even more. Mid/late-1980s: As the horror of the AIDS crisis descends, across the country people refuse to let their brothers die hungry and alone. Groups like Project Open Hand, Gods Love We Deliver, and Community Servings emerge from a simple impulse to offer love and care to stigmatized & ostracized people in the community. 1990s: Through that act of defiance against despair, and relentless focus on operational excellence, they show that providing medically-tailored meals and comfort can improve people’s wellbeing. Early 2000s: These groups see an opportunity to expand to support people suffering from chronic conditions, not just HIV/AIDS. Making this leap requires them to put at risk the identity and connection they have had to one community. But they take the leap because, as one leader told me, “the best way we can honor our brothers who died is to have this beautiful thing that emerged from their suffering help as many people as possible, even beyond our own community” Now: These groups are expanding services across the country as members of the Food is Medicine Coalition, shining a path into a future where hospital systems, insurance companies, and community groups collaborate to help all people stay healthy, improving lives and saving money. Thirty years from now: What will be helping us flourish that is germinating now in our current crisis? Perhaps new politics that emerges from radical refusal to give in to dehumanization of immigrants? I don’t know. But I’m confident seed is being planted. Because AIDS activists could find hope in the late 1980s and build something powerful and optimistic: that's why I hope.
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Glad that resonated, Ashton. Actually borrowed that from Terri Ludwig who gave that advice to the Nonprofit Finance Fund team in 2012. Six years later I still remember that!
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Chris—thanks and great to hear from you! My grandmother was amazing—lived through some of the worst horrors of the 20th century and came out of it all able to pass on a zest for life and impish fun to me and my brother. I’m just glad she’s not having to see the direction this country is going today and these last few years
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Thanks Neeraj. We should talk about Rebuild Texas Fund and how Nonprofit Finance Fund can be helpful.
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Experience
Nonprofit Finance Fund
CEO
Company NameNonprofit Finance Fund
Dates EmployedOct 2011 – Present
Employment Duration7 yrs 2 mos
LocationNew York, NY
US nonprofit and financial intermediary that unlocks the potential of mission-driven organizations through tailored investment, strategic advice, and accessible insights operating nationwide out of five offices . NFF manages more than $340 million of investment capital and operates a national consulting practice, working with a range of philanthropic, private sector and government partners to develop and implement innovative approaches to financing social change.
Antony has reinvigorated organizational culture around explicit values, led a step-change improvement in operational practices and systems, overseen a 50% growth in op... See more
The Global Impact Investing Network
Co-founder and Board Member
Company NameThe Global Impact Investing Network
Dates EmployedSep 2009 – Present
Employment Duration9 yrs 3 mos
LocationGreater New York City Area
Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing. Impact investments are investments made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. The GIIN builds critical infrastructure and sup... See more
Columbia Business School
Adjunct Associate Professor
Company NameColumbia Business School
Dates EmployedSep 2009 – Dec 2013
Employment Duration4 yrs 4 mos
LocationNew York, NY
Developed and taught a new course, "Business Innovation in International Development" that explored a range of ways in which corporations and investors could advance social goals through business and the challenges inherent in doing this well. Course was over-subscribed with consistently high student ratings and influenced various students to change ... See more
The Rockefeller Foundation
Managing Director
Company NameThe Rockefeller Foundation
Dates EmployedJan 2007 – Oct 2011
Employment Duration4 yrs 10 mos
LocationNew York
Designed and led Harnessing the Power of Impact Investing initiative and oversaw the Program Related Investment portfolio. He convened the 2007 meeting that coined the phrase “impact investing” and directed ~$30MM in grant funding and ~$10MM in investments over four years that seeded and helped grow a range or infrastructure organizations fo... See more
TechnoServe
Country Director
Company NameTechnoServe
Dates EmployedMay 2005 – Jan 2007
Employment Duration1 yr 9 mos
LocationKenya
Ran the Kenya and Uganda operations of an international nonprofit organization focused on developing and implementing business-based solutions to rural poverty. Under his leadership, the local offiices doubled in size and staff while Antony supported the development of two local staff members to take over as Country Directors who both grew their progra... See more
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Education
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
Degree NameMPA Field Of StudyEconomic Development
Dates attended or expected graduation 1999 – 2001
Yale University
Yale University
Degree NameBA Field Of StudyPolitical Science and International Relations
Dates attended or expected graduation 1992 – 1996