Governor's Books from Birth Foundation
615-253-3600
710 James Robertson Parkway Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
Nashville, TN 37243
Executive Director
| Executive Director | Mr. James Pond |
|---|---|
| james.pond@tn.gov | |
| Term Start | January 2019 |
| James's Experience: Governor's Early Literacy Foundation announced James Pond as its new President January 1, 2019. James has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership. As President & CEO of Governor's Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), he develops long-term strategies for strengthening early literacy in Tennessee, partnering with the Imagination Library and other outreach initiatives. His leadership role unites the efforts of GELF team; more than 700 statewide volunteers; corporate partners; municipal and state government; and other public and private organizations. A native of Antioch, Calif., Pond previously served as Executive Director of Veteran's PATH, which helps combat veterans find health and healing. He also spent 12 years working with organizations combating sex trafficking in Southeast Asia. After serving eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, Pond worked 10 years in corporate America before beginning his nonprofit career. James earned a master's degree in 2004 at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif. He and his wife Athena have three adult children and live in Nashville. He welcomed his first grandson - the family's first Imagination Library book recipient - in 2018. James has a passion for early childhood literacy as a father and grandfather. He lives with his wife and French bulldog in Gallatin, TN. |
|
Senior Staff
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Ms. Dean Hoskins | Vice President |
| Abbie Sanderson | Director of Development |
| Claire Jones | Director of Communications |
| Meredith Hilleary | Director of Programs |
| Angel Bebout | Director of Finance |
Staff
| Full Time Staff | 13 |
|---|---|
| Part Time Staff | 0 |
| Volunteers | 700 |
| Contractors | 1 |
| Retention Rate | 80% |
Plans & Policies
| Does your organization have a Fundraising Plan? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Does your organization have a Strategic Plan? | Yes |
| Years Strategic Plan Considers | 3 |
| When was the Strategic Plan adopted? | December 2023 |
| Does your organization have a Management Succession Plan? | Yes |
| Does your organization have a Policy and Procedure Plan? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Nondiscrimination Policy? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Whistle Blower Policy? | Yes |
| Does the organization have a Document Destruction Policy? | No |
Evaluation
| Is there a formal evaluation for... | Frequency (if applicable) | |
|---|---|---|
| CEO/Executive Director | Yes | Annually |
| Senior Management | Yes | Annually |
| Non-Management | Yes | Annually |
Awards
| Award / Recognition | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Finalist | CNM Salute to Excellence in Communications | 2006 |
| Friend of Education Award | Tennessee Education Association | 2012 |
| Merit - Newsletters (< 2 Color) | PRSA Nashville - Parthenon Awards | 2005 |
