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Camber Foundation Forms Advisory Council to Guide Philanthropic Strategy
Five Eastern North Carolina leaders have joined the Foundation’s first Advisory Council, each bringing valuable experience in health, education, and economic development.
Camber Foundation has formed an Advisory Council to offer guidance and insight as the foundation grows its commitment in Eastern North Carolina.
Camber believes the people in the region know best how to serve the needs of their communities. By creating the Advisory Council, Camber is holding itself accountable to the same standard it expects from its grantees – ensuring that strategy and service are shaped by the voices of Eastern North Carolinians.
“When we consider our grants, we look for organizations whose work is inspired, informed, and influenced by the people they serve, and we hold ourselves to the same standard,” said Leslie Ann Jackson, president and CEO of Camber Foundation. “Through the Advisory Council, we’re able to listen and learn from people who have deep knowledge of Eastern North Carolina, people who call it home.”
Members of the Advisory Council are chosen for their strong ties to the region and their knowledge of Camber’s focus areas of health, education, and economic development. They are called to contribute their unique perspectives and valuable experiences in support of Camber’s mission. The Council’s first meeting included a review of how Camber will apply the learnings from last year’s Community Conversations series, with a robust discussion about cross-sector collaboration.
The inaugural Council is comprised of five leaders from across the region who will serve three-year terms:
Todd Brantley, of Wayne County, has spent his career supporting mission-driven organizations in North Carolina and understands the challenges rural nonprofits face. His experience affords him specific insights in the fields of education and economic development, as well as nonprofit capacity building.
Schumata Brown is the Town Manager of Maysville in Jones County. He is inspirational in his understanding of how rural communities in Eastern North Carolina can find and maximize resources that leverage assets to solve problems and generate community spirit. Schumata received the 2026 Rural Leader of the Year award from NC Rural Center.
Velva Jenkins, President, Jenkins Consulting, LLC, resides in Brunswick County. Her dedicated career in Eastern North Carolina spans post-secondary education and workforce development, and her leadership experience across these sectors yields sound advice on how to accomplish Foundation goals.
Kim Crickmore Osborne, PhD, RN, FABC, is a Senior Healthcare Executive and Consultant with KCO Strategies, LLC, and lives in Pitt County. With decades of experience in both clinical care and leadership in communities all over Eastern North Carolina, her perspective on health and wellness opportunities in the region is rooted in first-hand knowledge.
Alice Schenall, DrPH, MPH, is Senior Advisor for Cross-Sector Leadership and Change Management at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). She is a lifelong resident of Edgecombe County and combines national public health experience with a unique understanding of collaboration in local communities.
“Eastern North Carolina is rich with diversity,” said Schenall. “Each county has its own history, its own assets, and its own gaps. Being present in the region every day, Advisory Council members help Camber navigate towards communities’ strengths – what works in one community may need to look very different in another.”
“I look forward to helping Camber better understand the opportunities so we can be even more responsive to solutions that move things forward for communities,” Brown states.
