Advisory Board of Governors
Diana Aviv
President and CEO, Independent Sector
Diana Aviv is the president and CEO of Independent Sector, the national leadership forum for charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good in America and around the world. A nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 575 organizations that collectively represents tens of thousands of charitable groups across the country, Independent Sector leads, strengthens, and mobilizes the charitable community in order to fulfill the vision of a just and inclusive society of active citizens, vibrant communities, effective institutions, and a healthy democracy. A noted expert on the major issues affecting the national nonprofit and philanthropic community, Ms. Aviv is a frequent speaker on the accountability and transparency of nonprofit organizations, the financial state of the nonprofit sector, the role of civil society in democracy, and civic engagement. She has testified before Congress and has been quoted in print, broadcast, and online media outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and National Public Radio.
Ms. Aviv came to Independent Sector in April 2003 after nine years at United Jewish Communities. As UJC’s vice president for public policy and director of the Washington Action Office, she worked closely with federations and national agencies concerned with the domestic health and welfare needs of vulnerable people. Ms. Aviv’s work focused on federal legislation, public policy, and regulations concerning health and human service areas that have an impact on the work of local health and human service organizations.
Ms. Aviv was formerly associate executive vice chair at the Jewish Council of Public Affairs, director of programs for the National Council of Jewish Women, and director of a comprehensive program to serve battered women and their families. She has had a private psychotherapy practice in New York and New Jersey and has served as an expert witness in capital cases in New Jersey. She is immediate past chair of the National Immigration Forum, is an advisory board member of the Stanford Social Innovation Review and The Center for Effective Philanthropy, and a board member of GuideStar.
A native of South Africa, Ms. Aviv graduated with a B.S.W. from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and received a Master of Social Work degree at Columbia University.
The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to revitalize our federal government by inspiring a new generation to serve and by transforming the way government works.
