The Hellman Foundation is deeply committed to community centered approaches grounded in the values and practices of trust-based philanthropy and participatory grantmaking. In 2022, with a goal to advance community leadership and cede grantmaking power to local Bay Area leaders, the Hellman Foundation team created a Community Panel to collaboratively review proposals and determine funding recommendations. We continue to learn from, evolve, and apply our Community Panel model, which has already strengthened the impact of our collective work. ​

Community Panel

Ed Center (he/him)
The Village Well
Ed Center (he/him) was a kid with big feelings and challenging behaviors. He now understands this was connected to undiagnosed ADHD. Ed founded The Village Well to help parents, educators, and youth service providers who are supporting kids with disabilities and mental health challenges. The Village Well team excels at helping families and classrooms find more calm, joy, and connection. Ed started his career as a high school teacher, and has worked in the education and family support fields for 30 years. He specializes in working with communities of color. His goal is to help people to tap into cultural wisdom while healing intergenerational pain. Ed loves his husband, two kids, three cats, and playing pickleball in San Francisco.

Ed joined the Community Panel in 2026.