The Next Chapter: Welcoming Gen3 to the Change Happens Foundation Board

It is one of the great privileges of leading a family foundation to witness the moment when the next generation steps forward and says, "We're ready."

At Change Happens Foundation, that moment has arrived.

This spring, we formally welcomed three extraordinary young women to our board of directors: Zoe Nong, Liza Burmeister, and Lydia Nong. They represent Generation 3 of our foundation's leadership, and their election marks one of the most significant milestones in our organization's history.

Roots and Wings

CHF was built on the vision of our founder, Doug Troxel, who grew up on an Iowa farm and went on to build Serena Software. Doug and Deb Troxel created this foundation with a belief that private philanthropy should be courageous, collaborative, and impactful. Those values have guided every grant we have made and every partnership we have built across our three pillars: Education, Environmental Science, and Human Services.

But a foundation designed for perpetuity needs more than strong values. It needs people willing to carry those values forward, interpret them for new times, and bring fresh energy to the work. That is exactly what Zoe, Liza, and Lydia bring to the table.

What Inspires Me

I will be honest: watching these three prepare for board service has been one of the most energizing experiences of my tenure as Co-Executive Director. They ask sharp questions. They push us to think bigger. They bring perspectives shaped by a world that looks very different from the one in which this foundation was created, and that is precisely what we need.

Each of them carries a unique connection to the work. They understand, in ways both intellectual and deeply personal, what it means to steward resources on behalf of communities that need courage and collaboration from their funders. They are not here to simply inherit something. They are here to build.

A Foundation Built to Evolve

One of the things we have worked hardest on at CHF is designing governance structures that honor our founder's vision while creating space for new voices. Our recently updated governing documents reflect that commitment. We have enshrined the secular, progressive values that define this foundation as immutable legal guardrails, ensuring that the soul of CHF endures. At the same time, we have built in the flexibility for future leaders to adapt our strategies to meet the challenges of their time.

Generation 3's arrival on the board is the first real test of that design. And so far, the results are everything we hoped for.

Looking Ahead

With Zoe, Liza, and Lydia joining us in this work, CHF enters a new era. We will continue distributing roughly $1 million+ annually across our grantmaking pillars, championing female STEM empowerment, environmental stewardship, food rescue, and reproductive access. But we will do so with new energy, new questions, and new ambitions.

To our Generation 3 directors: welcome to the board. The foundation is stronger for your presence, and I cannot wait to see what you will do with it.

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