Dana K. Bezerra is the new president of the New York City-based Heron Foundation, whose mission is to help impoverished communities through grantmaking and strategic investment. Bezerra, long active in the philanthropic sector, has been in leadership positions of several foundations and organizations before joining Heron in 2006. She served on the Board of Capital Impact Partners, the steering committee for Mission Investors’ Exchange, and as a reviewer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its Grand Challenge Exploration Program. During her 11 years at Heron, Bezerra rose to the position of vice president of capital markets before being named president. A California native, Bezerra earned a bachelor of science degree in agricultural business and public policy in 1994 from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Prior to venturing into the philanthropic sector, she worked at Merrill Lynch as a private wealth advisor for nearly seven years. Bezerra succeeds Clara Miller, who in a press release stated her support for Bezerra’s appointment: “I’ve had the joy and privilege of working with Dana both before I came to Heron and during my tenure. Her exceptional ability to connect people and ideas, her diverse experience, and her inclusive working style make her uniquely well-equipped to lead the next phase of Heron’s evolution.” Dana Bezerra assumed the position of president effective Dec. 31, 2017, Miller remains at the Heron Foundation as president emerita to continue important projects started during her tenure.
