2026 Board of Directors

IMPACT has a tripartite board made up of three equal numbers of private sector, public sector and democratically-elected low-income representatives. The Governing Board members are responsible for policy, governance, and strategic oversight of IMPACT Community Action. As such, each board member has a fiduciary responsibility to the organization to ensure it is managed properly and has sufficient resources to deliver programs and services effectively to low-income residents of Franklin County. The Chief Executive Officer of IMPACT Community Action reports to the Governing Board Members.

The Advisory Board members support the work of the Governing Board by serving on one of the Governing Board subcommittees. The role of an advisory board member is to provide additional insight, expertise and advocacy in shaping the programs and services of IMPACT Community Action. Advisory Board members will work directly with Governing Board members and staff to ensure that IMPACT Community Action remains fiscally sound, is well managed, and continues to provide relevant and effective programs and services.

Private Sector Board Members

Henry Davis

Robert Dejarnette

Robyn Judge

Marketta Franklin

Lisa Hollingshed

Brian F. Billing

Low Income Board Representatives

Valerie Johnson 

Ashley Blanks

Quintessa Atchley

Lusanne Green

Danielle Nicholes

Tiffany Isaac

2026 Board of Directors Election

REPRESENTATION MATTERS! We value the voices on our Board and the work they do.

IMPACT Community Action, Franklin County’s leading poverty-fighting agency, will hold its upcoming Board nominations in November of 2024. Information will be available on this page, our IMPACT Community Action social media pages and at our headquarters at 711 Southwood Avenue in Columbus where low-income eligible members of the community will be invited to nominate, followed by a vote in January 2025 to fill five (5) at-large, low-income representative vacancies on its Board of Directors. IMPACT has a tripartite Board that is comprised of equal numbers of private sector, public sector, and democratically-elected low-income representatives, who are responsible for policy, governance and strategic oversight of the agency.

Board terms are 3 years.

Low-Income Board Member candidates each met the following criteria:

• Must be a low-income resident (at or below 200% of federal poverty level) of Franklin County, or be a service provider for low-income residents of Franklin County

• Must be a legal resident of the United States

• Must be 18 years of age or older at the time of nomination

• Must be nominated by 10 or more self-proclaimed residents of Franklin County

• Must not be an employee of an organization that could present of conflict of interest with IMPACT Community Action, as determined by its Board of Directors

IMPACT takes the responsibility to promote diversity and inclusion, invest in the areas of equity and access, but also to be leading the charge for nonprofits in Franklin County to ensure Human Service agencies apply these principles to staff, and Board members as well. IMPACT’s goals on inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) are incorporated in our core values. We work each day to promote environments, programs and services that are inclusive, diverse, and equitable, and that expand access to our service to historically under-represented groups.

We are charged to view all our work—programs, services, support, administration … essentially, everything we do—through the lens of IDEA to ensure we are encouraging and supporting diverse voices and thinking about inclusion, equity and access strategically and tactically.

IMPACT views IDEA as all about systems—creating underlying systems that allow our IDEA goals, values and principles to become a reality and flourish. That’s why IMPACT has focused on diversifying and building inclusivity among our staff and Board, as a critical step and an important goal unto itself.