The David and Lucile Packard Foundation announced that Prithi Trivedi (she/her) has joined the Foundation as the inaugural director of special initiatives. This position was created to advance the Foundation’s new strategic framework, maximize collaboration across issues, and elevate responsive grantmaking to address urgent needs in the United States and globally.   

Trivedi most recently served as the director of family initiatives and new opportunities at the Sobrato Family Foundation, where she led the development of new areas of giving, including the Foundation’s climate work, and established a new department to support the philanthropic aspirations of the Sobrato family. Trivedi brings to the Foundation a breadth of experience from her decade of work in the philanthropic space, including previously at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation as well as serving on the Organizational Effectiveness team at the Packard Foundation early in her career.  

“I am delighted to have Prithi on the team with her depth of philanthropic experience and her ability to drive collaboration and new areas of giving,” said Packard Foundation President and CEO Nancy Lindborg. “Importantly, Prithi brings high energy, vision, and a track record of taking on major challenges that is critical, especially as we all navigate a more complex, fast-changing world.”   

Throughout her career in philanthropy, Trivedi has worked on a variety of issues, including education, global development, and the environment, and has helped oversee cross-foundation initiatives and spearheaded new strategies to improve grantmaking, enhance diversity, equity and inclusion, and build capacity among grantees.  

“I am thrilled about this opportunity to shepherd the Foundation’s more flexible and agile grantmaking,” said Trivedi. “With this new portfolio, we can identify unexpected opportunities and partnerships. I am honored to be trusted with this responsibility and look forward to learning from the Foundation teams across portfolios and the grantees we support as we embark on this new work together.” 

As the special initiatives director, Trivedi will build and lead the Special Initiatives grantmaking team, working closely with the President and CEO and Trustees to make critical grants and maximize the impact of the funds in the portfolio.  

Trivedi holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.