Amoretta Morris is the president of Borealis Philanthropy. For the last 20 years, Amoretta has worked to build power, equity, and justice by supporting community-led change. As president, she brings a range of critical perspectives—as an organizer, grantee, board member, staff member, and donor. She sees her role in philanthropy as supporting the movement of resources to make liberation for all possible.

Throughout her career, Amoretta has devoted herself to social change. Prior to joining Borealis Philanthropy, Amoretta led national community change work at the Annie E. Casey Foundation for nearly a decade, partnering with local communities to build change from the ground-up. Earlier in her career, Morris served as director of student attendance for the District of Columbia Public Schools. She joined local government after serving as the founding director and lead organizer for the Justice 4 DC Youth! Coalition, an advocacy group that mobilized youth and adults to promote juvenile justice reform.

Amoretta has more than a decade of experience shaping policies and programs, bringing her leadership and organizing skills to both nonprofits and government, always with a commitment to centering the voices and experiences of those most impacted by injustice.

Morris has served on several nonprofit boards and local commissions, including her current tenure as board chair of the Neighborhood Funders Group and member of Black Swan Academy. She is a lay leader in the spiritual community at Unity of Washington, D.C. and a member of Black Benefactors, a local giving circle that leverages the resources of grassroots philanthropists to advance social change in the D.C. metropolitan area.

Morris earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and African studies from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s in public policy from Harvard University