Joya Sonnenfeldt
For over a decade, Joya has been actively engaged in her family’s philanthropic activities including through the Goldman Sonnenfeldt Foundation and the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation. Through the Goldman Sonnenfeldt Foundation, Joya has worked on issues involving climate change, education, and economic and democratic stability. Through the Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, Joya has focused on issues including early childhood, Jewish life, workforce development, and the environment.
In 2019-2020, Joya coordinated the rapid deployment of emergency COVID funding, assisted existing grantees in navigate emerging challenges, and made significant investments in nonpartisan efforts to ensure a safe and accessible 2020 election. To this end, Joya not only oversaw individual and family investments aimed at protecting democratic processes but also trained and advised other families and next-gen funders on how to have an impact in the democracy funding space.
Joya has been involved in 21/64 since 2012 and has participated in both Grand Street and the Board Leadership Training Course. She has also served as a member of the Slingshot Fund, the Slingshot 10 to Watch Selection Committee, and the NextGen Council of the Jewish Democratic Council of America. Joya previously served as co-chair of the Williams College Northern California Alumni Association and as a member of the Williams College Women’s Leadership Giving Committee.
Based in New York, Joya is an attorney who holds a J.D. and an M.E.M. from Yale University and a B.A. from Williams College.