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Professional Development

Your Community Foundation is pleased to offer professional development opportunities for local nonprofit staff and board members. Through these offerings, we seek to enhance the skills necessary for a strong nonprofit sector.

November 20th, 2025 Nonprofit Coffee Talk

Enjoy coffee and breakfast treats while learning how to enhance your organization’s impact narrative in grant applications. Join Liam Ristow, founder of Clearview Evaluation, for a conversation that will help your organization go beyond simply describing your work and focus on assessing and communicating your community impact.

Liam will discuss easy-to-use strategies for turning existing program information, client stories, and feedback into compelling evidence of change. You will leave the session with 2-3 specific actions to implement in your grant writing and strengthen your application.
REGISTER HERE FOR THE COFFEE TALK

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Chris Lassiter

Director of Community Engagement

Chris Lassiter joined our team in January 2022 as our new Director of Community Engagement.  Chris leads our work to broaden the Foundation’s relationships with community members and deepen our understanding of the challenges within our community and our opportunities for affecting real change.  Chris comes to us from the Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA where he served as Marketing and Communications Director.

Lora Hamp, J.D.

Legal Counsel and Director of Nonprofit Relations

Lora Hamp joined the Community Foundation in 2022, after serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors and working with the CFCBR Community Grants Committee for several years. She formerly practiced law as an estate planning attorney and is excited to combine her legal background and prior Board experience to support and promote the nonprofit sector in our community.  In addition to administering the Foundation’s Community Grants Program, Lora provides for the delivery and oversight of nonprofit sector programming, including trainings, peer learning experiences, and other professional development events. She enjoys working with her colleagues and community partners to support a healthy, vibrant nonprofit sector.

Lora’s early interest in the nonprofit world developed within the fields of gerontology and elder rights advocacy. Immediately after graduating from the University of Virginia School of Law, she served as a Borchard Fellow, collaborating with various nonprofit partners to design and establish an elder law clinic at the law school.

Miriam Burrows

Director of Educational Programs

Miriam Burrows joined the Community Foundation in August 2018. She administers our Scholarship Program, the Youth Philanthropy Council, and the Dawbarn Education Awards.  Miriam received a B.A. in Theatre from DeSales University, has a certificate from the Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Legal Secretary School, graduated from CNE’s Board Academy, and continues to take classes whenever she can. Miriam came to Staunton in 1999 to join the American Shakespeare Center where she has worked as an actor and has served as a board member. She lives in Staunton with her husband Daniel, and their two beautiful children.

Menieka Garber

Chief Operating Officer

Menieka Garber joined the Community Foundation in 2006 and ensures that the day-to-day operations run smoothly and align with the Foundation’s mission. She supports a variety of accounting and finance functions and helps to ensure compliance with financial and record-keeping procedures.  Menieka received a B.A. in Business with a concentration in Accounting from Mary Baldwin University and A.A.S. degrees in Business Management and Accounting from Blue Ridge Community College. A native of the Shenandoah Valley, Menieka lives on a farm in Augusta County with her husband, Brian, and their two children, Kiersten and Samuel.

Dan Layman

President & CEO

Dan Layman joined the Community Foundation in March 2013. He spends his days helping individuals and companies explore how they can accomplish their charitable objectives through the Foundation and making sure that those who have already made that choice enjoy what they have created. He also offers his assistance and friendship to the leaders of local nonprofit organizations. Since graduating from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) in 1988, Dan has dedicated his career to helping others through fundraising and planned giving. He and his wife, Pamela Fox, have been Staunton residents since 2003…and for many years to come.