There have been a number of exciting changes happening at The Community Foundation these past few months – we’ve celebrated several new team members and one very special milestone moment.

Joya Matthews, Director of Marketing

Joya Matthews joined the Greater Washington Community Foundation in September 2025 as the Director of Marketing. Here, she helps shape and execute marketing strategies that elevate our donor products and services.

With over a decade of experience in brand storytelling, community engagement, and strategic marketing, Joya specializes in designing and delivering campaigns that inspire action and advance mission-driven goals. Her background spans nonprofit, government and private social impact sectors, where she has built deep expertise in digital strategy, content creation, and storytelling. She has a deep commitment to equity and strongly believes in the good that philanthropy can do.

Before joining The Community Foundation, she served as the Director of Marketing for Prosperity Now, a national economic justice nonprofit, where she led multi-platform digital strategy and managed a cross-functional team to execute high-impact campaigns. Previously, she served as the Deputy Director for the District of Columbia Mayor’s Office of African American Strategic Engagement and the Associate Director of the Mayor’s Office on Women’s Policy and Initiatives, where she led community engagement strategies focused on racial and gender equity. At Delivery Associates, Joya supported philanthropies and governments around the world tell stories that strengthen perspectives around education, climate, economic mobility and more.

Joya received a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/ Public Relations and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Memphis. She is a Tennessee native and a resident of Washington, DC where she lives with her husband and toddler. When she’s not sharing inspiring stories, she’s likely walking her neighborhood or trying new local restaurants.

Milan Thomas, Senior Grants Associate

N. Milan Thomas is a Senior Grants Associate at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, where she supports grantmaking operations within the Finance Department. In this role, she manages high-volume grant processing, ensures compliance with financial and regulatory standards, and contributes to audit readiness and reporting.

Milan brings a strong background in accounts payable/receivable, billing, and nonprofit finance, with experience spanning grant administration, financial reconciliation, and client account management. Prior to joining the Foundation, she held roles in financial operations and billing, where she streamlined processes, supported cross-functional teams, and improved workflow efficiency.

She holds a certificate in Financial Accounting from Harvard Business School Online and a Bachelor of Science in Music Business from Full Sail University.

Sheryl Riggs, Director of Finance

Sheryl brings over two decades of strategic financial experience and nonprofit expertise to the Greater Washington Community Foundation. A Howard University alumna with advanced degrees in accounting and human resources, she has served as a trusted financial strategist and thought leader for nonprofit organizations throughout her career.

A wife and proud mother of six, Sheryl's blended family is affectionately known as the “Love Bunch.” Committed to community service, she volunteers as a board member for L.I.F.E. Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring quality of life for individuals with different abilities. She is a licensed life insurance producer in Maryland, DC, and Virginia, and has been a certified IRS tax preparer for more than 15 years. Each tax season, she provides pro bono tax preparation services for elderly and low-income community members.

Sheryl is passionate about leveraging her financial expertise to create measurable community impact through her work at GWCF, translating philanthropic vision into tangible results.

Ashleigh Hicks, Human Resources & Operations Associate

Ashleigh Hicks is a globally minded professional with three years of HR experience in both nonprofit and government contracting. Raised as a Third Culture Kid in The Philippines, Suriname, Mozambique, and Italy, she brings adaptability and cultural awareness to her work. She holds a B.S. in Exercise Science with a Minor in English from Old Dominion University and enjoys, reading, writing , art, and travel.

Celebrating Rebecca Rothey, Senior Philanthropic Advisor

Earlier this month, we gathered with friends and supporters to celebrate Rebecca Rothey, our Senior Advisor who retired after nine years with The Community Foundation.

With a distinguished career spanning community foundations in DC and Baltimore, national nonprofits, and philanthropic leadership, Rebecca Rothey has helped shape how donors think about generosity, legacy, and impact. Known for her deep expertise, thoughtful counsel, and unmistakable wit, Rebecca has guided countless individuals and families through some of life’s most meaningful philanthropic decisions.

As she prepared for retirement, we sat down with Rebecca to reflect on her career, the evolving landscape of charitable gift planning, and the enduring power of philanthropy to create lasting change. Click here to read some of Rebecca’s insights!

As Rebecca enters this next chapter, her influence will continue to be felt through the donors she guided, the colleagues she mentored, and the philanthropic legacies she helped bring to life. We are deeply grateful for her years of leadership, wisdom, and care, and we wish her every joy in retirement.