July 2026

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The year 2025 was one of profound loss and transition for the Dewan Foundation. A year ago, we suffered the unexpected and heartbreaking loss of our beloved Executive Director, Maria Lefkow Sorensen. Maria was a true force for good in this world; she was smart, kind, funny, deeply compassionate, and committed to supporting underserved communities. Her presence, warmth, and infectious spirit are deeply missed by all of us, as well as by the many grant partners she championed. We spent much of the past year navigating this immense loss, but we did so guided by the values, dedication, and vision that Maria exemplified every day.

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Navigating a transition of this magnitude requires strong leadership, and we are profoundly grateful to Catherine Cassidy, who stepped in as our Interim Executive Director. Catherine's steady hand, grace, and tireless commitment allowed us to honor Maria's legacy while ensuring the foundation's vital work continued. We thank Catherine for helping to guide us through this storm.

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Despite the hardships, we remained steadfast in our commitments. In our previous letter, we shared that in response to shifting economic and political landscapes, the Dewan Foundation would prioritize long-term, sustainable infrastructure. A few key highlights from our 2025 work include:

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• Continued grantmaking support: We continued our traditional support for organizations making a difference on the ground. We provided $277,913 in funding to 28 organizations across our grant programs in 2025.

 

• Maximizing our impact through renewable energy investments: We successfully funded and finalized eight new solar installations for our nonprofit partners, totaling $1 million in funding. These installations will insulate our partners from fluctuating energy costs and generate significant long-term operational savings, allowing them to redirect vital resources back into their core community programs for decades to come.

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Our belief in the transformative power of clean energy has only deepened. In 2026, we are expanding our vision and continuing to prioritize our investments in solar projects, both domestically and abroad. We are also continuing to refine our grantmaking to be as impactful as possible. In March, we were thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Arianna Cisneros, who will help us continue to carry on our work with precision and purpose. 

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We are profoundly grateful for the resilience, grace, and dedication demonstrated by our grant partners, our leadership, and our community during a year of significant change. We look forward to continuing our work alongside you in this season of renewal, growth, and forward momentum

 

With our gratitude,

The Board of Directors

John and Susan Dewan Foundation