Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) welcomes three new members to its Board of Trustees, Jennifer Burr Altabef, Alice Rodriguez, and James D. “Jim” Shields. These new trustees will help guide CFT toward its vision of thriving communities for all.
CFT board members are selected for their diverse knowledge of community needs, record of charitable service, and fiscal responsibility. Trustees are tasked with overseeing the largest community foundation in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation. Since its founding in 1953, CFT has awarded more than $3 billion in cumulative grants. Trustees help plan and manage CFT’s assets across the more than 1,400 charitable funds that create substantial positive change across our communities.
“We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to our Board of Trustees as we work to grow community giving and expand community impact,” said Wayne White, president and CEO at CFT.
NEW TRUSTEE: Jennifer Burr Altabef
Jennifer Burr Altabef is an active civic volunteer. In addition to her board service at CFT, she serves as Chair of the Board of North Texas Public Broadcasting (KERA), Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Southern Methodist University, and Chair of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts Executive Board. She also serves on the boards of the NPR Foundation, the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and TACA.
Before devoting herself full-time to civic and philanthropic involvement, Jennifer practiced law in Dallas for 28 years, with a focus on representing employers in labor and employment counseling, compliance and litigation. She served as a law clerk for Senior United States District Judge Joe E. Estes, as a shareholder at Locke Purnell Rain Harrell, and a partner at Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal.
Jennifer received her B.F.A. in Journalism, cum laude, from SMU and her J.D. from SMU.
Jennifer has received SMU’s Distinguished Alumni Award, TACA’s Silver Cup Award, The Dallas Zoological Society’s Good Egg Award, and Texas Appleseed’s Good Apple Award.
Jennifer is the immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Dallas Theater Center. She is also a previous chair of the Dallas Zoological Society and SMU’s University Libraries Executive Board. Additionally, she served a previous term as chair of North Texas Public Broadcasting (KERA), as chair of The Thanks-Giving Foundation, and as a board member of the Global Fund for Children and Big Thought.
NEW TRUSTEE: Alice Rodriguez
Alice Rodriguez is co-owner of Kendall Milagro Inc., a boutique home builder business that she and her husband founded over 20 years ago.
Alice has over 35 years of extensive banking experience with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors. She’s held executive positions in business banking, consumer Banking, and wealth management. Her most recent role was Head of JPMorgan Chase Community Impact Organization, where she provided strategic counsel and leadership in community engagement initiatives and localization strategy.
Alice earned a B.B.A. in Management from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Alice currently sits on the boards of Oncor Electric Delivery Co. and Huntington Bank.
Recent honors and awards include the Mujeres Legendarias de Ford Leadership Award, the Girl Scouts of North Texas Women of Distinction Award, the Latino Leaders Maestro Award, the University of Texas-RGV Distinguished Alumni Award, and many others.
Alice is Chairwoman of DreamSpring, a CDFI, and past Chairwoman of United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the boards of United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Fund, AVANCE., Latino Business Action Network, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
NEW TRUSTEE: James D. ”Jim” Shields
James D. “Jim” Shields is an attorney, entrepreneur, and investor with more than 40 years of experience advising financial institutions and closely held and founder-led businesses.
He is the founder of legal practice Shields Legal Group, founder of The Shields Group, a collection of operating and investment companies, and Lighthouse Value Partners (LVP), an advisory firm dedicated to helping owners innovate their family business and life’s work into lasting, multigenerational impact.
Jim is the creator of Impact 365, a charitable initiative that encourages families and business owners to integrate generosity and philanthropy into everyday life and strengthen their long-term philanthropic vision.
His 2024 bestselling book, Wealth That Lasts: 10 Principles of Legacy Wealth, reflects his long-standing commitment to helping families build and sustain meaningful legacies.
Jim earned both his B.A. and J.D. from St. Mary’s University. Jim serves on the Baylor Scott & White Sammons Cancer Center Advisory Board.
CFT’S BOARD LEADERSHIP
Connie O’Neill is CFT’s board chair and previously served as vice chair/chair-elect. She has extensive board experience through her chairmanships of the boards of Children’s Medical Center Foundation, The Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Highland Park Education Foundation. She is also a member of the board of trustees of Southern Methodist University and serves on the Senior Source and Momentous Institute boards of directors.
Matrice Ellis-Kirk is chair-elect. As founder and CEO of Ellis Kirk Group, Matrice has over 20 years of experience in the executive search industry with deep knowledge in governance. Matrice is the board chair of Forest Forward, chair emeritus and life board member of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and is a board member of the Jefferies Financial Group. In 2022, she was named recipient of the 93rd Linz Award.
TRIBUTES TO OUTGOING TRUSTEES FOR A DECADE OF SERVICE
Two of CFT’s long-time trustees, Richie Butler and Sarah Losinger, will be retiring from CFT’s Board after a decade of service and impact.
“We couldn’t be more grateful for their steadfast leadership and the imprint they’ve left on our organization and community. We extend deep appreciation for their decade of service to CFT,” said Wayne White.
Richie Butler is the senior pastor of the historic St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church in Dallas and the founder of Project Unity. He previously served as CFT’s Board Chair. Under his visionary leadership, Project Unity offers community building and diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions through its “Together We” programs.
Sarah Losinger is a community volunteer who is highly active in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. She has extensive grantmaking experience through her chairmanship of the McCune Charitable Foundation and is a former chair of the UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Friends of the Alzheimer Disease Center.
