At this pivotal moment in Borealis Philanthropy’s journey, we are proud to welcome new leaders to our Board of Directors—visionaries whose experience and commitment reflect the depth of our philanthropic and movement ecosystems. As we move from a decade of responsive grantmaking into a new chapter of long-term strategy and collective power-building, this board expansion is not just timely—it’s essential. These leaders join us as stewards of Borealis’ future, helping to ensure the stability, clarity, and resourcing required to meet the next decade of movement needs with courage and care.
Welcoming Our New Board Members
Please join us in welcoming Mary Ellen Reilly and Alex M. Johnson to our board of directors!
Mary Ellen Reilly (she/her)
Chief Fiduciary Officer and Managing Director, Investment Management & Trust
Fifth Third Bank
Mary Ellen Reilly is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in strategic program development, change management, risk management, and fiduciary governance. She currently serves as Chief Fiduciary Officer and Managing Director, Investment Management & Trust at Fifth Third Bank, overseeing $70 billion in assets under management. In this role, she directs thought leadership, trading, investment portfolio management, client servicing, and fiduciary administration for over 12,000 clients and 350 employees.
Previously, she held leadership roles at M&T Bank/Wilmington Trust, including Director of Compliance Risk Management and Chief Compliance Officer, responsible for compliance activities covering approximately $100 billion in assets.
She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The Canisius College of Buffalo, New York, and serves on several boards, including ArtWorks Cincinnati and the Ohio Valley Foundation.
Alex M. Johnson (he/him)
Vice President of Public Affairs
The California Wellness Foundation
Alex M. Johnson is vice president of public affairs at The California Wellness Foundation, where he oversees the department’s government relations, community engagement and strategic communications. Alex returned to Cal Wellness in January 2024 after serving as vice president at Bryson Gillette, a strategic communications and public affairs firm where he led efforts to support clients working to create change across multiple sectors, including education, government, philanthropy, and nonprofits. Before his time at Bryson Gillette, he served as a senior leader at Cal Wellness for nearly five years in various grantmaking roles.
Before joining Cal Wellness, Alex was managing director for Californians for Safety and Justice, where he led efforts calling for an end to over-incarceration and a renewed focus on safety priorities rooted in prevention and health. Prior to this, he was executive director of Children’s Defense Fund-California, where he led statewide advocacy, policy, program and organizing efforts to ensure access to quality affordable health coverage and care for children and low-income families, reform the juvenile justice system, promote educational equity, end child poverty, and improve outcomes for children of color.
Alex serves on the boards of Southern California Grantmakers, Urban Peace Institute, Trust for Public Land, and the UCLA Luskin School Board of Advisors. He previously served on the Los Angeles County Board of Education and Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. A graduate of Morehouse College and American University, Washington College of Law, Alex’s writings have appeared in Huffington Post, The Guardian, Los Angeles Daily News, San Jose Mercury News, Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, California Health Report, and Sacramento Bee.
Announcing Our New Leadership Team
Please join us in welcoming our board’s new leadership team!
BOARD CHAIR
Stephanie Fuerstner Gillis (she/her)
Director, Impact Driven Philanthropy — Raikes Foundation
VICE CHAIR
Cara Reedy (she/her)
Founder and Director — Disabled Journalists Association
SECRETARY
Charles Ryan Long (he/him/beloved)
Manager of Resource Strategy — Movement for Black Lives
TREASURER
Mary Ellen Reilly (she/her)
Chief Fiduciary Officer and Managing Director, Investment Management & Trust — Fifth Third Bank
We are so grateful to our board members for devoting their time and talents to supporting us in sharpening our work, extending our impact, and helping us move towards our collective vision of a whole, new world.