Chief Executive Officer & President
Foundation for Louisiana
Charmel Gaulden is a lawyer and philanthropic executive with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit administration, program design, and strategic advocacy. She previously served as the Vice President of Public Safety Grants at Baptist Community Ministries and chair of the Greater New Orleans Funders Network (GNOFN) Criminal Justice action table, a collection of seven local and national funders working to support equity and justice in the Greater New Orleans region. Charmel is known for her innovative grantmaking and thought leadership in reducing violence and accelerating criminal legal reform, and for being a talented convener across sectors toward solving our most intransigent challenges. Licensed in both Georgia and Louisiana, Charmel has practiced law in both state and federal courts. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Xavier University of Louisiana and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia.
