As an advisor, I work with mission-driven leaders, philanthropists, and organizations at moments of change — when what once worked no longer does, and the path forward calls for clarity, courage, and new ways of thinking. My work helps organizations assess what’s holding them back, design strategies and structures that unlock potential, and navigate the practical work of transformation with steadiness and focus.

I bring to this work more than two decades of experience across the social sector. Over the years, I’ve partnered with foundations, corporations, and nonprofits of all sizes — from the Hewlett Foundation and Wells Fargo Bank to A Better Childhood, The Grand Canyon Trust, and The Stewardship Network — as well as a select group of individual philanthropists designing and implementing their giving strategies..

Before launching Samantha Ender Advisory, I helped build and lead a newly-funded $350MM family foundation as its first Vice President of Programs. Previously, I spent six years as an Executive Director and Senior Program Officer with the Private Foundation Services team at JPMorgan Private Bank, where I supported clients in all aspects of their philanthropic practice and managed $25M in annual grantmaking for 50 charitable entities. Earlier in my career, I worked with organizations including Partners In Health, Boston University School of Public Health, and the Academy for Educational Development — experiences that grounded my belief in the power of clear vision, thoughtful strategy, and human connection to drive change. As an important part of my engagement with the broader social sector, I have served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations and participated in numerous funder collaboratives, including two years of service as the Co-Chair of New York Grantmakers in the Arts.

I hold a master’s degree in public health from Boston University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Amherst College. I live with my family in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I ground myself in the vibrant cultures and wild beauty of the American Southwest.