Haven Leeming
Senior Program Officer, Builders Initiative
Haven Leeming is a Program Officer for Builders Initiative and believes that philanthropic efforts should always put communities first. As a program officer, Haven helps establish internal, effective grantmaking strategies that demonstrate the foundation’s support of and alignment with organizations committed to improving food systems for rural and urban residents in Chicago and throughout the Midwest.
Haven developed her philanthropic and subject-matter expertise during her previous tenures at The Chicago Community Trust, the region’s community foundation, and the IDP Foundation, a small family foundation. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Chicago Region Food System Fund, which responds to hunger and business disruption by bolstering the region’s communities and local food system. Haven continues to establish relationships and partnerships with organizations and grantees interested in improving key standards of practice in multiple stages of food systems management, production, and accessibility.
Haven graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and earned a joint master’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in public policy from the Booth School of Business and Harris School of Public Policy from The University of Chicago respectively. Even though she misses the pine trees and salty scented air of her native Maine, she now loves the sound of the El, walking in her Andersonville neighborhood, and making mean grilled cheese sandwiches with her husband and daughter.