CJ Callen

Philanthropy Director
cjcallen@turn.org  |  (415)248-8445 Ext. 325

CJ Callen, who joined TURN on January 13, 2025, is an entrepreneurial leader in the social sector, known for transforming ideas into action to drive equity and justice. With extensive experience as a grant maker, educator, consultant, and strategist, CJ specializes in designing and managing initiatives that empower communities and build organizational capacity. 

As Principal of A Beautiful Mind Consulting, CJ has advised major foundations, individual donors, and nonprofits, developing strategies that support movement building, racial equity, community leadership, and the environment Her work includes shaping philanthropic investments, strengthening grassroots organizing, and providing capacity building support to strengthen nonprofits and coalitions to achieve greater impact.  

Previously, CJ served as Director of Community Leadership & Capacity Building at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), where she led grantmaking initiatives focused on building movement infrastructure, sustainability, and creativity. Her leadership also played a key role in developing CZI’s racial equity grantmaking framework and supporting the Community Team’s learning and development.  

A proud Stanford Law alum with decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, CJ is committed to fostering transformative change through philanthropy, community engagement, and leadership development, and innovation. She serves as a Trustee of Regenerative Social Finance (RSF).