Marilyn Gelber, President, was the founding Executive Director of the Independence Community Foundation, and established it as Brooklyn’s leading philanthropy; she then led its transformation into the Brooklyn Community Foundation. A lifelong New Yorker and current resident of Boerum Hill, Ms. Gelber served 28 years in NYC’s public sector, including positions as Commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Executive Assistant to the Brooklyn Borough President, and Director of Neighborhood Strategy Planning for the NYC Department of City Planning. Marilyn serves on various public and private nonprofit boards and has received several awards and honorary degrees from Brooklyn institutions.