Shanta Foundation is thrilled to announce Erika Van Bibb as our new Director of Development! Erika brings years of experience in fundraising, vision casting, organizational development, and equitable leadership to our team. She has a passion for empowering individuals and communities as proven through her professional experience.
Erika’s prowess in fundraising, curriculum development, and brand development will be invaluable as we continue to grow and expand our poverty reduction programs in Southeast Asia, Africa, and potentially Central America. She is deeply committed to social and environmental justice, aligning perfectly with Shanta’s mission to create meaningful and lasting change in impoverished villages worldwide.
We’re excited to welcome Erika to the Shanta family and look forward to the contributions she’ll make to our organization and the communities we serve! Read on to find out more about Erika’s work history.
With over 20 years of leadership experience in philanthropy and international development, Erika brings a wealth of knowledge, a creative perspective, and a profound commitment to social and ecological justice. Her career spans multiple sectors, including the arts, education, design, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid, with significant experience working in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Having studied Art History and Nonprofit Management, Erika began her career in the museum world as a curator. During this time, she discovered a passion for community engagement through programming, public arts projects, and using various platforms to promote social justice—an interest that would guide her professionally and personally. This passion ultimately influenced her transition into international development and humanitarian work.
Erika’s leadership has been shaped by her dedication to fostering innovative, mission-driven initiatives. As a co-founder of an international nature-based school, she helped develop an anti-exploitative, philosophical, and spiritually grounded educational model that not only nurtured the holistic development of children but also catalyzed a growing network of NGO projects across Southeast Asia and beyond. Her work has consistently focused on empowering communities and driving systemic change through creative, strategic solutions. With expertise in major gift solicitation, grant writing, and building lasting partnerships, Erika excels at aligning diverse stakeholders toward shared goals, ensuring long-term sustainability and growth.
Erika couldn’t be more delighted to be joining Shanta Foundation as the Director of Development. Throughout her career, her focus on eradicating poverty through sustainable and ethical support structures has been the guiding backbone of her work. She is incredibly grateful to join such an amazing team and well-established organization. Outside of her professional endeavors, Erika is deeply committed to philanthropy, dedicating much of her free time to supporting nonprofits, NGOs, and grassroots initiatives. She is also an avid traveler, exploring new cultures with her three children and embracing the transformative power of cross-cultural learning. Currently, Erika is based on a small island in the Pacific Northwest, just outside of Seattle, and looks forward to introducing the work of Shanta Foundation to new regions, gathering support along the way.
