Gruber Family Foundation
Leadership & Board
Linda Wyatt Gruber, PRESIDENT
Linda W. Gruber is the president of the Gruber Family Foundation, established in 1987. The foundation funds in the areas of human rights, the arts, progressive journalism, education, reproductive rights, and social safety nets. She has served on the boards of the Global Fund for Women, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and Mother Jones. Prior to this she has worked as a consultant, taught at San Francisco State University and worked for the U.S. Department of Labor. She began her career in the Lyndon Johnson White House.
She is a graduate of Wellesley College. She lives in Marin with her husband, Jon D. Gruber; they have two grown children and six grandchildren.
Ellyn Weisel, SECRETARY
Ellyn Weisel has been working in the Bay Area ever since graduating from Colby College with a BA in History and American Studies. She currently serves as the Executive Director at Wild Care, a wildlife rehabilitation center and hospital with an additional focus on student education, in San Rafael. Prior to that, she was the Director of Development. Before her tenure at Wild Care, Ellyn worked at 10,000 Degrees in San Rafael as the Chief Development Officer, raising funds for the nonprofit which helps disadvantage students gain access to college. She also had stints as the Foundation Director at the DripDrop Foundation, as Vice President of Corporate Consulting at International Management Group in San Francisco, and as the Development Consultant for the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco. As well, she was Vice President of Development at Common Sense Media. Ellyn and her husband have three grown children and reside in Marin County.
Laura Talmus
Laura Talmus is the co-founder of Beyond Differences, a national, student-led nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all youth feel valued, included, respected, and accepted by their peers. Under her leadership, the organization advanced its mission for over fifteen years before integrating with Sandy Hook Promise.
Before founding Beyond Differences, Ms. Talmus operated a successful independent consulting firm, specializing in strategic fundraising for progressive nonprofits and Democratic candidates. She also serves on the Advisory Council of the Northern California Holocaust Education Center and on the Advisory Board of Know Yourself Academy, an education technology company.
J. Trent Nutting
Trent Nutting is the Director of Admissions and Tuition Assistance at Marin Academy in San Rafael. Prior to joining Marin Academy, Trent worked as a teacher, coach, residential adviser, and Director of Summer Programs at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. He received his BA in Creative Writing from Middlebury College and his J.D. from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He lives with his wife, Sarah, and their four daughters in Ross, California.
Kenneth J. Petrilla, TREASURER
Ken Petrilla's professional experience includes Executive Director of the California-China Office of Trade and Investment and a long career with Wells Fargo Bank. His career with Wells Fargo spanned over 30 years and included: Chief Executive Officer for international banking in London and Regional President of Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo Bank International, Dublin, Ireland; Chief Executive Officer of Wells Fargo Securities, Ltd. (London) and Managing Director of Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank. Ken has had business assignments living and working in London, Shanghai, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He has extensive corporate governance experience and has held teaching positions at
the University of San Francisco and the University of California Berkeley Extension. He has also been a guest lecturer at the University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China, and the Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird). Ken holds dual U.S. and UK citizenship and resides with his wife Sarah in Marin County, California.
Christopher D. Dunham, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Chris Dunham became Executive Director of the Gruber Family Foundation in the Spring of 2018. Prior to this position he was a school administrator and science teacher in New York City and Westchester County, NY. He holds a BA in English from Wesleyan University and an MA in Instructional Technology and Media from Teacher's College, Columbia University. He resides in Marin County with his wife and three children.
