Former U.S. Treasury and philanthropic leader brings deep expertise in inclusive economic growth

The Kresge Foundation today announced that Janis Bowdler has been appointed to its Board of Trustees, which serves as the governing body overseeing the foundation’s financial management, operations, grantmaking and social investing.

Bowdler is a nationally recognized leader in economic inclusion and equity, with more than two decades of experience spanning government, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Most recently, she served as Counselor for Racial Equity at the U.S. Department of the Treasury where she advised the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on building an inclusive economy and advancing opportunities for historically marginalized people, businesses and communities. In that role, she launched the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, established the Treasury Advisory Committee on Racial Equity and oversaw efforts to embed equity considerations into implementation of the American Rescue Plan and Inflation Reduction Act.

“Janis brings extraordinary expertise in aligning capital and policy know-how to expand economic opportunity to those who need it most,” said Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation. “Her creative and principled work at the JPMorgan Chase Foundation was pathbreaking in its support of equity and opportunity in American cities. And her efforts at the Department of the Treasury set a national benchmark for inclusive economic development. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome her to Kresge’s board.”

Before joining the Treasury Department, Bowdler was president of the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Foundation, overseeing a $2 billion philanthropic portfolio aimed at expanding economic opportunity in more than 35 countries. She also led the firm’s Equity and Inclusion Working Group and collaborated on JPMorgan Chase’s $30 billion commitment to address structural racial inequality within the U.S. economy.

Earlier in her career, Bowdler spent a decade as economic policy director at UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza) where she became a leading national voice on the economic well-being of Latino families, testifying before Congress and publishing extensively on issues of housing, employment, retirement security and financial health.

“I have worked with Janis in many roles over many years, and time and again, she has demonstrated her ability to work across sectors and move large institutions toward a more just society,” said Cecilia Muñoz, chair of Kresge’s Board of Trustees. “She has fueled national innovations in economic equity in dozens of communities across the country. She will be a tremendous addition to Kresge’s Board as we navigate the complexity of the moment and the challenges facing the communities we serve.”

Bowdler has authored several publications on financial opportunity and economic mobility. Most recently she co-authored Building Equitable Cities: How to Drive Economic Mobility and Regional Growth. She previously served on the boards of Raza Development Fund, the Low Income Investment Fund and Opportunity Agenda.

Bowdler earned a master’s degree in urban policy from Cleveland State University and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social science from Malone University.