Tené Traylor

Tené Traylor joined the Kendeda Fund as a Fund Advisor in 2016. She oversees the Atlanta portfolio with a focus on equitable access to high-quality K12 education and economic opportunity (emphasis on long-term affordability, community wealth building, and accessible quality transit) for historically marginalized populations and communities of color in metro Atlanta. She also manages a short-term national portfolio dedicated to restoring and reclaiming dignity to work for people living with a current or old criminal conviction.

Before joining Kendeda, Tené was a senior program officer at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.  For ten years, she led the Community Foundation’s community development and neighborhood transformation grantmaking including the Neighborhood Fund and launched several related programs and initiatives. Tené worked to identify, develop, and steward collaborative relationships and resources to amplify the importance of place-based philanthropy, equity and civic leadership.

Since 2000, Tené has spent her career in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector with United Way for Greater Atlanta and The Zeist Foundation, Inc.  At United Way, she launched the state’s first youth individual development account and secured millions from local and national funders for youth and youth development for the Atlanta region.

Tené has a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in public policy and nonprofit administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Georgia State University.  Tené is on the board of The Center for Community Progress and the current board chair for the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative. She also sits on several local committees, task forces, and advisory boards. Tené is a Georgia native and loves spending time with her family.