Our Leadership + Staff
The Board of Directors
NCAF Board of Directors at the 2024 NCAF Washington Conference and Fly-in Day! (Left to right: Belva Dorsey-Mott, Janice Warner, Darin Preis, Adrian Fassett, Danielle Garbe Reser, Jennifer Godfrey, Sharon Scott-Chandler and Harold Rice. Not pictured: Robert Piper, Bill Powell and Jim Wansacz.) Photo credit: David F. Choy.
The NCAF Board of Directors Our Board is composed of leaders from Community Action Agencies across all ten federal regions, plus an At‑Large member elected nationally by NCAF members. Together, they bring decades of experience in fighting poverty, advancing economic mobility, and ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard in Washington, D.C. Their regional representation ensures that NCAF’s advocacy reflects the diverse needs and strengths of communities nationwide.
Region I
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Sharon Scott-Chandler
Action for Boston Community Development, Inc.
Boston, MA
Region II
NJ, NY, PR, USVI
Adrian Fassett, President
Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc.
Patchogue, NY
Region III
DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV
Jim Wansacz
Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA
Scranton, PA
Region IV
AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN
Belva Dorsey-Mott
Enrichment Services Program
Columbus, GA
Region V
IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Janice Warner, Treasurer
Community Action Commission of Erie, Huron, and Richland Counties, Inc.
Sandusky, OH
Region VI
AR, LA, NM, OK, TX
Bill Powell, Jr.
South Plains Community Action, Inc.
Levelland, TX
Region VII
IA, KS, MO, NE
Darin Preis
Central Missouri Community Action
Columbia, MO
Region VIII
CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY
Jennifer Godfrey
Utah Community Action
Salt Lake City, UT
Region IX
AZ, CA, HI, NV, Trust Territories
Robert Piper
Honolulu Community Action Program, Inc.
Honolulu, HI
Region X
AK, ID, OR, WA
Danielle Garbe Reser
Blue Mountain Action Council
Walla Walla, WA
At Large
Elected nationally by NCAF members
Harold Rice, Jr
CEDA
Chicago, IL
The Team
NCAF’s staff combines decades of experience in advocacy, policy, and community action. From leading national campaigns to managing day‑to‑day operations, each member plays a vital role in ensuring that the voices of local communities are heard in Washington, D.C. Together, they bring the expertise, relationships, and passion that power NCAF’s mission.
David Bradley
Chief Executive Officer & Co‑Founder
David Bradley has led the National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) since co‑founding it in 1981, ensuring Community Action Agencies remain a trusted and effective part of America’s local solutions. Under his leadership, NCAF has protected and strengthened the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and advanced other key initiatives including the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), the Low‑Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Head Start.
Known for building bipartisan support in challenging political climates, David has secured major legislative victories that have delivered lasting results for low‑income communities. He also helped establish CAPLAW, a legal resource center for the Community Action network, and CAPPAC, a political action committee.
David holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from George Washington University and was a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School. He has been honored as a Kentucky Colonel and Arkansas Traveler for his contributions to public service.
David and his wife Nancy live in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Outside of his work, David is a longtime baseball enthusiast and the part owner of a minor league team, having previously held stakes in several others.
Tara Clark
Chief of Staff
Tara Clark has been with NCAF since 2013 and serves as Chief of Staff, working closely with CEO David Bradley to guide the organization’s strategy, operations, and member engagement. She ensures that NCAF’s advocacy efforts are supported by strong internal systems, clear communications, and effective collaboration across the network.
Originally from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Tara earned her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University’s James Madison College, majoring in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy. She began her career in constituent services for a U.S. Representative from Michigan, focusing on veterans, immigrants, and labor communities. She later earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, where she consulted for Good Work Network in New Orleans to help expand opportunities for minority‑ and women‑owned businesses.
Tara lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband and two children. She enjoys playing hockey, reading, coaching tee‑ball, and spending time with her family.
Maria Elkins
Executive Assistant to the CEO
As the executive assistant to the CEO, Maria provides administrative assistance to David in support of the mission of NCAF including managing his schedule, handling communication and facilitating smooth functioning of daily operations, and other tasks as needed. Before joining full-time, Maria was an intern with NCAF during Summer 2024. This past December, Maria graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in dual degrees of Social Sciences and Education from Berea College.
Born in Illinois, she currently lives in Laurel, MD where she enjoys knitting, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Carla Verkoren
Operations Manager
Carla Verkoren, born in the Netherlands, joined NCAF in March 2014. As Operations Manager, she is responsible for all of NCAF’s operational activities. She is also NCAF’s main fundraising contact, in which capacity she remains in close contact with the network for everything from invoices for the NCAF CAPFacts subscriptions to CAP-PAC events.
Carla has a bachelors degree in Office Management and has over 25 years of experience in supportive functions in the private, public and non-profit sectors.
Carla lives in Fairfax, Virginia with her husband and two girls. She enjoys cooking Indonesian food and collecting Japanese woodblock prints.