We are industry leaders who came together to help more people activate the right tools and pathways to unlock meaningful outcomes.

OUR STORY

Over the course of our careers, we’ve been sought out to work at the highest levels of philanthropy, advocacy, and social impact.

In those spaces we learned from extraordinary leaders committed to equity and justice and deepened our own understanding of the most powerful levers and strategies for affecting lasting change.

We built organizations from the ground up, served as trusted advisors, developed groundbreaking initiatives, shaped global profiles, and led international campaigns.

At the start of 2021, we sensed an opportunity to harness our unique experience, insights, and networks to help more people tackle the issues they care about — by strategically deploying their resources, their influence, and their voice. 

We approach this work every day with a belief that a more equitable, just, and sustainable world is possible. That belief fuels us to keep thinking boldly at every turn and deploying strategies that matter.

REBECCA GOLDMAN AND CATHERINE ST-LAURENT, Acora Co-Founders

Photo credit: ADG Photography

OUR TEAM

From leading philanthropic initiatives to designing groundbreaking impact campaigns and positioning strategies, we have a breadth of experience that results in a fresh and creative perspective. We are honored to draw on our experience to partner with our clients to pursue positive change.

Catherine St-Laurent
Co-Founder

A global, multilingual executive who has led philanthropic and communications strategies at the highest level.

  • One of PR Week’s “40 Under 40” and most recently as one of Inc.’s 2023 Female Founders, she brings a unique blend of communications acumen and narrative expertise. Previously, she served as Chief of Staff to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex as well as founding Executive Director of Archewell Foundation. Prior to this, Catherine spent a decade working with Melinda French Gates shaping her public profile and launching Pivotal Ventures, her investment and incubation company. 

Rebecca Goldman
Co-Founder

A nationally recognized impact leader who has spent her career working at the nexus of philanthropy, business, and social change.

  • Named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business,” Rebecca brings innovation and results to the sector.

    Rebecca was one of the founders of TIME’S UP. Before that, she spent over a decade in philanthropy as the founding director of Good Robot, the impact arm of Bad Robot Productions, as well as executive director of Katie McGrath & J.J. Abrams Family Foundation. Prior to this, Rebecca worked as a senior philanthropic and political advisor at Margery Tabankin & Associates. She began her career as a founding team member of Endeavor, now the world’s leading community of high-impact entrepreneurs.

Ali Hartman
Senior Strategist

Leader in responsible investment, ESG integration, venture philanthropy, and impact investing.

  • A lifelong activist and changemaker, Ali was most recently Head of Responsible Investment at Tiger Global and founding President of Tiger Global Impact Ventures (TGIV). In this hybrid role, she created the firm's approach to responsible investment and designed and executed Tiger’s venture philanthropy and venture impact strategies. Previously, she was Head of Global Citizenship and Director of ESG Strategy at KKR. She also worked on global sustainability at Coca-Cola, studied worker rights at the (ILO) in Paris, and completed fieldwork around the world. Ali is a service-driven leader, holding roles as a strategic advisor or board member for more than 25 nonprofits across the country.

Chevenee Reavis
Senior Strategist

A philanthropic Executive and senior advisor to philanthropists, nonprofits, and businesses.

  • Chevenee serves as the Executive Director of Troper Wojcicki Philanthropies, a Silicon Valley family foundation. She previously served as Director of Strategy and Advocacy at Water.org where, as part of the founding leadership team, helped scale the organization 10x in funds raised and people served since its founding. She also served as Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer for Kickstart International, Communications Officer for Management Sciences for Health, and led communications and fundraising at leading microfinance organizations.  In addition to her work in philanthropy, Chevenee served as Chief of Staff at a renown visual effects company and led CSR communications programs at Starbucks Coffee Company for global commodities. Chevenee serves on the Boards of the Tipping Point Foundation, the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, and Numi Tea. 

Gretchen Reiter
Senior Strategist

A top communications executive with 20 years experience across brand positioning, integrated communications, and marketing strategies.

  • Gretchen is best known for her success in proactive communications strategies that advance causes and diffuse crises. Gretchen advises top business, non-profit, and government leaders; engaging diverse stakeholders; building and supervising dynamic teams; and managing multiple strategies with multimillion-dollar budgets.

Danni Bianco
Director

A cross-sector strategist who has designed equity and engagement initiatives for Fortune 500s, high-growth startups, and national campaigns.

  • Danni draws on experience spanning high-growth startups, political campaigns, and Fortune 500 strategy to translate broad social commitments into actionable strategies and initiatives centered on advancing equity and civic engagement in the U.S.. Prior to Acora, Danni partnered with clients at Deloitte Consulting, designing health equity strategies and ESG programs for complex organizations. She also served as a strategist for the Harris-Walz campaign, supporting leadership on Battleground programming and stakeholder engagement. She holds dual master’s degrees from the Wharton School (MBA) and the Harvard Kennedy School (MPA).

Alex Bostian
Manager

A multilingual international development strategist who has strengthened organizations through systems-driven approaches to social change.

  • Alex brings a creative, interdisciplinary approach to Acora, blending international development expertise with human-centered design and a focus on strengthening the internal systems that enable organizations to scale and sustain impact. His work is grounded in a “development for development” approach that prioritizes organizational capacity and strategic engagement as the foundation for meaningful social change.

    Most recently, Alex served as Director of Development at the United Nations Association in Boston, where he led fundraising strategy and corporate partnerships to advance global advocacy initiatives. He began his career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Moldova, advising civil society organizations on community engagement and teaching 11th and 12th grade English. Alex holds a Master’s degree in International Development Policy from Duke University.

Our network of best-in-class collaborators bring their unique expertise and perspective to specific client engagements.

STRATEGIC COLLABORATORS


Seasoned communications professional and advisor to Fortune 500 CEOs, Founders, and professional athletes. Formerly, Senior Managing Director at Teneo and Emmy-Award-winning producer at CBS News "60 Minutes"

Casey Morgan


Emergency medicine physician and healthcare expert with a focus on equity, access, and policy

Dr. Dara Kass


Emmy award-winning filmmaker, founder and executive producer, McGee Media

Dyllan McGee


Finance leader providing companies and nonprofits with strategic direction, hands-on guidance, and operational solutions. Founder, Dragonfly Accounting Partners

Jena Raysbrook


Startup leader and brand builder; co-founder of Birchbox and former executive at beloved brands like Hungryroot and Coterie.

Mollie Chen


Leading marketing and PR strategist who has shaped groundbreaking campaigns for organizations and leaders across entertainment, sports, and social good

Ngoc Nguyen


Social impact entrepreneur and executive, senior climate advisor to philanthropies, and executive coach to climate tech companies

Oliver Sabot


Award-winning design leader and strategist, formerly CEO of IDEO

Sandy Speicher


Gender equity expert and policy advocate who has been at the forefront of the national campaign to win a paid family and medical leave program

Vicki Shabo


Kalisha Dessources Figures

Impact strategist and policy expert, formerly Special Assistant to President Biden and Policy Advisor to the Obama White House Council on Women and Girls. Founder, KDF Strategies.


Katie McCormick Lelyveld

Strategic positioning and communications advisor, formerly press secretary to First Lady Michelle Obama and founder of MELD


Non-profit development leader with 20 years of experience raising philanthropic dollars for issues such as human rights and international development

Maggie Ball


Impact leader and philanthropy advisor with 25 years of experience spanning impact investing, education reform, international development, and social entrepreneurship; Founder of August Impact Partners and Founding Executive Director, now Advisor, to Alta Futures

Sarah Berghorst