Brenda Falk joined the Johnson Center in March 2025 as a research manager. Her background includes foundation and nonprofit work, and she enjoys being of service to the field through research, writing, and thought leadership.

In recent years, Brenda worked as a consultant partnering with Davidoff Mission-Driven Business Strategies and ThinkPlace providing strategic planning and community engagement qualitative research services for foundation, affordable housing, and senior services clients in Illinois, Michigan, and the Gulf Coast. She held a Policy Associate position at Steans Family Foundation in Chicago, managing a portion of their policy advocacy grantmaking portfolio and providing research support. Her career also includes service at Humboldt Area Foundation in northern California as a board and executive liaison, community organizer, and special projects manager.

Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies: Latin American Studies and Spanish from Cal Poly Humboldt and a Master of Human Rights from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. She lives with her husband and elderly cat in Grand Rapids, Mich., and spends her free time reading, gardening, and practicing yoga.