The Team

Who we are

Diana Aviv

Founder & CEO

Diana Aviv is a nationally recognized leader in the charitable and civic sectors, with decades of experience strengthening nonprofit institutions and advancing democratic values at the intersection of civil society, public policy, and philanthropy. Diana is the founder and Principal of ourCovenant, whose mission is building and deepening partnerships with communities of faith in support of democracy. She previously served as President and CEO of Independent Sector, where she was a leading voice on nonprofit independence, advocacy, and public trust, working closely with nonprofit leaders, major foundations, and policymakers across the political spectrum. Throughout her career, Diana has advised national and community-based organizations on governance, narrative strategy, and constructive engagement with elected officials. She currently leads the Charitable Independence Initiative, a multi-state effort to equip nonprofits with the skills, confidence, and relationships needed to defend their independence, elevate their public standing, and engage policymakers with integrity and impact.

diana.aviv@outlook.com

Chris Merriman

Chief of Staff

Chris serves as Chief of Staff at the Charitable Independence Initiative, where he provides strategic planning, research, and organizational support. He possesses a decade of experience in the community development, government affairs, and education sectors. Chris previously worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development, where he served as a Presidential Management Fellow, and served in the Peace Corps. He graduated summa cum laude from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies with a Master's in International Economics and completed a Bachelor’s degree in History from Yale University. Chris enjoys playing soccer, playing the drums, surfing, and traveling.

christopher.merriman@charitableindependence.org

Erica Greeley

Managing Director for Programs and Public Affairs

Erica is the Managing Director of Programs and Public Affairs at the Charitable Independence Initiative. She brings 20 years of experience in senior roles at nonpartisan, nonprofit networks where she helped organizations increase their local impact and national footprint. Erica has trained and supported nonprofit leaders in leveraging innovation, advocacy, partnerships, and community engagement, among other topics. She began her career running after school programs in underserved neighborhoods and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Management. At CII, she works with local communities to elevate the standing of nonprofits through communicating their impact and strengthening constructive relationships with public officials.

erica.greeley@charitableindependence.org

Evan Papp

Director of Communications and Media Relations

Evan Papp is a strategic communications leader and media producer working at the intersection of civil society, public policy, and community resilience. Over the past decade, he has strengthened public-serving institutions through narrative strategy, stakeholder engagement and public communications across government, nonprofit, business and international development. Before joining the Charitable Independence Initiative, he supported strategic communications at FEMA, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Peace Corps. He is also the founder of a creative production studio publishing multimedia storytelling using documentaries, podcasts, and essays. At CII, he helps nonprofit leaders communicate impact and build constructive relationships the media to strengthen public trust.

evan.papp@charitableindependence.org

The Team

Who We Are