Ethelind b. kaba

As the Executive Director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation, Ethelind oversees the efforts of the Foundation to make life-changing opportunities available to early childhood and adolescent girls in Minnesota. In her role, she is responsible for strategic direction, shepherding high-impact awareness campaigns, maintaining strong community partnerships, expanding the reach of the Foundation, and working closely with the board of directors and staff to raise the annual budget, and managing the financial operations. 

Before joining the Foundation, Ethelind was the Vice President of External Affairs at the Center for Economic Inclusion, the nation’s first organization exclusively dedicated to advancing economic inclusion across all sectors in a major metropolitan area. In her role, she led strategic, effective communications, storytelling, marketing, and brand management and fund development initiatives to support efforts to build a racially equitable and inclusive economy.

Passionate about advancing equity, human dignity, and potential, Ethelind previously founded The Stargirl Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering teen and tween girls, for which she was named a Changemaker by MN Women’s Press. She also offers her experience and talents to several organizational committees and boards, including:

• National Governing Board Member, The Jeremiah Program, a nationwide organization dedicated to transforming the lives of low-income single mothers and their children
• Board of Regents, Augsburg University, a private university known for its commitment to an intentional experience for all students, defined by excellence and guided by faith
• Committee Member, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, advocates for affordable housing
• Previous volunteer roles also include serving as a member of the Edina Public Schools Legislative Action Committee and TPT Community Resiliency Advisory Council.

A multidisciplinary storyteller, Ethelind has worked with local Twin Cities emerging artists, designers, and small business entrepreneurs to build engaged audiences. In all her work, Ethelind strives to spark in others the same curiosity about the human condition that motivates her.

Ethelind’s formal educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies from Hamline University, a master’s degree in Strategic Communication at the University of Minnesota Hubbard School of Journalism, and a Policy fellowship at the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Journalism. In 2022, Ethelind was selected to represent the Twin Cities region at Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program.

Ethelind has been published in several publications and invited to speak to corporate and nonprofit organizations nationwide on economic mobility, removing barriers for women and girls to thrive, advancing workplace belonging, and breaking generational cycles of poverty. In 2024, Ethelind was included on the Twin Cities Business 100 List and also as one recognized as one of 50 Black Leaders to know in Minnesota.

An immigrant from Ghana, Ethelind lives in Edina with her family, where she is still trying to figure out how to fall in love with road trips. 

Email: ekaba@annbancroftfoundation.org
Direct: 612-361-8190