

Heidi Ellard, Board Chair
Heidi has more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, communications, business management, and community organizing. She brings a deep passion and enthusiasm to the nonprofit and private sector organizations with whom she works. A trustee since 2007, Heidi has been dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability practices, supporting grassroots organizations through impact investing and targeted grantmaking, and encouraging cultural awareness and inclusion in the United States and abroad.

Henry Paulus
Henry is a retired biochemist and former colleague of our founder, Don Comb, at Harvard Medical School. Henry has been a trustee of the foundation since its inception in 1982 and feels strongly that the wisdom of Indigenous communities will help slow the destruction of our environment.

David Comb
Dave Comb is the son of our founder and shares his father’s passion for protecting the earth’s natural resources. Dave has spent two decades working in design, marketing, and corporate social responsibility roles for two biotechnology businesses on the North Shore of Massachusetts, Cell Signaling Technology (CST) and New England Biolabs. Dave recently retired from CST as its director of corporate social responsibility, managing CST’s sustainability programs and philanthropic initiatives, including small grants, scholarships, and arts programs. Prior to that, Dave ran a photography studio in downtown Boston for several years after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. Dave has been a trustee since 2002 and also serves on the boards of the Ipswich River Watershed Association and Ocean Genome Legacy.

Dylan Comb
Dylan is a grandson of our founder Don Comb and has been a trustee since 2017. Coming from a background in marine science, Dylan is passionate about conservation and the restoration of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. He currently works in the nonprofit sector as a researcher, utilizing genomic tools to answer fisheries-related questions. With a love for travel, learning, and interacting with diverse peoples and cultures, Dylan has visited many of our grassroots partners. He continues to be inspired and humbled by our grantees’ incredible passion, effort, and vital work.

Jovial King
Jovial has been a trustee since 2017. She is an entrepreneur, herbalist, environmentalist, and the granddaughter of our founder. The grantees she visited with her grandfather immensely impacted her at a young age, and it has been a great joy for Jovial to step into her role as a trustee. She believes deeply in the power of grassroots organizations and the importance of protecting biodiversity.