The Board of Directors at New England Biolabs Foundation (NEBF) announced on 10 February 2026 that Executive Director, Jessica Brown, has decided to step down from her role at the foundation, effective 30 April 2026. After 17 years at NEBF, Brown is ready to pursue new projects and challenges in the fields of community-based conservation and philanthropy. Clare Dowd, current Executive Director of Creative Action Institute, has been tapped as her successor.
"This decision has been bittersweet. My years with NEBF have been some of the most rewarding of my career, so finding the right moment to step back from this incredible organization was never going to be easy,” said Brown of her tenure with the foundation. “Above all, the opportunity to learn about our grantees’ work – whether through a site visit, at a workshop, or in the pages of a proposal—has been one of my greatest joys during my time at NEBF. I continue to be inspired by their resilience and resourcefulness.”
Joining NEBF in 2009, Brown is only the second Executive Director to lead the foundation since its creation in 1982, by Donald Comb, the founder of New England Biolabs, Inc. A molecular biologist, Comb was inspired by the diversity of life on earth and the power of local communities and created the foundation based on the simple premise that by thoughtfully investing in the work of people living and working in areas of high biodiversity, one can make a contribution to conservation on a local and global scale. That premise still guides NEBF’s work today, as it reaches grassroots organizations in countries of Central America, Andean South America and West Africa.
“Jessica has played a critical role in the development and success of the foundation,” said Heidi Ellard, NEBF Board Chair. “Under her leadership, NEBF has refined its geographic focus, honed the rigor with which it undertakes its grant-making, and deepened its relationships with Indigenous communities. Additionally, the foundation has developed a robust, collaborative capacity-building model where grantees are invited and empowered to share strategies, tactics and community engagement approaches – that transcend borders and language – to enhance project success and produce pivotal outcomes for their communities.”
“NEBF has evolved in so many remarkable ways. I’m tremendously proud of the grantee network we have cultivated over the years and the impact our small grants have made in the communities where they are working,” continued Brown. “I have every confidence that the foundation will continue to grow in meaningful ways and help expand the work of our grantees in our target regions around the world.”
“It is impossible to sum up Jessica’s many contributions to NEBF,” stated Ellard. “We are so grateful for her visionary leadership and passion for this work over the years. We wish her all the best in her next chapter and look ahead with enthusiasm to NEBF’s next chapter, as well.”
Dowd brings over 30 years of experience as a nonprofit leader in international development and has worked in close collaboration with hundreds of community-based organizations to advance gender equity and build a sustainable planet. With a depth of experience working with grassroots organizations in Africa and Latin America, she carries insights about the context in which NEBF grantees operate, the challenges they face, and strategies to strengthen and support their efforts. A proven leader, she joined Creative Action Institute in 2006 as the founding Executive Director, and has been a long-time grantee of NEBF, helping to deliver the foundation’s successful capacity building programming to grantees across the globe.
“I’m humbled by the trust that the Board has placed in me to continue the inspiring work begun by my predecessors and uphold the reputation that NEBF has earned over the last 40+ years. Stepping into this leadership role, I will ensure that we continue to be guided by NEBF’s mission. I’m looking forward to the next phase in NEBF’s legacy and am thrilled that I can play a part in it.”
Why do fireflies flash? Find out in this recent video from local grantee Manship Artists Residency + Studios.
A passionate scientist and committed environmentalist, Don was a visionary who leaves a legacy spanning scientific research in molecular biology and conservation of the planet’s marine and terrestrial biodiversity.
In 1974 he established New England Biolabs, Inc. as a cooperative of scientists dedicated to providing research tools for molecular biologists, shaping the company as a leader in the discovery and production of recombinant enzymes for molecular biology applications.
Don’s deep love of the natural world and fascination with the arts and diverse cultures led him to create the New England Biolabs Foundation almost four decades ago.
His belief in the value of investing in small and grassroots organizations working to protect their landscapes, livelihoods and biodiversity shaped the approach of the foundation early on, and remains its touchstone to this day.
His commitment to the environment led him to engage actively with a wide range of environmental and marine conservation organizations, internationally and domestically. Don’s passion for the diversity of nature and culture on our fragile planet burned bright in him all his life, and that light will continue to guide us as we advance the mission of the New England Biolabs Foundation.
For more about Don’s extraordinary life and legacy, please see also the announcement by NEB, Inc, and the obituary published in The Boston Globe.