The Trust is pleased to announce two new team members:
Jason Baisden is the Trust’s new Health Care Division program officer for the Eastern North Carolina region, and Robin DeVane is the new program coordinator.
Jason Baisden
As a program officer, Baisden serves as the primary contact for grantees and potential grantees in the Eastern North Carolina region for the Trust’s Health Care Division. In this role, Baisden maintains relationships with various groups—including nonprofits, hospitals, government agencies and local schools—that are key to improving community health. He also convenes community and nonprofit leaders around specific issues, works to ensure grantees’ work is in line with the Trust’s long-term strategic goals, and spearheads Healthy Places NC, the Trust’s long-term initiative to improve the health of rural communities, in Beaufort County.
In his previous role, Baisden served as the executive director of the North Carolina Association of Free Clinics (NCAFC), where he was responsible for leading a membership of over 82 free clinics. Baisden was the Association’s lead contact for all legislative and advocacy efforts. He was a key player in obtaining recurring funds for health care safety-net organizations and securing Medication Assistance Program funding from the North Carolina General Assembly. During his tenure, he secured more than $25 million in funding for member free clinics. Baisden also led the effort to provide free Electronic Medical Records systems to free clinics and connect them to the North Carolina Health Information Exchange. Nationally, within the free clinic sector, Baisden is most notably recognized for his Quality Improvement Initiative and health outcomes work within North Carolina. This work was featured in the U.S. Congressional Record and promoted as a model for other states. Baisden currently serves as the Treasurer for the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.
“We are excited to have Jason on board with us,” said Karen McNeil-Miller, the Trust’s president. “He is a leader in the North Carolina health care arena and a champion for affordable, accessible health care for financially disadvantaged residents. His passion for improving the quality of health across the state will be a tremendous asset to the Trust.”
Baisden holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Appalachian State University. He grew up in Lumberton, NC and currently resides in Winston-Salem with his wife Debbie and their four boys.
Robin DeVane
Robin DeVane joins the Trust as program coordinator for the Health Care and Poor and Needy Divisions. In this new role, DeVane is a key administrative and operations leader for the program team and serves as the first point of contact for all individuals and organizations inquiring about grant opportunities. While guiding grantees through the application process, DeVane makes recommendations to program staff for follow-up and serves as a connector between grantees and program officers. DeVane also assists with research projects, community events and logistics.
Prior to joining the Trust, DeVane spent seven years working for the Winston-Salem Foundation as grants manager, where she was responsible for both guiding grantees through the application procedures, as well as overseeing the operations behind the grantmaking process. She spent the first 20 years of her career working in finance. Craving a change, she decided to make the switch to philanthropy.
“The Trust is lucky to have Robin join our team,” McNeil-Miller said. “Her position is new to the Trust, and I have no doubt that her wealth of experience with the grantmaking process and local nonprofits and funders will greatly enhance our work.”
DeVane holds a bachelor’s degree in World Religions from Salem College, a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina, and a master’s degree in Liberal Arts from Wake Forest University. She lives in Winston-Salem with her husband Chris and her dog Rufus. She has two children and four grandchildren.